Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Update

As many of you will already know the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) is coming to an end on 31 March 2008.  The Government has made recent announcements on the successor scheme, the Working Neighbourhood Fund (WNF) aimed specifically at enterprise and worklessness.  Further information regarding this new funding scheme is still awaited.  The main information is that Hartlepool has been allocated £4.5m in 2008/09, £5m 2009/10 and £5.5m for 2010/11.  Hartlepool Areas based Government Grants in total have also been agreed which including the WNF total £10.5m for 2008/09.  In some cases this funding will support a range of current projects and will involve a commissioning approach which the Voluntary and Community Sector  (VCS) should be able to put forward projects.  Further information on the implications and opportunities that may arise for the VCS will be reported once we have further information in the New Year.