We’re accepting research proposals for a new project exploring funding flows for voluntary sector organisations working with the criminal justice system – could you join us?
23 April 2024
Voluntary organisations working with people in the criminal justice system support some of the most disadvantaged people in our society. It’s crucial for them to be able to access the right funding at the right time to meet the needs of the people they support in the best ways possible. Unfortunately, these organisations face a complex funding landscape and the detail of this needs unpicking.
Lloyds Bank Foundation are funding and partnering with Clinks, Ministry of Justice and AB Charitable Trust, with support from the Corston Independent Funders Coalition, on a new research project which will map and explore funding flows from central government and philanthropy to the criminal justice-related voluntary community and social enterprise sector. We hope that our research will provide a better understanding of funder practices and partnerships and how they can be improved.
The seed for this project was planted last year at the HMPPS Third Sector Strategic Partnership Board meeting when a chicken and egg question was raised: does statutory funding help charities access voluntary funding and underpin them doing so or is the reverse true – that trusts and foundations are underpinning and supplementing statutory funding, bridging timing and cost gaps?
We know anecdotally that voluntary organisations face a complex landscape when it comes to sourcing funding for their important work. Despite criminal justice voluntary organisations’ largest sources of funding being evenly split between government and philanthropic sources, small organisations (income of £500,000 or less) make up the majority of voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system and are more reliant on trusts and foundations for their income (Clinks, State of the Sector 2023). But it’s not just about the money – it’s about how it’s paid out, for what purpose, for whom and whether funding from statutory and philanthropic bodies truly enables criminal justice voluntary organisations to improve people’s lives.
Our new research commission invites tenders to consider mapping the different types, sources and sizes of funding in relation to the different types, sizes and purposes of criminal justice voluntary organisations, as well as identifying the different characteristics of the people receiving support. Once this is established, we need to better understand how voluntary organisations navigate this complex funding landscape and the specific challenges they face. This will help us know how to better support them through funding, support and advocacy.
This project is a partnership between Lloyds Bank Foundation, Clinks, Ministry of Justice and AB Charitable Trust, along with support from the Corston Independent Funders Coalition. We are working on joint analysis, recommendations and future actions for working together. We’re looking for a researcher to join us.
We are currently accepting proposals for this research project until 15 May. If this sounds interesting to you as a potential bidder, as a criminal justice voluntary organisation or funder with a vested interest, or for any other reason please see the full details.
You can also contact Suzanne Perry, Research Associate at Lloyds Bank Foundation, for more information by emailing sperry@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk.
