Pilotlight and Capacitybuilders have teamed up to support charities planning to merge or collaborate.
Capacitybuilders, the government agency responsible for improving support to frontline third sector organisations, has set up a partnership with Pilotlight. The aim is to offer support to a number of Capacitybuilders’ grant holders who are in the final stages of working through a merger or collaboration.
Around 70 Modernisation Fund grant holders, who have each received grants from Capacitybuilders of up to £10,000, have been invited to work with Pilotlight to explore whether they could benefit from additional support. This would include work towards a new strategic plan for the development and growth of their organisation. Pilotlight will act as broker, sounding board and critical friend.
The Modernisation Fund Grants Programme was launched in June 2009 to offer grants to frontline organisations working in areas affected by the economic downturn. The idea was to explore the possibility of merging or collaborating. One example is Hearing Concern LINK, which used its £1,000 Modernisation Fund bursary to explore how working collaboratively with regional organisations would help it to reduce costs and increase the reach of its work.
Matt Leach, Capacitybuilders’ Chief Executive said: “I'm delighted to announce Capacitybuilders' new partnership with Pilotlight. This partnership will help to provide Modernisation Fund grant holders with important additional assistance to develop their plans for merger and collaboration."
Pilotlight will bring together multidisciplinary teams of skilled strategists and experienced professionals from the private sector to work with the grantholders.
Deborah Xavier, chief executive of Pilotlight London said : “The Pilotlight Process is designed to develop the skills of the managers of charities and social enterprises doing essential work in their communities, to help them to manage the change necessary to achieve growth and sustainability. Many of our senior business volunteers have been through the process of merger or partnership in their own organisations, so they bring the benefits of their own experience to the Pilotlight teams. We very much look forward to working with Modernisation Fund grant holders as they carry out their partnership and merger plans.”