There are 17 principles in the Funding Code of Practice, one of which is timely decisions, and another is early and constructive dialogue. Sometimes Welsh Government officials are under strict constraints not to divulge information, which could undermine the application of these principles. Principle 10 is about and the Grants Centre of Excellence developed a ‘Payments’, payment in advance template, for organisations to demonstrate their need for payment in advance. It is expected that other funders follow the principles of the Funding Code of Practice, especially if distributing Welsh Government grant funding. Grant queries concerns can be sent, anonymously if need be, to the Grants – Centre of Excellence, if organisations don't want to complain directly to grants managers. But shouldn't we be levelling up across the piece? Not just dealing with isolated, individual complaints. Many of the issues discussed were raised within the Section 64 review, but organisations still don't know the picture. According to the Minister, there is no appeals process within CFOG. But if Welsh Government is demonstrably not following procedures, as set out in the Funding Code of Practice, there is a process of raising issues, through the Funding and Compliance Sub-Committee. Also complaints procedure? There is a rigour applied to Big Lottery Fund application processes, which is not applied to Welsh Government processes. An example was shared of an application form with strict and very limiting word counts. There is an application process, but the decision is discretionary. Some committees making decisions don't have relevant expertise. But sometimes there is a need for independent decision-making. Within Welsh Government there is a good governance principle of not having the same person do everything, but it does need people with expertise. Welsh Government officials reminded delegates that grant processes in Welsh Government are constrained - this leads to word counts etc. but there is still a – need for balance. Welsh Government has disseminated and publicised Code of Practice, but we need further awareness raising We have discussed processes, but there is a fundamental social point the – organisations here represent the most vulnerable in society. If there is a perception of lack of trust i.e. it is felt that there is no point engaging it is dangerous to be – – passing on this message to our service users, younger people etc.
There are 17 principles in the Funding Code of Practice, one of which is timely decisions, and another is early and constructive dialogue. Sometimes Welsh Government officials are under strict constraints not to divulge information, which could undermine the application of these principles. Principle 10 is about ‘Payments’, and the Grants Centre of Excellence developed a payment in advance template, for organisations to demonstrate their need for payment in advance. It is expected that other funders follow the principles of the Funding Code of Practice, especially if distributing Welsh Government grant funding. Grant queries – concerns can be sent, anonymously if need be, to the Grants Centre of Excellence, if organisations don't want to complain directly to grants managers. But shouldn't we be levelling up across the piece? Not just dealing with isolated, individual complaints. Many of the issues discussed were raised within the Section 64 review, but organisations still don't know the picture. According to the Minister, there is no appeals process within CFOG. But if Welsh Government is demonstrably not following procedures, as set out in the Funding Code of Practice, there is a process of raising issues, through the Funding and Compliance Sub-Committee. Also complaints procedure? There is a rigour applied to Big Lottery Fund application processes, which is not applied to Welsh Government processes. An example was shared of an application form with strict and very limiting word counts. There is an application process, but the decision is discretionary. Some committees making decisions don't have relevant expertise. But sometimes there is a need for independent decision-making. Within Welsh Government there is a good governance principle of not having the same person do everything, but it does need people with expertise. Welsh Government officials reminded delegates that grant processes in Welsh Government are constrained - this leads to word counts etc. – but there is still a need for balance. Welsh Government has disseminated and publicised Code of Practice, but we need further awareness raising We have discussed processes, but there is a fundamental social point – the organisations here represent the most vulnerable in society. If there is a perception of lack of trust – i.e. it is felt that there is no point engaging – it is dangerous to be passing on this message to our service users, younger people etc.
WG-grants-meeting-6-Oct-2014.docx