Community Response Fund Round Eight Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Community Response Fund?
The Community Response Fund is a short-term fund, through to 30 June 2012, established to address immediate cost and demand pressures the economic downturn is placing on community-based critical social services.
The Fund has two key components:
Financial Crisis Funding – for providers of critical social services who are experiencing severe financial difficulty and are unable to maintain the level of their services as a direct result of the impact of the economic downturn on their funding.
Demand Funding – for providers of critical social services who are experiencing significant increased demand for their services from families, children, young people and older people as a direct result of the economic downturn;
The maximum amount of funding that will be awarded at any one time is $50,000, excluding GST, although there is facility for more to be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Applications to the Fund can be made at any time and are be considered by Regional Panels in nine funding rounds. $66.8 million dollars have been provided to community social services in the eight funding rounds so far.
Who were on the panels considering applications?
Applications were assessed by regional panels comprising of community representatives, philanthropics and government funder organisations. Local networks from within government and across the NGO and philanthropic sectors were used to identify people that could serve as community representatives. These people have a good knowledge of the local social services sector and no undisclosed vested interest in the organisations making the applications.
How were the applications evaluated?
The evaluation of applications to the Fund was conducted by Regional and National Panels comprising of key government, community, philanthropic, Maori and Pacific and ethnic representatives.
The aim of the process was to evaluate and moderate each application utilising panel members’ knowledge and the context in which they operate.
Panel scores were finalised through a process of robust debate and discussion. These reflected different knowledge and expertise brought to the process by panel members.
Panel members were expected to consider all the material in the application in its entirety when checking whether a particular criterion has been met. For example, information pertaining to a particular question may have been found in the answers to other questions, and needed to be considered.
Rating by criteria
The critical services and reason for application criteria are the key evaluation criteria that must be answered and evidenced throughout the application in order to progress the evaluation process.
If applications did not adequately address the key criteria – being a critical social services or the reason they were applying – then the evaluation of the application went no further.
Every application received by National Office was sent to the relevant panel for evaluation. No short listing process was undertaken to ensure regional recommendations were made in the regions where the applicants and their services were being delivered.
How many applications were received in Round Eight of the Community Response Fund?
Two hundred and five applications were received in the eighth round with a total of $10.765 million requested by the applicants.
How many applications will receive a grant in Round Eight?
121 applications out of the 205 applications (59%) will receive a grant in Round Eight.
The total amount granted is $4.573 million.
What types of services applied for funding in Round Eight?
Applications came from similar types of services to previous rounds. This included youth services, budgeting services, family support services and family violence services.
| Critical Social Service | Number of Services | Total Funding Granted |
|---|---|---|
| Family violence | 18 | $736,631 |
| Sexual violence | 1 | $25,000 |
| Famillies under stress | 40 | $1,482,364 |
| Child abuse and neglect | 0 | $0.00 |
| Early intervention for vulnerable and at risk children and families | 16 | $615,900 |
| Budget and financial advice | 18 | $719,315 |
| Vulnerable and at risk young people | 26 | $906,845 |
| Vulnerable and at risk older people | 2 | $87,750 |
| Totals | 121 | $4,573,805 |
Of the applications approved, how many applicants identified themselves as Maori, Pacific or ethnic critical social services providers?
- 13% were from Maori providers
- 3% were from Pacific providers
-
3% were from refugee/migrant providers
What were the reasons given by organisations for an increase in demand for services?
As in previous rounds reasons include increased referrals to services and increased complexity of families’ presenting issues. This included services for families under stress, and services to vulnerable families with young children.
What are the main reasons organisations were declined a grant?
41% of all applications for round eight were declined. Some of the reasons they did not meet the criteria include:
- applicants did not provide sufficient evidence to link the application to the recession
-
hardship was evidenced but was not linked to the recession and was pre-existing.
What was the regional breakdown of funding?
Round Eight Funding Grants by Region
| Panels | Grants | Total Funded | Percentage funding granted against total funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | 14 | $589,709 | 12.8 |
| North/West Auckland/ Rodney | 17 | $698,927 | 15.3 |
| Central/ South Auckland | 25 | $1,028,604 | 22.4 |
| Waikato/ Hamilton/Rotorua/Tauranga | 19 | $535,315 | 11.7 |
| Hawkes Bay/East Coast | 4 | $120,000 | 2.6 |
| Taranaki/Whanganui/ Palmerston North/ Manawatu | 13 | $431,112 | 9.5 |
| Wellington | 9 | $344,890 | 7.5 |
| Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast | 9 | $279,768 | 6.2 |
| CanterburyKaikoura | 5 | $143,200 | 3.2 |
| Otago/Southland | 3 | $122,780 | 2.7 |
| National | 3 | $279,500 | 6.1 |
| Totals | 121 | $4,573,805 | 100% |
What region had the most applications approved in Round Eight?
The highest number of applications was received from Central and South Auckland. These regions also received the most funding.
Did any national organisations apply?
The National Panel considered five applications from national organisations. Three of these received funding. The three successful applicants are:
| Panel | Provider | Crisis Amount | Demand Amount | Total Granted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | A.D.H.D. Association Incorporated | - | $4,500 | $4,500 |
| Outline NZ Incorporated | $25,000 | - | $25,000 | |
| National Urban Maori Authority (pending) | - | $250,000 | $250,000 |
Will you be extending the Community Response Fund?
Government is aware of the pressures on the family and community services sector and is committed to supporting them to ensure that families that need support during this time continue to receive it.
At this stage we are monitoring the ongoing economic situation and the continued impacts on the community-based critical social services.
We will also be waiting for the outcome of the Green Paper and the White Paper that follows it.
As more information becomes available, we will develop appropriate responses to ensure that families continue to receive the support they need during these difficult times.
What is the procedure to request a review of the Round Eight funding decisions?
The decisions of each panel in respect to the applications they evaluated against the criteria of the Fund are final. However, applicants may request a review of the Community Response Fund process in respect to their application. This must be made in writing and sent to the following address:
Postal address:
Project Administrator
Community Response Fund
Family and Community Services
PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140
Courier Address:
Project Administrator
Community Response Fund
Family and Community Services
Level 3, West Block
Charles Fergusson Building
Ballantrae Place
Wellington
