Programme Criteria

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All investment will be guided by the following programme criteria:

1. Investment should, where possible, build on and strengthen what already exists rather than creating new organisations.
2. Proposals and schemes across the programme should demonstrate how they contribute to achieving the improved provision of support and assistance to frontline organisations to enable them to shape and deliver public services and to engage communities in improving quality of life.
3. Funds cannot replace or displace funding responsibilities of other funders, particularly in regard to generic local infrastructure. Wherever possible investment should have a multiplying effect – providing leverage for additional funding and resources. (ChangeUp Investment will not normally be used to replace existing core funding where this has been removed by an existing local funder as the likelihood of activities being able to be sustained will be very low. This might also perversely act as a disincentive for current funders to continue funding if they believe funding can be found elsewhere. Investment can, however, core-fund new functions or in special cases organisations, but again will seek investment from other funders to demonstrate reasonable probability of services being sustained beyond ChangeUp investment).
4. The needs of the black and minority ethnic (BME) and faith sectors, the community sector, and rural organisations and social enterprises should be an integral part of funding programmes and provided for at every stage of investment. Nationally issued advice on rural proofing and reaching the community sector is available on separate pages.
5. Investment will build on that already made through Home Office and Defra Early Investment programmes, making use of existing consortia, projects outcomes and learning.
6. Investment will not overlap Futurebuilders, focusing on second tier activity to support front line organisations.
7. Given the potential for ChangeUp programmes to attract high volumes of inappropriate applications, the emphasis will be on commissioning through inviting expressions of interest or proposals.

ChangeUp investment cannot:

1. Encourage the setting up of new organisations where investment can viably build on and strengthen what exists
2. Fund proposals and schemes which cannot demonstrate:
   1. How they contribute to achieving the improved provision of support and assistance to frontline organisations to enable them to shape and deliver public services and to engage communities in improving quality of life
   2. ‘Reasonable’ probability of being sustainable beyond initial ChangeUp investment (including financial or written commitment from funders)
   3. That proper consideration has been given to how the specific needs of the black and minority ethnic (BME) and faith sectors, the community sector, and rural organisations and social enterprises will be supported by the proposal
   4. Direct benefit to rural areas (in the case of DEFRA funding)