Grants to the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector
I'm writing to you under the 2000 Freedom of Information Act to request information about your grant-making to the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. In 2023, DSC produced unique research on local authority grant-making, which provides analysis and recommendations for public sector commissioners. The information requested below will inform our second edition, which will provide an up-to-date picture of grant-making practice and enable local authorities to benchmark their funding practice. We hope this context helps. Please provide the following information: 1. Listing separately for each year, in the years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 what was the I. Total annual financial value of grants given to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector by your authority? II. Total number of grants given to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector by your authority? 2. Listing separately for each year, in the years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 of the above grants (question 1) what total number were awarded through I. Competitive/open application processes? II. Grants in aid? III. Unknown? 3. Listing separately for each year, in the years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 what was/were the: I. Total number of formal challenges you received around your grant processes and decisions on the basis of alleged non-compliance with: State Aid, Subsidy Control, or Public Procurement regulations? II. And of these what number of these challenged resulted in legal proceedings?