DoH extends health and social care strategic partners programme

The Department of Health will extend its Voluntary Sector Strategic Partners Programme for another year, Paul Burstow, the care services minister, announced on Monday.

The programme began in 2009 to improve dialogue between the DoH and third sector health and social care organisations.  Burstow announced that the department will extend the funding it provides to 18 strategic partners, some of which are organisations working in partnership, until 2012/13.

It gave funding totalling more than £3.5m in 2011/12 and will hand out the same amount in 2012/13, taking the total amount of funding provided under the scheme to almost £11.8m over four years.

Twenty-six voluntary organisations, including Regional Voices (which RAWM is a part of) Age UK, the local infrastructure body Navca and the Men’s Health Forum, receive funding from the scheme.

Source: Third Sector News