Flexible Funding is a new approach to Welsh Government funded grants to ensure that different grants work together, with the aim of providing greater local authority autonomy in service delivery, particularly around joint planning and commissioning to better support outcomes. This extra freedom aims to allow for a more strategic approach in delivering early intervention, prevention and support. During the last year a new way of working has been tested in seven local authorities and at a public service board level, Conwy being one of these pathfinders.
In October 2018, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers decided that from 1 April 2019, there will be two integrated grants for all 22 Welsh local authorities. These will be:
A Children and Communities Grant
- Flying Start
- Families First
- Legacy Fund
- Communities for Work Plus
- Promoting Positive Engagement for Young People
- Childcare and Play
- St David’s Day Fund
A Housing Support Grant
- Supporting People
- Homelessness Prevention
- Rent Smart Wales Enforcement
These arrangements will remain in place for the remainder of the Assembly term.
Conwy Approach
In Conwy, we have established five work streams in order to progress this approach to working flexibly. These are:
Work Stream 1 - Research and Assessment of Need
Work Stream 2 – Programme and Project Activity
Work Stream 3 - Commissioning and Partnership
Work Stream 4 – Programme Monitoring & Administration
Work Stream 5 – Co-production
We have also identified 6 themes:
- Parenting
- Childcare & Play
- Young People
- Homeless Prevention
- Employability
- Health & Wellbeing
Our governance arrangements have been reviewed and we have established a Programme Board responsible for strategic overview of the whole programme, supported by a Sponsor Group, responsible for the investment decision and defining the direction. There is a delivery group and other project teams to support the work streams.
For further information please contact the Programme Manager,
erica.wyn.roberts@conwy.gov.uk