Media Statement
For Immediate Release

15 September 2009

NZFVWO Welcomes New Funding Model For Social Services Organisations

High-trust funding of social services agencies through a single contract was announced by the Minister of Social Development, Paula Bennett at the AGM of the Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations (NZFVWO) in Wellington this morning.

The new funding model will give organisations flexibility to decide on their communities’ priorities.

Federation President, Tony Mayow, applauds Minister Bennett’s announcement as one that is “incredibly welcomed and the basis for a sea change that the Sector has been seeking from Government for some time.

“This announcement demonstrates the benefits for the Sector of long-term engagement with Government, and provides a platform from which to move forward, pointing now to a stronger relationship between Government and our sector,” he said.

Federation Executive Director, Tina Reid, says the new model can only result in more flexibility to achieve our outcomes as social services organisations.

“The focus of our funding will now shift to one where agencies can fund their services based around the actual priorities of the families and communities they’re serving, encompassed in a contract of just three pages, with a requirement for annual reporting of outcomes. The move will eliminate the need to have multiple contracts, often very much constrained by administration and compliance requirements,” she said.

ENDS