ChangeUp is a UK government initiative aimed at improving the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to deliver public services by 2014.

“By 2014 the needs of frontline organisations will be met by support which is available nationwide, structured for maximum efficiency, offering excellent provision which is accessible to all while reflecting and promoting diversity, and is sustainably funded” ChangeUp high level outcome (2004).

This is being achieved through strengthening voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) infrastructure organisations. Infrastructure organisations are those whose primary purpose is to support other voluntary, community and faith sector organisations. An infrastructure organisation could be a locally based organisation such as a Council for Voluntary Service or a thematically based organisation dealing with issues such as disability, faith or social inclusion. These are the organisations that provide the sector with the capacity to deliver and provide a voice for the sector.

Greater Merseyside ChangeUp is funded by Capacitybuilders which is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) set up in 2006 to take over the management of the ChangeUp programme and to work with other funders to build the capacity of the Third Sector.

Since its creation in 2004 Greater Merseyside ChangeUp has invested in excess of £2m of funds in developing the capacity of the voluntary, community and faith sector in Greater Merseyside. This has included an investment in a wide range of interventions including capital investment, research and the development of practical resources such as toolkits and web portals. The ultimate aim of this investment is to ensure that by 2014 there is a strong and vibrant sector, which has inclusive access to high quality support services when and where it needs it.

This website has been developed to enable voluntary, community and faith sector organisations access to an extensive range of information, advice and resources that have been designed to help them to become more effective and efficient.

This report was commissioned by Greater Merseyside ChangeUp on the current and predicted effects of the economic recession on the third sector in Greater Merseyside. The report pulls together the findings of a consultation between March and April 2009 involving frontline third sector organisations across Merseyside, with the assistance of several Greater Merseyside ChangeUp Consortium members.
 
The 'Greater Merseyside Third Sector Recession Consultation' report is available to download (PDF Format): Click Here