Baring boost for voluntary sector

The voluntary sector's increasing dependence on government funding has its downside. "Some charities are finding that it has created pressure on their ability to retain their culture and values, as well as their primary focus on users' needs - particularly while coping with crippling accountability regimes, unreliable contracts and continually changing government priorities," says Matthew Smerdon, assistant director of the Baring Foundation.

As a result, the grant-making trust has launched what it claims is the first grant programme with the specific purpose of strengthening the independence of the sector.

But this is more about building the sector's confidence and legitimacy in its negotiations with local and central government than shifting it from donation-dependency to income generation. The hope is that charities, which receive a share of the £900,000 grants programme to fund training, research or evidence-based campaigning, would in future be able to refuse a government contract if the terms were unfavourable. "It's about creating an 'attitude of mind'," says Baring's chief executive, David Cutler.

Baring's move comes as the government creates its own new voluntary sector-led agency to strengthen the sector. Capacity Builders, to be launched next month, will manage £70m of Home Office funding earmarked to promote the sector's independence.

· Details of the Baring grant programme at: www.baringfoundation.org.uk