To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they provide to voluntary bodies and other local organisations supporting volunteers who are facing reductions in public funding for their projects. [HL4100]

In response to hearing concerns of a range of third sector organisations, unprecedented support is being given to the third sector during the economic downturn.

The Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises package of measures includes support for volunteers, grants to small organisations and support for jobs and loans to assist partnership working. This up to £42.5 million package includes a £16.5 million Modernisation Fund. This fund offers bursaries of £1,000 for organisations to pay for initial advice on how they can become more resilient and work more closely with others to increase their impact; grants of up to £10,000 to help pay costs involved in moving towards collaboration or merger; interest-free loans of between £30,000 and £500,000 for third sector organisations with existing plans for mergers and collaboration or other activities to help them prepare for difficult times; and in addition, in this year's Budget, the Government announced a £16.7 million Hardship Fund, which will provide grant support to third sector organisations in England delivering front-line services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society that have been affected by the recession.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what national sources of funding are available to voluntary bodies and local organisations supporting volunteers. [HL4101]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to fund voluntary bodies and organisations supporting volunteers over the next three years. [HL4102]

The Government are committed to supporting an environment for a thriving third sector and provides funding and support to a wide range of third sector organisations, including community groups, registered charities and social enterprises. The Office of the Third Sector leads on this work and between 2008-11 will be investing up to £515 million to support third sector organisations. This includes an investment of up to £137 million on programmes to support volunteering.

In addition this year's Budget saw the announcement of a £16.7 million Hardship Fund for third sector organisations delivering services to people that have been affected by the recession. The fund builds on the up to £42.5 million announced in the February 2009 “Real Help for Communities” action plan to provide support for the third sector during the economic downturn.

Details of funding opportunities from the Office of the Third Sector are promoted via the Office of the Third Sector website (www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_ sector), a regular newsletter to stakeholders and through a number of local and national third sector networks.