Investor Programme

Supporting Families

Background

The Nationwide Foundation has developed, through the experience of the New Generation Initiative (NGI), an innovative thematic approach to grant making. This approach draws on our values and provides a commitment of longer term support to selected charities, whilst encouraging partnership working in pursuit of the fulfilment of a vision.

Identified Theme

The chosen theme for the Investor Programme is Supporting Families. This has been influenced by the NGI's work on parenting, and in particular its aims of tackling issues of social exclusion.

We aim to take a preventative approach with this programme to achieve an impact on particular social issues of families and the potential consequences of a breakdown in family life. The breakdown of a family is recognised as one of the key drivers of those affected by domestic violence into homelessness and crime, particularly for young people.

We make no judgment on the composition of what constitutes a family or similar support network.

Vision

Three aims have been identified to help fulfil the vision of the Supporting Families programme, which will be rolled out over a three year period. These are:

  • To promote the well-being of young men, women and children whose lives have been affected by domestic violence and to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence through increased service provision, education and awareness raising
  • To improve the quality of life of families with a member or members in prison, through the provision of services responsive to their needs
  • To provide young people who are or have been involved with the criminal justice system with a rehabilitation programme designed to obtain the skills, confidence and personal support networks to enable them to lead fulfilled and successful lives

We are currently focusing on the third of these aims.

Opportunities for Partnership Working

We recognise and place great importance on the increased potential benefits that can be achieved from partnership working and we are prepared to invest in this as a key part of the Investor Programme.

We aim to:

  • Encourage partnership working among the charities involved in each aim (and their beneficiaries) in order to improve services, avoid duplication of effort and resource, and to share learning
  • Encourage collaboration between various relevant statutory and voluntary services, to create opportunities to facilitate the sharing of good practice regarding the delivery of improved services
  • Develop networks with the charities involved and relevant organisations to address policy relating to each aim

Learning

The Investor Programme will be independently monitored and evaluated and the lessons learned will be shared widely with policy makers, funding organisations and the voluntary sector.

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The Nationwide Foundation is a registered charity (no 1065552) and has limited liability being a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no. 3451979). Registered office address: Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon, SN38 1NW.
Site updated: 13 October 2008