A downloadable .pdf (176kb) introductory guide to the main principles of Full Cost Recovery. It contains a simple stage by stage guide of how to calculate costs and decide what to include as overheads.

Downloadable 40 page .pdf (600kb) produced for the Finance Hub by NCVO Sustainable Funding Project. The document introduces procurement and contracting. It includes advice on how to approach agencies who may want to buy your services, assessing whether you have the capacity to deliver a contract, explaining different forms of agreements, and looking at the tendering process.

Downloadable 35 page .pdf (405kb) document produced for the Finance Hub by NCVO Sustainable Funding Project. The document provides a series of exercises and checklists designed to support advisers working with groups on procurement and contracting. It includes materials designed for those just starting to look at contracting (introductory), those ready to explore the topic further (intermediate), and for those wanting to look at contracting more seriously (advanced).

Downloadable .pdf (161kb) briefing paper - an introductory guide for organisations currently delivering, or looking to deliver, public services.

Downloadable 32 page .pdf (831kb) produced for the Finance Hub by NCVO Sustainable Funding Project. The guide introduces trading, explains how to prepare for trading, and explores different types of trading activity. It includes practical tools for advisers and groups to use and case studies.

Downloadable 44 page .pdf (652kb) produced for the Finance Hub by NCVO Sustainable Funding Project. The document looks at why financial management is important and covers a range of topics, including developing a financial strategy, budgets and cash flow management, book keeping and financial accounting. It also looks at tax and at financial management and governance. It includes good practice advice, examples and templates for advisers and groups to use.

Care and Repair helps older people, disabled people and people on low incomes to live in safe, warm, secure, well maintained and adapted homes. This case study looks at Care and Repair’s plans to meet the challenge of generating revenue from opening new markets for the organisation.

Smaller groups often need to work with others to deliver services and attract contracts. This case study looks at how a training provider — Myways — delivered a contract as part of a wider consortium. It outlines the challenge involved in meeting the bureaucracy involved in managing the contract and how being part of a consortium assisted in the process.

Charities and Public Service Delivery: an introduction and overview is a guide from the Charity Commission, highlighting legal and other issues, as well as good practice on charities and public service delivery.

(Version February 2007)
In recent years the role of charities in public service delivery has become a much debated issue. The Charity Commission commissioned work to consult with charities on the issues. This report summarises the results of this work.

The NCVO provides case studies and advice on joint working for public service delivery, including issues around contract working.

NCVO offers advice and information on the Compact, as well as an advocacy service when there have been breaches of the Compact.

Information, news and downloadable tools on the Compact.

A new government-backed service, designed specifically to give companies easy access to lower-value contract opportunities (typically worth under £100,000) offered by the public sector.

Contains a lot of accessible and useful advice including guidance on how to apply for funding, and A-Z of funding terminology and links to agencies providing further help. You have to register with the site to get at the content - this is free if your turnover is less than 500,000 pounds a year but you have to pay if it is higher.

The Office of Government Commerce is an office of HM Treasury that aims to improve standards in procurement and increase value for money in government spending.

A searchable contracts database that signposts current and future OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) compliant frameworks and contracts available to public sector purchasers.

With public bodies reducing the number of contracts they hold, the NCVO’s Collaborative working Unit explores three consortia models for voluntary and community organisations: a new legal body, one organisation takes lead responsibility or an external non-delivering organisation takes the lead.

acevo/futurebuilders joint publication (pdf 2,757 kb).
All too often the relationships between public service commissioners and third sector organisations prove difficult to manage, with third sector organisations often left thinking ‘They don’t know how to buy and we don’t know how to sell.’ This report provides examples and learning points on how third sector leaders and public sector commissioners can work together to design and deliver excellent public services.