Union Modernisation Fund
Round Three Opens
The third round of the Union Modernisation Fund (UMF) was opened on 12 February 2009.
Round Three is focusing on the delivery of new ideas for improving the support that unions and others can provide to vulnerable workers. The new focus will allow unions to tackle a range of serious challenges faced by vulnerable workers and will enable partnerships to be developed with voluntary and community organisations which have specific expertise in this area.
Copies of the application pack and form are available by using the links provided. The pack contains information on the UMF, how it works and details of application procedures.
For further information on Round Three please contact:
Sarah Elliott on 020 7215 6399 or e-mail: sarah.elliott@berr.gsi.gov.uk.
UMF
The UMF is a Government grant scheme which provides financial assistance to independent trade unions and their federations in support of innovative modernisation projects which contribute to a transformational change in the organisational effectiveness of a union. By funding such projects, the UMF seeks to enhance the ability of trade unions to meet the needs of their members; and to make a full and effective contribution to constructive employment relations and to the economy as a whole.
Bids are assessed against a set of eligibility and selection criteria, including compliance with the Fund's modernisation's objectives. Successful projects will be formally evaluated and the results publicised among trade unions. This will enable unions to test innovative new ideas, to learn what works and to apply these lessons more widely.
Background
The establishment of the Union Modernisation Fund was announced in Parliament on 11 February 2004 by Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations. At the same time he announced that the Government was tabling an amendment to the Employment Relations Bill (now the Employment Relations Act 2004) which would provide the legislative basis for the establishment of the Fund. Section 55 of that Act inserts a new section into the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 which creates a power for the Secretary of State to make funds available to independent trade unions and federations of trade unions to modernise their operations.
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