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£130m grants programme will not be renewed next year as government plans begin to take shape

The government's new Communities First fund, which will provide start-up funding for community groups, will replace the Grassroots Grants scheme when it runs out in April next year.

The Office for Civil Society has confirmed that the £130m Grassroots Grants fund, which was set up by the Labour government to support small charities and community groups, will not be renewed.

Cabinet secretary Francis Maude announced the Communities First fund earlier this month. He said it would foster the creation of new community groups in deprived areas, but did not say how much it would be worth.

An Office for Civil Society spokesman said details of Communities First would be announced in December.

Charities minister Nick Hurd has indicated that government funding for Capacitybuilders and the volunteering charity v is also under review.

The OCS spokesman said all of the department's spending was potentially under review because of the need to reduce the national deficit.

Source: Third Sector