Decision details

Please see Decision Section

After exploring management options Leeds Community Foundation (LCF) were considered in 2016/17 to be the best value option for the administering of the annual Lunch Cub Grant scheme. Ongoing management and administration has continued to be best value for 2017/18 and again the forcoming 2018/19 period.

The option to transfer the grant to a third sector organisation, namely, Leeds Community Foundation (LCF), continue to the best value option for the following reasons:

•Efficiency savings achieved within the council in respect of officer time saved in regards to managing the fund.
•LCF’s main purpose is the distribution of grant funds to local organisations and they already manage a number of small grant programmes on behalf of the Council so have a strong track record in this area.
•LCF in 2017/18 sourced an additional £33,396 discretionary funding direct to lunch club activity. It is envisaged that further discretionary funding will be available for club activity for 2018/19.
•LCF have further supported lunch clubs secure further funding.
•LCF has ensured all lunch clubs now have Constitution Governing Documents which meet the Charity Commission Guidelines. This means thay have the required legal documents and compliance as a registered Food Business.
•LCF are experienced in distributing small grants but are ensuring lunch clubs who target people living in poverty, BME communities, and those socially isolated older people receive greater contribution towards meals, rent, volunteer expenses and supporting training, insurance etc.

As a result LCF has been successful in the administration of the 2017 – 2018 lunch club grant. Thereby all 87 lunch clubs who applied were awarded their grant funding in April 2017 enabling them to provide hot nutritious meals and social activity. Lunch clubs function on a local and/or city wide basis according to the geographic distribution of their community, for example, the Sikh Elders lunch club which attracts members from all over Leeds. The current grant structure follows this distribution pattern. There has been no issues reported and all lunch clubs are fulfilling their core function.

The Older People Matters Food Group (OPMFG) chaired by Public Health and with support from both ASC and LCF has made positive steps in supporting lunch clubs to make links with other organisations to help increase referrals, membership and food choice and quality. Lunch clubs have also now been placed onto the Leeds Directory therefore allowing for referrals to be made from supporting organisations and from vulnerable older people.

It is agreed that Public Health will enter into a further 12 month contract for the value of £166,500 in the financial year 2018 – 2019 with LCF administering value of the annual Lunch Cub Grant scheme is £16,650. The following reasons are recognised to continue to deliver best value:
• Continued efficiency savings achieved within the council in respect of officer time saved in regards to managing the fund
• Leeds Community Foundation have gained experienced in management of the luncheon club grant on behalf of the Council and recognised as the host organisation amongst the voluntary sector
• Leeds Community Foundation have identified philanthrophic funds which will be allocated to support the 2018 – 2019 luncheon club grant to completely bridge the addition of a £16,650 (10%) administration fee
• Leeds Community Foundation are able to support the vision of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy by distributing small grants to eligible luncheon clubs who are in the most deprived or isolated wards
• Leeds Community Foundation has the resources and expertise to build relationships with groups and work with them to access further support or funding.
• Leeds Community Foundation are in a position to continue promote the Leeds Food Consensus improve the quality and access of nutrition for older people

Option 1 -
Option 2 -
Option 3 -