Wales uses grants more extensively than the rest of the UK and many grants schemes are overly complex, with both funders and recipients rarely learning lessons from problems which have arisen with past schemes, according to a report published by The Auditor General for Wales today.
29/11/2011
Over £2 billion is spent annually by public bodies in Wales via specific grants, but both funders and recipients need to learn lessons from previous failures when designing and operating grant schemes.
Weaknesses identified in the report include failures by funders to consider the viability, capacity and capability of grant recipients, together with a lack of clarity on the expected project outcomes. Both funders and recipients often do not mitigate risks or monitor project progress effectively after grant awards are made.
Many schemes are complex and can readily be streamlined, whilst recipients show a significant variation in the quality of their management of grant-funded projects at a local level.
To view the full press release follow this link
Grants Management in Wales - A view from Group Director Mike Usher
To download a copy of Grants Management in Wales click here
To watch video footage of Group Director, Mike Usher,talking about the report click here
For copies of Auditor General reports which relate to grants management from the last three years links below:
Forestry Commission Wales - Public Funding of Ffynone and Cilwyn Woodlands
Management of public funding of Cymad Cyf
Plas Madoc Communities First
Communities First
To access information relating to Grants Management from the Wales Audit Office Good Practice Exchange click here