An introduction to social care funding of councils and voluntary sector organisations.
Public money spent on social care comes from a combination of central government grants, council tax revenues, and user charges. Some £2 billion is raised through user charges, which accounts for around 14 precent of gross expenditure on adult social care.
It is up to individual councils to decide how to use that funding and how much of it to spend on social care. The overall gross expenditure on adult social care in 2005-06 was approximately £13.7 billion.
Central government also supports a number of projects managed by voluntary organisations through Section 64 grants.
The Section 64 (S64) General Scheme of Grants helps to strengthen and further develop the partnership between the Department of Health and the voluntary and community sector. It is the Department's main funding stream for national voluntary organisations working in the health and social care fields.
The Social Enterprise Investment Fund provides funding to social enterprises which improve the quality of health and social care for local communities.
You can apply for a range of financial help including loans, grants and equity-like investment products, along with tailored business support services.
The Fund has helped more than 150 social enterprises by investing over £20 million since it was first launched in 2007. There is more than £70 million available for start-ups and existing social enterprises over the next three years.
