Tender

Request for Application for Voluntary and Community Sector Fund 2026-2029

FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

30 Oct 2025 at 12:31

Summary of the contracting process

Forest of Dean District Council is currently initiating a tender process for applications to the Voluntary and Community Sector Fund (VCS Fund) covering the period 2026-2029. The tender is open with a closing date for submissions set for 28th November 2025 at 17:00 GMT. The procurement method is an open competition, specifically reserved for local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations based in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. The initiative, which is valued at £576,000, seeks to address several social issues through five distinct funding lots, ranging from providing advice to individuals to supporting mental health and wellbeing for various demographics, including older people and the Armed Forces community.

This tender offers significant opportunities for local VCSE organisations focused on community services, particularly those that can demonstrate a strong capacity in offering advice, supporting community projects, and improving mental health outcomes. Organisations interested in developing their social impact and leveraging their expertise in community services could find this procurement process beneficial for growth. The grant is based on a quality assessment without a price evaluation, allowing businesses with innovative and effective delivery models to excel. Suitability criteria focus on organisations established in Gloucestershire, enabling a regional approach to meeting community needs and fostering opportunities for collaboration and networking among local entities.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Request for Application for Voluntary and Community Sector Fund 2026-2029

Notice Description

The Voluntary and Community Sector Fund (VCS Fund) aims to provide voluntary and community organisations with a flexible funding opportunity to support the delivery of services, projects and activities that benefit the local community and help to deliver the Council's corporate priorities. From these priorities we have established a number of outcomes that we wish to achieve with our funding. This application forms part of a detailed commissioning process against those outcomes with the funding being awarded to those organisations who can best demonstrate that they can deliver to achieve our outcomes. There will be 5 Funds as summarised in - Summary of the Funds detailed requirements is found in Specifications. (e.g. one organisation may apply for Lot 1 and/or Lot 2 of the Fund A) Applicants may only bid within one Fund.(Please ensure you identify which of the funds and lots you are bidding for) Fund A - Advice Fund B - Improved Voluntary and Community Sector Support in light of LGR Fund C - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People who are victims of Domestic Abuse Fund D - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Older People with Long Term Conditions Fund E - The Armed Forces Community is better supported locally

Lot Information

Fund A - Lot 1

Provision of advice to individuals including advice on legal, financial, benefits and rights

Fund A - Lot 2

The provision of home visits to vulnerable people

Fund B - Improved Voluntary and Community Sector Support in light of LGR

Advice and support for volunteers and community groups, including improved collaboration, provision of training, set up, networking and encouraging volunteering

Fund C - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People who are victims of domestic abuse

Children and Young people who are victims of Domestic Abuse are supported holistically and signpost to the help they need

Fund D - Improved Mental Health and Wellbeing for Older People with Long Term Conditions

People with long term conditions, including early onset, have access to holistic support using nature, arts and music

Fund E - The Armed Forces Community is better supported locally

Armed Forces Support in Communities which reduces isolation and improves wellbeing

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d713
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069710-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

75200000 - Provision of services to the community

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£480,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£480,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Oct 20251 months ago
Submission Deadline
28 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@publicagroup.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
COLEFORD
Postcode
GL16 8HG
Post Town
Gloucester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK73 Gloucestershire CC
Delivery Location
TLK13 Gloucestershire CC

Local Authority
Forest of Dean
Electoral Ward
Coleford
Westminster Constituency
Forest of Dean

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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