- 21/02/2017
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
Mike Hedges AM welcomes the new £5 million fund from the Welsh Labour Government aimed to help deliver better services and generate savings in the Welsh public sector. Mike Hedges Am said “ This is something I have been calling for since I was first elected and it gives an opportunity for innovation that can bring improved service and financial savings.”
The Innovate to Save fund is a unique partnership between the Welsh Labour Government and Y Lab – itself a partnership between Cardiff University and the innovation charity Nesta – and will work closely with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
The new fund will provide repayable and non-repayable funding and non-financial support to Welsh public services and the third sector. Non-repayable funding will support organisations to prototype, test and develop complex and innovative changes to the way services are delivered.
All areas of the Welsh public and third sectors will be able to apply for Innovate to Save funding. Organisations submitting proposals will also be able to draw on the resources and experience of Nesta and Cardiff University to expand the scope of projects.
The new fund will operate alongside the successful Invest to Save fund, which has been operating since 2009 and has supported 160 projects. In addition to the £5m Innovate to Save fund, £15m will be available through Invest to Save in 2017-18.