As core funding for public services becomes constrained, so funding, increasingly, is parcelled out by Government and Europe through competitive bidding processes in order to ensure the most appropriate targetting of resources.

In Wiltshire and Swindon the local authorities and other public and voluntary organisations have realised that they need to 'get smart' if they are to take full advantage of these opportunities. In 2000 an 'External Funding Network' was established with the remit of improving information exchange and the co-ordination of bidding activity in the sub-region and across a range of public and voluntary sector organisations.

As part of an internal review, Wiltshire County Council has established a Central Bidding Unit and this team now provides the Network with professional and administrative support.

The Network provides a forum:

• for the provision and exchange of information on criteria, timetables and deadlines for external funding sources
• for influencing new programme development and acting as formal consultee on new funding programmes
• for developing ideas, joint bidding partnerships and greater synergy in approaches to accessing external funding
• for addressing key topics and themes that are pertinent to the needs of Wiltshire and Swindon
• for inviting guest speakers from funding agencies and as host to special events linked to key bidding opportunities
• for providing updates on progress made by partners in individual bidding processes
• for ensuring partnerships have access to information and data on identified needs in Wiltshire and Swindon
• for developing joint training events, sharing of best practice and improving informal networking
• for overseeing the activities of the Wiltshire and Swindon Appraisal Network