Guidance

Mutuals Support Programme 2

Information for organisations looking to apply to the Mutuals Support Programme 2, a programme aimed at existing and aspiring Public Service Mutuals.

From:
Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Published
2 January 2018
Last updated
24 June 2019 — See all updates

Applies to England

The Mutuals Support Programme 2 is currently closed for applications. If you want to know more about mutuals, or how to become a mutual, please see our latest research and online resources to help guide you. To speak to a member of the Mutuals Team, please contact mutuals@culture.gov.uk.

The Mutuals Support Programme 2 (MSP2) offers support to both aspiring and growing Public Service Mutuals (Mutuals). DCMS has selected two consortia of suppliers to provide the full range of support we understand Mutuals need. This includes professional advice and support across areas including legal, financial, business planning, marketing, HR and organisational change, bid writing and measuring social value.

Both consortia have been selected through a competitive procurement process, and have extensive experience of supporting new Mutuals to develop, and existing ones to thrive.

GoMutual Consortium

The GoMutual consortium consists of Baxendale, Eastside Primetimers, Hempsons Solicitors, MetaValue, Social Enterprise Acumen and Stepping Out. If you would like to discuss your initial ideas directly with this consortium, please contact craig.dearden-phillips@stepping-out.biz, suzie.campbell@metavalue.co.uk or saimah.heron@baxendale.co.uk.

Mutual Ventures Consortium

This consortium consists of Mutuals Ventures, Bates Wells Braithwaite and Bevan Brittan. If you would like to discuss your initial ideas directly with this consortium, please contact ed.stroud@mutualventures.co.uk.

Eligibility

To apply for support from this programme you must currently, or intend to, fulfil our definition of a Public Service Mutual which is an organisation that:

  1. has left the public sector (also known as ‘spinning out’)
  2. continues to deliver public services and aims to have a positive social impact
  3. has a significant degree of staff influence or control in the way it is run

If you’re an existing Mutual, you must be in your first 5 years of operation, or delivering your original or extended contract which has not been retendered, or both. You must able to demonstrate how support from this programme will help your organisation grow or diversify its operations.

All applicants will be required to demonstrate their commitment to their project and the mutual model by providing matched funding, in cash, towards the support needed.

For more information on eligibility and support expectations, please contact either of the Suppliers above or mutuals@culture.gov.uk.

How to apply

The application process is as follows:

  1. Contact one or both of the Supplier Consortia using the details above to talk through your ideas
  2. If appropriate, your chosen Supplier will send you an Expression of Interest form to complete
  3. If successful, you will have an assessment with the Supplier of your choice
  4. Suppliers will recommend to DCMS whether an applicant should be supported
  5. DCMS will compare all recommendations and confirm successful applicants
  6. You will work with your chosen supplier to draw up a detailed support plan
  7. DCMS will sign off the support plan
  8. Support will start

DCMS recommends that you do initial background reading and investigation into the mutual model before applying to this programme. Several documents can be found on gov.uk, as well as existing mutuals who are happy to talk through their experiences.

Updates to this page

Published 2 January 2018
Last updated 24 June 2019 + show all updates

  1. The Mutuals Support Programme 2 is now closed for applications.

  2. The Mutuals Support Programme 2 is now open for applications until 19th June.

  3. Mutuals Support Programme 2 now open for applications from 1st February - 22nd February 2019.

  4. Mutuals Support Programme 2 is open for applications from 10th September until 17.00 on 5th October.

  5. Mutuals Support Programme 2 open for applications until 29 June 2018.

  6. New deadline for applications to MSP2 set to 09.00 on 2nd March 2018.

  7. First published.

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