Department of Health expands third sector strategic partners scheme

The Department of Health has increased its strategic partners programme to include five additional partnerships.

The programme was launched in April 2009 with the aim of improving communication between the department and the 35,000 third sector health and social care organisations in the UK.

The additions take the number of partnerships in the scheme to 16 for 2010/11.

The five new partnerships, some involving more than one organisation, are: the Mental Health Providers Forum; Carers UK, the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads; the Women’s Health and Equality Consortium; the Royal British Legion and Combat Stress; and Nacro and Action for Prisoners’ Families.

The new members will receive a share of £950,000 in 2010/11, the department said.

The 11 original strategic partners were awarded a share of £5.5m over three years from 2009/10.