3SC will lead a consortium of charities in a bid to be the prime contractor for the Department for Work and Pensions Work Progamme, a government scheme supporting the unemployed. 

3SC is also considering its bid for the National Citizenship Service.

Charities, including Groundwork UK, the National Housing Federation and the Shaw Trust will be part of the consortium bidding for the Work Programme.

Michael O’ Toole, chief executive of 3SC said: “We are fielding a strong consortia approach with other lead organisations to enable us to get as much funding to the front line in the most straightforward way.

“We appreciate that the government is moving towards outcome-focused payment structures across many areas of commissioning, and aim to develop an approach which can deliver effective solutions whilst continuing to capacity build the sector in line with 3SC's aims.

"In strengthening our own offer we believe we will provide the answer to the challenging financial arrangements of the new contracting environment and enable the continued development of service delivery by those organisations who have the understanding and experience to address local needs, and who will therefore also be geared up to play key roles in the development of the coalition’s Big Society."