Novas Scarman agrees repayment in funding dispute

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Novas Scarman Group (NSG) has settled its dispute with Marsh Farm Outreach, agreeing to repay almost £125,000 to the social enterprise.

The disagreement arose when NSG was given £130,000 by the Learning and Skills Council to act as the accountable body for a Marsh Farm organizational development programme.

The local government office later objected to NSG taking up the role, but NSG initially offered to repay only £80,000 of the funds.

Following a meeting last week the dispute has now been settled and NSG has agreed to repay £123,174.69 to Marsh Farm Outreach, after taking deductions for costs.

In a statement interim chief executive of NSG Susie Parsons said: ‘We are pleased to be able to have reached an agreement on this long standing issue and wish Marsh Farm Outreach every success in the future.’

Glenn Jenkins, spokesperson at Marsh Farm Outreach, said the decision ‘clears the way for us to deliver the UK’s first Organisational Workshop and everyone will see why we were so eager to resolve the issue.’

The workshop will take place in July and August this year. Based on a Brazilian technique of social scale business start-ups, it will create seven or eight local social enterprises to help generate and lock-in local wealth.