Being asked for information on my project for another body to use in a funding application.

[Ohmywordsomepeople]

I'm in a fixed term role in local government which is funded by partnership funding. I have verbal confirmation the role is being extended, with written confirmation to follow by end of this week after the senior management team have signed it off. They have used another 'pot'to secure my post. I'm confident they want to keep me as my department want to develop the role and I've had outstanding performance reviews.

Today, I opened a strange email from the rogramme manager of my major funder. She asked for information on strands of the programme I've set up, developed and manage. The reason she wants it is to provide information to a community group she is working with to be used as evidence for a grant application and demonstrate they meet criteria as I work with groups that they currently do not. My programme is the extra

I haven't replied as am considering how to. It's made me uneasy -as if they're planning to continue my work without me.

I'm wasnt too concerned re my job as my employer has secured other funding for my role (its quite far reaching) as they want to use me in a different way, but I do feel a bit insecure about this, as if discussions are going on without me, nor do I want someone else to benefit from my hard work.

How would others handle this?

Hold off until you've got your contract.

Also, follow up on the verbal offer by email, referring explicitly to it (up to you if you include a phrase such as 'I am aware that a verbal contract is equally binding, however following our conversation on x date where you confirmed my contract has been extended and agreed that I would be provided with this by Friday 8th December 2023 at the latest...').

Create an email trail (and bcc yourself into them).

Speaking as a seasoned manager of such things - refer the request to your manager. In my view it is inappropropriate and unprofessional for a funder to ask for information of a project the fund in order to bolster the application of another group. As funders they are entitled to the information that forms part of the contracted funding agreement and nothing more. But if your council decides to share this information that is a decision for management to make, not for you.

If the request is from within your organisation, the one employing you, would provide the information and cc my line manager. Since presumably responding to factual Qs and requests from internal colleagues is part of your job, and the reason provided for the request sounds fine.

if the request is from someone outside your organisation, would refer the request to the suitable person within your organisation.

if concerned about possible other motivations or risks to your job would raise verbally with your manager.