This article examines the experience of the VCS within the context of the Liverpool Children's Fund. Its aim is to use a local case study to measure the reality of the Government's promises to the sector in a series of legislative and policy enactments in recent years. It argues that the gap between Government policy rhetoric and the promises made, and the real experience of VSCOs working in children's services in Liverpool, is still very great indeed. It further argues that the real legacy of the Children's Fund will not be that of local relevance, 'bottom- up' working and community participation but rather one of 'sectoral realignment' as selected VCSOs become increasingly locked in to mainstreamed service structures and processes with statutory agencies and as others are left behind and effectively 'locked-out' of this mainstreaming agenda.
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