Funding cuts would be 'devastating' for local communities

Published by Ellie Warfield for 24dash.com in Central Government and also in Communities

A national voluntary sector organisation has today issued a warning that vital local services could disappear overnight if the voluntary sector is seen as an easy target for Government cuts.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) believes this would have a "devastating effect" on local communities across the UK.

Its report, The State and the Voluntary Sector - Recent trends in Government Funding and Public Service Delivery, shows that public services delivered by the voluntary sector on behalf of the Government receive income of £12 billion from statutory sources.

Although this only accounts for 2% of the Government's expenditure on public services, the fear is that the sector could be seen as a soft target for cuts.

Stuart Etherington, chief executive, NCVO said: "Public sector funders must avoid a knee jerk reaction.

"Ill thought-out cuts would ravage communities across the UK. When developing spending plans, government - nationally and locally - must understand the vital contribution projects run by voluntary and community organisations make.

"These services are not just nice add-ons; they are critical to the well-being of communities across the UK."

The report looks at the true cost of cuts for local areas. About 25,000 voluntary organisations receive more than three-quarters of their income from statutory sources to deliver crucial services in social care, employment and training, law and advocacy, education and housing. NCVO said that if this funding was cut it would have "catastrophic consequences for the well-being of communities".

The report says that voluntary sector organisations providing social services receive £4.2 billion Government funding, more than any other sub sector.

TLC Care Services is a voluntary organisation that provides long-term, person-centred support to stroke survivors and their families in Hackney. Phil Collis, project manager at the organisation, said: "If our contracts were removed it would leave stroke victims in those boroughs unable to access the high quality care and support they need once they have been discharged from hospital care."

The report also points out that organisations providing employment and training services receive £1 billion statutory funding. It says this is more than two-thirds (71%) of the total income of organisations working in this sub-sector, with nearly half of the organisations in this sub-sector reliant on statutory funding.

According to NCVO, four other sub-sectors also receive more than half of their income from statutory services, namely law and advocacy (54%), education (52%), housing (51%) and social services (51%).

John Mckernaghan, manager at Calderdale and Kirklees sexual health and HIV services charity The Brunswick Centre, said: "If government income was cut it would seriously limit services. However the number of service users won't reduce even if the income does.

"As our work takes pressure off statutory services, the onward effect on other services including mental health and sexual health services would be considerable and users would suffer."

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. For more information go to www.ncvo-vol.org.uk.