Voluntary Sector Funding Threatens Jobs and Vital Services
LONDON, September 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The voluntary sector funding regime is failing, threatening jobs and jeopardising service provision for some of the most
vulnerable people in our society says Amicus.
A survey by Amicus of voluntary and not-for-profit sector organisations revealed that the present funding regime is too complex and bureaucratic, causing job insecurity and stress and anxiety for staff, compromising services and affecting voluntary sectors ability to plan. The union also say that staff development opportunities in the sector are being reduced or not provided at all because of the lack of available funding.
Smaller organisations that cannot bridge funding gaps are proving most vulnerable and many are being deterred from accessing information or applying for funding because of the complexity of the process.
Amicus is calling for longer term funding programmes and for automatic refunding to be introduced rather than long, complex reapplication processes when programme objectives have been met.
Amicus' National Officer for the Voluntary Sector, Rachael Maskell, said: "This survey demonstrates very clearly that the voluntary sector funding regime is at crisis point and it is having a damaging effect on the performance of organisations. As well as having a negative impact on people committed to working in the sector, the voluntary sector funding process is also compromising service delivery on which clients depend.
"The government has increased not-for profit funding and boosted the sector's role in public services but these opportunities are being threatened by the complexity and uncertainty inherent in the funding process."
"We want these survey findings to instigate a change in those government and local agencies who are instrumental in the decision making process regarding funding."
Amicus say they were urged by representatives in the sector to find out more about the funding crisis after Amicus' voluntary sector members identified funding as the key issue affecting the sector.
The government's Gershon Review of 2004 recommended four key principles for the funding of the sector; longer term funding, appropriate balance of risk between provider of funds and voluntary organisation, full cost recovery and a streamlined approach to monitoring and reporting.
Amicus represents nearly 30,000 employees in the community and non-profit sector, ranging from large charities and housing associations to clergy and church workers, through to small community projects, advice agencies and environmental groups
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