Recession, Spending Review and the Budget

Comprehensive Spending Review - the implications for the Voluntary&Community Sector

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne, has revealed further details of the Government's vision for the Big Society and its plans for the voluntary sector as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Speaking to the House of Commons, the Chancellor announced the following measures affecting the sector:

  • £470 million over the next four years building the capacity of the voluntary sector to deliver the Big Society.
  • A £100 million transition fund to help service delivery organisations that have low levels of reserves and high dependence on public funding.
  • Additional funds to pilot the National Citizen Service and a Community First Fund to support local and community organisations.
  • A reduction in funding to councils of 7.1% a year for four years.
  • The Cabinet Office budget will be reduced by 35% in real terms, from £280 million in 2010-11 to £200 million by 2014-15.
  • The Charity Commission's budget will be cut by more than a quarter to £21.3 million by 2014/15.
  • The Government will set proportions of services to be delivered by independent providers, including voluntary sector groups, in adult social care, early years, community health services, pathology services, youth services, court and tribunal services, and early interventions for families most in need.
  • The Big Society Bank will receive all cash from dormant accounts, and the Government will "work with the financial sector, the voluntary sector and community groups to develop innovative equity investment opportunities in public services".
  • Museums and other cultural institutions will be allowed more flexible use of money raised independently

Info provided by HVA (Hastings Voluntary Action)

Recession and the Voluntary and Community Sector

In the light of changing economic situation it is important to react and be able to provide some feedback and evidence of some of its effects on the local Voluntary and Community Organisations.

The project is helping with:

  • Coordinated collection of evidence across East Sussex (incl. CVSs survey and University of Brighton Recession Research in East Sussex)
  • Liaison and reporting to ESCC
  • Linking with regional work and lobbying (incl via RAISE - Regional Action and Involvement South East)
  • Some results include increase in prompt payments from ESCC invoices and VCS representation place at ESCC Recession Task Force

Hot off the PRESS.... East Sussex Local Resilience Action Plan.

The East Sussex Local Resilience Action Plan (LRAP) is an assessment of the impact of the recession locally on voluntary and community organisations and communities they serve. It presents recommended actions to help the sector deal with the implications of the recession and an increasingly uncertain funding future.

 

Local groups can use information from the Plan to influence your local partners as well as evidence in bidding for funding.

If you wish to discuss the report or would like to know more about how you can use it, please contact Miriam Miklaszewska at SpeakUp Forum - speakup@3va.org.uk or tel. 01273 483 832.

 

Please find two versions below - PDF and Word. Word version will help you easily use the information - you can copy and paste into your own documents or funding bids (please remember to reference the LRAP).

 

East Sussex Local Resilience Action Plan - PDF

 

East Sussex Local Resilience Action Plan - Word

 

 

ESCC Budget

 

Read more about ESCC Budget and the cuts decisions, as they are being made on:

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/yourcouncil/finance/budget 

On 27th July the Cabinet will consider ESCC annual State of the County report. The report will be published here at that time, setting out the national and local picture, and spending pressures for next year (2011/12). 

If you want to pass on any comments from a perspective of a voluntary or community group, please contact Miriam Miklaszewska at speakup@3va.org.uk or tel. 01273 483 832.