A report released today by umbrella body the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has warned that government cuts in public service delivery contracts could spell disaster for the voluntary and community sector throughout the UK.
The report, The State and the Voluntary Sector – Recent trends in government funding and public service delivery – details the significance of public service delivery by voluntary sector organisations on behalf of the government and estimates that sector income from these endeavours currently totals £12 billion. It also reveals that up to 25,000 voluntary organisations in the UK depend on statutory sources and public service contracts for up to three-quarters of their income.
Worryingly, sector experts fear that voluntary and community organisations and the public service contracts aligned to them could be seen as an easy target for government cut backs. This catastrophic blow could come despite the fact that many of the organisations which will be effected are currently delivering local, front-line services in social care, employment and training, law and advocacy, education and housing and providing much-needed support to recession hit communities.
Stuart Etherington, CEO, 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 vita contribution projects run by voluntary and community organisations make. These services are not just nice add-ons; they are critical of the well-being of communities across the UK”.
For further information visit the NCVO website:
Source: NCVO, 04/09/09
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