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Public sector cuts could create financial black hole for charities - Charity Commission Report
25 March 2010
Research published today by the Charity Commission gives a new perspective on the extent to which cuts in public sector spending may affect larger charities when many public service delivery contracts between charities and public sector bodies end in March 2011. The figures are from the Commission’s latest Economic Survey of Charities, the largest representative survey on the effect of the downturn on charities.
The independent research shows that almost a quarter (24 per cent) of charities with an income of £100,000 or more consider public sector funding to be their most important source of income. 59 per cent of organisations consulted report having been affected by the downturn, up from 38 per cent in September 2008. 62 per cent have experienced a drop in income.
VSNW has responded to the research by renewing calls for government and other decision-makers to listen to, value and invest in the Third Sector. The Listen Value Invest campaign demonstrates the voluntary and community sector delivering significant economic and social benefits for people, communities and the wider economy, and warns that cutting investment in these groups risks storing up greater troubles for the future:
“As government, national and local, seeks savings, drives efficiencies and calls for cutbacks, we must tread carefully. Third Sector spending can often be identified as an easy cut to make: and we call on all decision makers to stop and think before cutting Third Sector investment," said Richard Caulfield, Chief Executive of VSNW.
“Our stories show the sector contributing positively to the economy, whether helping people become more economically active or representing significant savings by removing the need for costly interventions by statutory services. Decision-makers must show that they value these organisations, our communities and the people of the North West.”
Download the full press release
Featured Event
Open Public Services - Passage of a bill workshop
This VSNW/Parliamentary Outreach Service event will explore the stages that the bill would go through, their relative importance and ways to engage and influence
Featured News
Two days left to enter our case study competition - prizes up for grabs!
We are inviting local groups and local or regional infrastructure organisations from across the North West to submit ideas for Listen Value Invest 2012 case studies about their work and how they are adjusting to the new environment
Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund results announced
The beneficiaries of the £30 million fund to help transform and modernise local charity support services have been announced by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society.
Relaunch of Voluntary Sector Cuts Website
The Voluntary Sector Cuts website has now been relaunched with additional functionality to enable VCS organisations to records cuts to funding and their effects
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
