This latest NCVO report looks at the implications of ongoing austerity, and estimates the scale of cuts affecting the sector. If current plans go ahead, the sector will receive £1.7bn less funding from government in 2017/18 than in 2010/1
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
14 June 2012
Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics has said that ‘all being well we should be able to hand half a billion pounds back to the Treasury’.
But the Directory of Social Change believe that, as billions have gone to support the Games from lottery revenues, £425 million of this cash should be refunded to the Big Lottery Fund, which supports charities and community groups doing vital work in communities across Britain.
They are now leading the Big Lottery Refund campaign and Jay Kennedy, Head of Policy at the Directory of Social Change (DSC), said ‘It will be an utter outrage – and verging on money laundering – if lottery revenues raided by the Government to fund the Olympics go back to the Treasury. This money was taken away from supporting vulnerable people and communities across this country at a time when they needed it most. Government needs to keep its promises and do the right thing – any underspend must be used to refund the Lottery as soon as possible.’
DSC has developed a website to support the campaign, www.biglotteryrefund.org.uk, to gather and mobilise supporters in the run up to the Games and beyond if necessary.
Regional Voices, of which VSNW is a partner, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded funding from the Department of Health (Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund) to support voluntary and community sector influence on health and wellbeing boards
The Department for Business Innovation & Skills has published the findings of a research study on European Social Fund delivery with the aim of informing thinking around the next round of programmes
Healthwatch England was formed in April 2013 and is the independent consumer champion for health and social care in England. They have now published a list of local Healthwatch, including those for the North West
The Local Government Chronicle held a webinar to explore the essential elements to ensure local healthwatch organisations are effective in scrutinising local health services and provide a voice for communities. Regional Voices, of which VSNW are a part, are mentioned.
An analysis has been published by NAVCA of the 74 areas that received Transforming Local Infrastructure and provides a national perspective, and allows the sharing of information and ideas
