Glasgow’s voluntary organisations call for adequate funding and sustainable sector
Glasgow’s community and voluntary organisations met on Tuesday, 27th March to call for concerted action to meet the growing crisis in funding for the sector
Over 100 organisations from across the city were at The Changing Funding Environment, a crisis conference called by Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS).
Attendees at the conference had already completed a survey, which picked up huge concerns around the short-term nature and gross under-funding of most contracts and awards. A huge 96% of organisations have concerns about their existence beyond the coming financial year, and three-quarters have not managed to secure adequate funding for the 2007/08 year.
Among other key demands, conference, attending organisations outlined their various issues, including
• The sector be treated as an equal and valued partner by statutory bodies, and that a voluntary sector Compact Agreement be put in place.
• Quicker decision making on funding applications and less red-tape, including a common application form
• Contracts, especially with statutory bodies, that allow for full-cost recovery of outgoings, including fixed costs.
Commenting upon the conference, GCVS Chief Executive Helen Macneil said:
“We are now in that annual waste of energy and resources that makes up the funding round, and that is a good time for everyone to consider the true costs of the services that the sector is being asked to provide.
“The clear message that came through strongly from today’s conference is that short term funding, red-tape and inadequate resources are dangerously undermining the future sustainability of the sector. Organisations are feeling used, under-resourced and undervalued.
“Funders, including statutory bodies, need to understand the added social value that is provided by voluntary and community sector, and support it accordingly. Ultimately, this is about how we get a better deal for Glasgow and a fair deal for its community and voluntary organisations.”
The conference decided to produce and rally around a position paper on the needs of Glasgow’s funding. This will be drafted by GCVS and, once agreed, be used to establish bargaining positions and decide upon unified and concerted future actions.
For further coverage of Glasgow's voluntary sector funding crisis, log on to BBC Scotland