When I was Lead Councillor for Children's Services I attended an event in February 2010, organised by the voluntary sector along with the Conservative and Lib Dem spokespeople for Children's Services on what the respective political parties position on funding the voluntary sector. A large number of voluntary organisations were in attendance and they questioned councillors on what plans they had to fund the good work volunteers provide for the public of Reading. I was able to proudly state Labour's record over the last 25 years in funding organisations such as Dingley Specialist unit for disabled Children and that Labour would continue to fund these valuable services and enhance the partnership between the voluntary sector and Reading Borough Council. Councillors Chris Harris, Lib Dem Spokesperson and Councillor Jamie Chowdhary, Conservative Opposition Lead Councillor for Children's Services both agreed with Labour's position and committed to continue funding. Oddly enough many volunteers were cynical about Tory commitments and questions were raised about future funding.
True to the ConDem's pattern of governance that what is said before an election is not what happens after the election and the coalition have released a press statement heralding a change in the way funds are allocated to front line voluntary sector services to the public, particularly children. The statement is spinning a positive line, but beware when the ConDems or to be accurate the Conservative council start talking about Labour waste and the deficit then you know a major cut to valuable services is on its way.
Reading Borough Council under Labour was a well run and financially stable council with a healthy balance which covered spending pressures in Children's Services and elderly services. The previous Labour administration in Reading didn't fritter taxpayers money away in Iceland, unlike Tory and LibDem councils in Berkshire. The officers were clear and careful with finances and tax payers money, hence the good score received by the Comprehensive Performance Assessment. So don't believe the Conservatives when they try to justify ideological cuts in valuable services to children and elderly people.
Reading Borough Council is however proposing significant changes to the way in which funding is allocated so that money can be better directed towards funding priority areas of work which will benefit the town most.
In the past, around this time of year, voluntary sector organisations have traditionally applied for funding for the year ahead in a single annual grant round. The new proposal is to move to more flexible and frequent funding opportunities throughout the course of the year.
The plans would see priority-need areas funded through a mixture of competitive tendering and bidding opportunities ring-fenced to the voluntary and community sector. It is hoped the new approach will be more flexible and present some new and exciting opportunities through creativity and partnership working. The new approach would also build on the on-going need to deliver value for money for the Reading council taxpayer.
Mike Townend, Lead Councillor with responsibility for the Voluntary Sector in Reading, said: "There is a very active and committed voluntary and community sector here in Reading and I believe this review of the process of allocating the funding will help to channel their enthusiasm and energy to where it's needed most. I also think that many groups will see new opportunities and I encourage them to bring new and innovative ideas to the table."
Two meetings have been organised for voluntary sector organisations to hear about the proposals in more detail, share their views or ask any questions they may have. Council Leader Andrew Cumpsty and Cllr Mike Townend will be at the events, as well as other members of Reading Borough Council's Cabinet.
The Council this week wrote to voluntary and community organisations across Reading informing them of the proposed changes and inviting them to attend either one of the up and coming meetings. The first will be on Tuesday October 12 from 6.30pm in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, with the second on Thursday October 14 from 6.30pm in the Kennet Room, Civic Centre. Organisations should return the response slips if they are planning to attend.
Following the events, Council officers are offering organisations the chance to make an appointment to discuss future funding opportunities. The aim is to give organisations an indication of the new funding programme by the end of December this year, with the programme itself coming into effect in April next year.
I am a trustee of more than one local charity. We provide services for people who cannot afford to pay the full cost of those services. Charity trustees are, by law, unpaid for their services as trustees. Some trustees, including me, also do voluntary work for their charity, but.... We employ people to provide some of those services - because we need particular skills, qualifications, experience, knowledge, expertise, aptitudes, or simply to manage and provide the services. Our employees need some continuity of employment or some of them will take their valuable and scarce expertise to an employer who will give them the prospect of continuous employment and the ability to feed their children and pay their mortgage every month. Small amounts of one-off project funding for one-off projects have their place. But "core" funding to contribute to the basic costs of the organisation has been and is incredibly important in ensuring that some voluntary organisations continue to exist and can provide basic services and give a basis to build on. Not necessarily from Reading Borough Council, and RBC has for many years encouraged voluntary organisations to find additional and alternative sources of funding so few are totally reliant on RBC. Taking away comparatively reliable and comparatively regular core funding from RBC where it exists will transform those organisations who have received it. Most likely for the worse.
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