The voluntary sector is not a cut-price alternative to state provision
The voluntary sector is increasingly important in the process of diversifying and adding value to the delivery of public services. This is particularly so in the current climate which has badly exposed the financial feet of clay on which many rural services stand. Along with colleagues at the RSN I am just finishing a report on alternative approaches to service delivery (email me if you would like a copy). This article by the ever thoughtful Mr Bubb gives considerable food for thought about how just at the time we need a vibrant vol/com sector it is being left to wither on the vine. It tells us:
The statistics revealed by the Guardian today are shocking. They must serve as a wake-up call to both the government and the third sector. Acevo has been warning for three years that charities are struggling to meet rising demand for their services while their income is falling. These figures not only confirm that trend, but demonstrate the scale of the financial challenge facing the sector. They show that many charities and community groups are facing the real threat of closure, with hugely damaging consequences for the beneficiaries and causes they serve.
The fact that close on 10% of voluntary organisations are questioning whether they will still exist in five years’ time should give everyone cause for concern. The impact of such a loss on local communities and the most vulnerable would be incalculable. Charities, community groups and other voluntary organisations often take years to build up, driven by the passion and energy of committed people. Once they have been allowed to disappear, they cannot simply be recreated when circumstances improve. And while too many of us sometimes take charities for granted, we would certainly notice the impact of their disappearance.