More support needed as third sector demand soars
Navca’s chief executive Kevin Curley has called for continued government support for the third sector as it publishes a report revealing the impact of the recession.
Crunch Time surveyed 900 third sector organizations earlier this year. Demand for their services had increased by up to 50% in some areas, with financial, housing and employment support seeing the biggest increase.
The number of volunteers was up but finding the right placements is stretching resources at a time when organizational income is reducing.
Organizations with incomes between £10,000 and £150,000 are hardest hit by the recession, though many feel that the full impact is yet to be felt.
Navca says that it is ‘crunch time’ for the sector and is calling for the government to extend its package of support beyond 2010.
The report revealed an increased commitment to collaboration among third sector organizations but Curley warned that partnerships and mergers require both money and time.
‘With less money around, third sector organisations need to improve how they use existing resources. Greater collaboration, even merger, takes time to build. We need support over the medium term to make this happen,’ he said.
In February this year the government unveiled a package of support for the third sector including a £16.5m modernisation fund, which provided grants to groups moving towards merger or collaboration. Those taking up the grants will, from September, be eligible for bursaries to help push forward merger plans.
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