Cuts

London Funders reports
A perfect storm: changes to the funding of the advice sector 
(2012) A London Funders meeting exploring the crisis facing advice in London and also strategies for funders and advice services to maintain and improve income.

How are you handling the cuts?
November 2010
Timed to take place soon after the Coalition Government published its Spending Review 2010, this meeting for funders looked at:

• the impact of public expenditure cuts on the voluntary and community sector in London
• the knock-on effect on other funders
• the alternatives to “salami-slicing”
• how to make time to look at the evidence of what works while the cliff-edge of cuts approaches
• how some boroughs have managed to make a commitment to protect the VCS
• non-monetary strategies for support – shared resources, mergers, etc

1. Map, review and strategise first: LB Enfield is checking exactly what it spends on the VCS and how, looking at new ways of delivering services, and developing fresh principles to inform the way it works with the third sector.
2. Cuts after consultation: LB Merton has approached decisions on cuts through Compact-compliant processes.  

External Publications
Big Squeeze 2011
London Voluntary Service Council’s third annual piece of research into the impact of the downturn and public expenditure cuts on London’s third sector. 

Coping with the cuts
Demos has developed an index which reveals how cuts to social care budgets are affecting disabled people across the country and which local councils are best managing budgetary changes. There is a brief profile of each borough in England and Wales. 

Counting the cuts: The impact of spending cuts on the UK voluntary and community sector
In response to the government’s Spending Review, this NCVO report analyses the Government’s projected spending plans for the Spending Review period 2011-15. The report offers an estimate of where, how, and how much the cuts from Government in public spending already are and their likely future impact.

Preparing for cuts
A report by New Philanthropy Capital which looks at how funders can respond to current changes and support charities through the challenging times ahead. It also suggests ways in which charities can put themselves in a stronger position to cope with the impact of the cuts, for instance by adapting their strategies or partnering with other charities or private sector providers.

Updated cuts report
LVSC, 2012
Analysis suggests that London's voluntary and community sector was disproportionately cut in 2011-12 compared with national government cuts to London's local authorities, in breach of current Best Value Duty guidance.