28th August
A Bolsover CVS response to the DCC Consultation on Voluntary Sector Discretionary Grants
This submission focuses specifically on the impact and risks to Bolsover VCSE organisations and communities and has been submitted by BCVS following consultation with our members and wider sector at series of individual and group meetings over the last 2 months.
We know, there are fewer general charities in Bolsover than any other Derbyshire District as reflected in national almanac data. Illustrated in the Infographic pulled together on behalf of DDIA by BCVS: https://publuu.com/flip-book/42500/1203511/page/2 .
The essential role played by VCSE organisations in prevention work in addition to addressing emergencies and times of crisis is well understood by our public sector partners across local authorities, Public Health and the NHS, to this end our sector is written into key DCC, Public Health and NHS strategies and plans.
Further, BCVS and our member organisations have invested significant time over the last 2 years in strategic system development. Prior to this and throughout the pandemic, BCVS, VCSE members and the wider sector provided emergency response support, development of increased community engagement and involvement, and in codesign and new system development work.
See for example the Health Inequality Report involving members and published here: Wider Bolsover Impact | Bassetlaw CVS (bcvs.org.uk)
And the BetterforBolsover 2022 report published here. Better for Bolsover | Bassetlaw CVS (bcvs.org.uk)
This is due to be followed up with a second large conference in November 2024.
All strategic system development work has involved working closely with all key stakeholders above to shape and develop the system, including wider funding programmes and service delivery in order to maximise value for money, productivity and the health and wellbeing of our population and sector.
Numerous research studies, in addition to member feedback, tells us that many Bolsover organisations have already lost funding and been cut to the bone. 40% of VCSE organisations are now running on reserves both nationally and locally (see VCSE Barometer data and BCVS impact data).What is left of our sector cannot therefore withstand or absorb further cuts at a time of increasing need and increasing health and wider inequalities driven by national conditions including the cost of living crisis.
It should therefore be noted by decision makers that it is not only the loss of services and support provided directly by discretionary grants funding which should be considered, but the wider impact on survival of some organisations in addition to removing the capacity to provide support for organisations to grow and develop.
It is a false economy to disinvest in a sector so vital to the wellbeing of our communities. Whilst BCVS exists in Bolsover, we will continue to work with funders to attract further funding for Bolsover to address the inequity experienced by our district and Bolsover VCSE organisations.
We have encouraged all VCSE groups to submit their own direct response to the consultation in addition to gathering the feedback below.
It is clear that the proposed cuts will disproportionately impact on those community members experiencing the highest levels of exclusion and inequity due to a range of protected characteristics, the intersection of these characteristics combined with the wider impact of cost of living and non protected characteristics such as poverty and social class.
We would therefore like assurance that detailed equality impact assessments for each individual service and organisation in scope for the proposed cuts will be undertaken before final decisions are made to ensure decision makers have full sight on the impact of the proposed cuts on our most vulnerable communities across Bolsover. It is not possible to summarise the complex risks and impact of all organisations in scope within a consultation response and we see this as the duty of DCC to perform as part of their duty of care to our most vulnerable communities.
Annex A - Collective response to DCC consultation
Groups in attendance at Bolsover Voices on 5th August and via email and follow up discussions have made the following points about the impact of the proposed cuts:
- There is an assumption underlying the cuts, which is that because it is the VCSE, more work will be pushed onto volunteers who will fill the gaps in capacity created by the cuts at no cost. This assumption is incorrect. It cannot be assumed that it is feasible to fill all the gaps with volunteers, and there are financial and other costs involved in volunteer-run activities and supporting volunteers appropriately.
- It is important to invest funding upstream to prevent or reduce problems downstream. The proposed cuts will impact on the upstream activities delivered by those organisations. The impacts will be experienced by communities of interest, including older people, young people, disabled people and in mental health support. There are significant implications for groups protected under equalities legislation.
- Members of the group spoke about groups and charities being asked to support individuals with high level and complex needs in higher and higher numbers. This work helps to save lives. It is already putting a strain on the sector and cuts will exacerbate this and increase demand elsewhere, including the NHS, Social Care and local authorities.
- The cuts will lead to loss of trust in the services provided by VCSE organisations.
- The VCSE already provides excellent value for money and has already streamlined due to previous reductions in funding.
Groups also provided the following written feedback prior to and after the meeting:
Like other organisations within Derbyshire, are facing an onslaught for survival amidst increasing budget deficits for councils nationwide and between new government admin/financial budgetary announcements that would give us all direction AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE CONTINUATION Of VITAL SUPPORTIVE VOLUNTARY WORK UNDERTAKEN BY BCVS and others.
- There appears to be a failure to understand the huge potential financial and social costs to our communities, community groups and individual citizens from such short-sighted cost saving methods which will incur huge costs downstream when prevention and community cohesion work is reduced or disappears.
The consultation has now closed (20/08/2024) and we are awaiting the outcome. BCVS will continue to engage and inform our VCSE organisations with any updates on this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact us on 01246 605075 in regards to this matter or any other support you may require.
Kindest regards
Andria Birch
CEO
BCVS