29 Jan Support packages and services available for charities and community groups in Torbay

TIMES are hard and the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) continues to be buffeted by cuts in funding, even though their services are needed today more than ever.

We are constantly regaled by messages urging us all to cut back, spend less and our statutory services are struggling to make ends meet in delivering all but the most essential services.

Much has been written about the Autumn budget and its far-reaching effects on employers, and the VCSE sector is not immune from those pressures and for some, it has been catastrophic.

We have faced years of austerity and funding cuts, and the outlook remains bleak, forcing many organisations in the VCSE sector to withdraw or scale back their offers, and sadly, some have been forced to stop trading altogether.

Statutory bodies such as councils and the NHS have been squeezed and whilst the VCSE sector is normally the go to when times are hard, they too are suffering as a result and are struggling to take up the slack.

Research from Pro Bono Economics and Nottingham Trent University’s VCSE Data and Insights National Observatory shows that one in five charities have cut back on the number or scope of services they offer due to a combination of rising costs, recruitment difficulties, and lack of skills.

They note that those reducing services include mental health charities that have ended one-to-one counselling services in favour of less-specialised group support and a poverty-prevention charity which has had to ‘ration’ its services to those with the highest needs.

At the same time, 70% of charities expect demand for their services to increase over the coming months, with one in three anticipating being overwhelmed and unable to meet it all.

The report says a third (32%) of charities said they expect their finances to deteriorate while a further 35% expect them to stagnate.

There are many other studies that underline those findings and here in the Bay it is no different. A new year in prospect, but the same if not worse pressures to weather in the coming months.

NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) notes “that the voluntary and community sector is large and diverse. It includes the big household name charities, as well as the smallest, often unregistered, voluntary and community groups.

“These groups could be described as the ‘microbiome’ of the sector – they are essential to community health and wellbeing, just as the human microbiome is essential to our individual health. However, the voluntary sector microbiome often goes unseen and unrecognised, despite playing an essential role in communities.”

NAVC concludes “that as health problems and inequalities are often the outcome of many factors, the entire system must work together to address them. Policymakers, commissioners, and system leaders must explicitly recognise, support, and amplify the role of small, local, often unregistered community groups.

“Or put another way, the VCSE sector, big and small organisations alike, are an essential part of our community fabric, and without them, society will suffer.”

Here at Torbay Communities, we have a proud and long history of supporting the charity and voluntary sectors to ensure they remain strong, resilient, well-resourced and capable of providing the best local support to our communities. That is why we adopted our strapline “stronger together”.

We know that smaller charities cannot be jacks of all trades, and that is where we can help with specialist expertise in a wide range of skills and services.

Whatever you need assistance with, we will ensure you get only the help you need, with an option of ongoing support if you prefer. Our one-to-one advice is confidential, non-judgmental and tailored to your exclusive needs.

Our staff have years of experience delivering small, medium, large and complex projects – and we work in collaboration with networks that work across Torbay. We will continue offering free support but can now provide more in-depth support at an hourly or day rate with reduced rates for small groups.

We have a range of solutions that can be integrated into a package that supports your group or organisation. You can cherry-pick as much or as little as you need, and we have assembled the following packages. However, all can be tailored to you and your organisation, and we would be happy to discuss your requirements.

If we can help, then drop us an email to [email protected] or call us on 01803 212638.