VONNE

Surviving not Thriving

Who will Survive or Thrive past 3/2011?

During spring 2010, VONNE undertook the third survey in our continued monitoring of the impact of the recession on the North East's voluntary and community sector (VCS). During the course of the survey the political landscape changed dramatically, and as the survey results show, the public sector budget cuts have the potential for significant impact on the sector in the region.

Stand-out figures include:

78% of respondents have seen an increase in demand for their services
51% of respondents have seen a decrease in their annual income
92% of respondents receive some or all of their income from the public sector.

Download the results of the survey in our briefing note (Word 164kb)

It is evident that the VCS are responding to the challenges amplified by the recession despite increased pressures on their own organisations. Whilst the majority of the sector is coping, just, for how much longer will they be able to cope is questionable.

The announcements of between 25% and 40% budget cuts for the public sector and the changes in policy direction will place greater pressures and challenges on the region in the coming months and years ahead.

We accept cuts will have to be made in public sector budgets and some of this pain will have to be borne by VCS organisations. However at a time when more and more people are turning to the region's VCS for help and support, and where our services will become essential to some of the most vulnerable in society we make the following recommendation:

We call upon public sector bodies, particularly local authorities, to engage voluntary and community sector organisations at an early stage in the decision making process when considering cuts to funding and public sector budgets. Any cuts should be kept to a minimum and not be made disproportionate upon the sector, in an effort to maximise efficiency savings targets.

Tell us how you are being affected - email bigchallenge@vonne.org.uk

How we've used the previous survey results

The previous results from our series Surviving not Thriving surveys have been a powerful tool in lobbying for more support for you and your organisations.

Not only have the survey results resulted in widespread press, TV and radio coverage they have also been used in the following ways:

Organised event to inform the region's third sector of support available to their beneficiaries from mainstream public sector bodies. Event took place on 16 July 2009 and was attended by over 100 individuals.
Report sent to all North East MP's, selected Government ministers and department contacts.
The Regional select committee (North East MP's) raised questions on the results of the survey with the Regional Minister, which led to him writing to HM Treasury to lobby for continuation of the Real Help support programme beyond March 2010.
The Targeted Support Fund used the findings to directly target areas of most need.
VONNE contacted by the Home Office via GONE to look at what support could be implemented at a national level which could support third sector organisations in the region.
The results were used by BBC Local Radio to inform their series of programmes on the potential impact of public sector spending cuts in the North East, with a particular focus on third sector organisations.
Results presented to the regional Skills and Employability Response Group, and the regional network of Local Authority scrutiny officers and members to highlight the issues of the sector and encourage more dialogue.
Articles in Regeneration and Renewal and NCVO's Engage magazine.
Both survey results have informed the development of the North East Third Sector Action Plan.

November 2009 Survey results: Still Surviving NOT Thriving

Six months after Surviving Not Thriving we undertook a follow up survey. The results show that our sector is responding to the recession increases in services to meet the additional demand, but a large proportion may struggle to survive it.

The last report, Still Surviving Not Thriving, on the continued impact of the recession on the third sector in the North East can be downloaded here:

Still Surviving NOT Thriving (PDF 1.4MB)

Short briefing note on latest survey results (PDF 109kB)

The following appendices are referred to in the report. Please click on each link to download.

Annex I - Full survey (PDF 63kB)

Annex II - Organisational case studies (PDF 30kB)