Snapshot of the effect of the recession on Bristol's Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector March 2009
Voscur has conducted a snapshot survey amongst its members (charities and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations), and looked at the effect of the recession to date on Voscur's infrastructure services.
Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations told us that many groups are still suffering from the effect of the end of Neighbourhood Renewal funding or have been affected by changing criteria within the City Council's community development investment budget, and are concerned about the move to commissioning of services. Staff in many voluntary sector organisations are on contracts relating to funding streams, so jobs are never secure. The recession adds to insecurity for the sector.
Managing in a Downturn, (November 2008) a report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Charity Finance Directors Group (CFDG) and the Institute of Fundraising predicted that there would be a shortfall of around £2.3 bn across the sector next financial year.
Download report here (pdf)
The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) and Charities Aid Foundation survey in September 2008 found that 88% of respondents thought voluntary income to the sector would fall in real terms and 17% had seen their income fall.
Snapshots
- Voscur member group working with young people
A member organisation supporting young people not in education, employment or training reported that one of the trusts that supports its work has advised them that as its own investments are yielding less, this will mean less money to support local charities.
At the same time, the 14 19 workstream group reported to the Children and Young Peoples Partnership Executive at its February meeting that the number of people aged 16 18 not in education, employment or training has risen from 11,845 in December 07 to 12,363 in December 08.
- Neighbourhood case study
A major concern is that for the past two years Southmead Development Trust has run three information and advice centres (one each in Southmead, Lawrence Weston and Lockleaze). These have been largely funded by the Integrated Employment Enterprise Initiative programme through Neighbourhood Renewal. Just at the point where the services supplied via these outlets (CAB, Credit Union, Connexions JobCentre plus) will be needed Southmead Development Trust has been told that there will be no further funding beyond March to keep these services open. Investment to keep these open would be relatively small in comparison to the positive economic impact.
Southmead Development Trust reports a "high demand for its low-cost rented business accommodation with ancillary support services, and car parking facilities. The majority of tenants are service industry based so it may be that other parts their businesses will suffer first. Perhaps we have yet to feel the effect of the recession, i.e. the office is the last thing to go when the crunch comes. Ask me the same question in six months time."
Larger volumes of people are attending training sessions in Southmead and Filwood. More learners are now attending IT courses (strengthening computer skills), and a greater number are now referrals from Job Centre plus. People are retraining or seeking a qualification for the first time.
- Volunteering in Bristol
Based on last year's figures Volunteering Bristol was expecting to see 125 people seeking volunteer placements in January 2009, but actually saw 243 people. 600 telephone calls or emails were expected; 900 were received.
A major local employer is directing people who have been made redundant to Volunteering Bristol.
Two high profile volunteer involving organisations have ceased recruiting volunteers and made their volunteer managers redundant.
- Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise Works, Bristol's Social Enterprise support organisation is currently being funded on a short term basis. There is no free or subsidised social enterprise support available in Bristol. So groups find it difficult to move along the path from voluntary/community group to income generating organisation.
- Advice Services
All advice agencies are reporting increased demands for services, "Staff are already carrying a very heavy caseload so it is hard to see how we are going to increase our capacity. We are anticipating the demand for our services to increase greatly over the coming months. We have too few advisors to cope with the increasing numbers of people seeking advice
- Jobs in the sector in Bristol
As yet, we have not seen a reduction in voluntary, community and social enterprise sector jobs on Voscur website.
In February 2008, 62 voluntary and community sector jobs were advertised on the Voscur website. In February 2009, 71 sector jobs were advertised on the Voscur website.
However, in February 08 Voscur's job pages received 10,921 page views. Job page views this February totalled 13,789 an increase of 26% in job page views.
- Voscur training bookings
Voscur offers training in a range of sector skills and work force development areas. Bookings on courses relating to organisational survival and governance have increased. Free training on courses such as Speaking with Confidence and What Does Representing Your Community Mean? is also oversubscribed.
However, overall training bookings have reduced. Other trainers and training organisations report reduction in bookings.
- Requests for support
Voscur members are asking for support with employment and personnel issues, funding and finance, long term planning, short/medium term financial planning, dealing with increased demands for support with fewer resources, and help with restructuring.
- Support
The Bristol ChangeUp Consortium is currently developing a resource pack and training session to help voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Bristol manage risk in these difficult times.
Voscur training programme for spring includes:
- Good Governance
- Developing a fundraising strategy
- Legal structures for organisations
- Financial management
- Human Rights and Your work
- Be better at what you do (for small groups)
- Preparing effective tenders
- Fit for funding
More details On Voscurs 2009 Training Program
We will be working closely with Volunteering Bristol to improve the quality of management and support of volunteers in Bristol this year, linking volunteering to skills and employment.
Voscur is also offering one to one funding advice sessions and health checks, and currently looking at our work programme for next year to make sure that it is responsive to members' needs.
Voscur's chief executive has volunteered to be a member of the Bristol Partnership working group looking at ways of supporting communities in Bristol.
