Forum Brief: Voluntary sector plans

The government has unveiled plans to harness the voluntary sector to deliver £125 million into Britain's communities.

Launching a consultation on the "futurebuilders fund", the Treasury said it wanted to work with community-based initiatives to deliver local projects in areas such as health, social care and tackling crime.

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive for Counsel and Care, told ePolitix.com: "I welcome parts of the government's new strategy, particularly a greater emphasis on long term investment and funding packages.

"However, the idea of loans to organisations to deliver government objectives is a rather strange one. How will organisations find the money to pay these loans back and why should they when they would be delivering a service for the government and the community?"

Forum Response: Royal National Institute of the Blind

Caroline Ellis, UK parliamentary manager of the Royal National Institute of the Blind, told ePolitx.com: "RNIB would urge the government to include in their plans strategic investment in low vision services, ie. the services that help people live with sight loss and maintain their independence.

"The numbers of people with sight problems is large and growing yet in many areas services for them are just not given the priority they deserve. We will urge and work with local societies of blind and partially sighted people to seize any opportunities the new fund may provide.

"Increasing investment in the production of books and other materials in accessible formats is also a priority for us on the ground. To meet demand for books in braille, on audio tape or in large print there needs to be a major injection of government funding. Stimulating community-based initiatives in this area would be highly desirable. Overall we hope the initiative will deliver some real benefit to blind, partially sighted and other disabled people."

Forum Response: Voice UK

Kathryn Stone, director of Voice UK, told ePolitix.com: "Voice UK welcomes this proposal and optimistically sees this as a positive way to harness the enormity of knowledge, skills and experience in the voluntary sector.

"However if the process of delivering money to organisations is as complicated and labyrinthine as it is from some government, departments currently, it will stall immediately."

Forum Response: British Council of Disabled People

Andy Rickell, director of the British Council of Disabled People, told ePolitix.com: "I am generally supportive of this additional funding, and the process involved in deciding how it will be used.

"I am however concerned that it is likely to be the more established parts of the voluntary sector who will be best placed to take advantage. Organisations like our member groups who are relatively young, have few resources but who offer really innovative ways of delivering public services are likely to lose out.

"I hope sufficient thought is given to such user-led initiatives when the fund is finally designed."

Forum Response: Disabilities Trust

Matt Townsend, public affairs officer for the Disabilities Trust told ePolitix.com: "The Trust welcomes the consultation announced over the proposed futurebuilders fund and we will be making a detailed representation to the Treasury.

"While we warmly welcome any additional funding being made available to the third sector and the recent cross-cutting review from which the fund originated, it is important for the government to recognise that recent changes such as this year's National Insurance increase and the significant rise in the cost of supporting the work of the National Care Standards Commission, leave service providers such as ourselves with a more uncertain financial future.

"It is these additional pressures (not to mention the ongoing problem of irrecoverable VAT) that will do most to constrain the ability of charitable and community sector service providers to continue to grow and develop their services."

Forum Response: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Robin Hutchinson, head of communications for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association told ePolitix.com: "The Futurebuilders Fund clearly shows the government's growing confidence in, and commitment to, the voluntary sector. The fund's £125 million cash injection is extremely welcome, as is the introduction of greater freedom for charities to make their money really work for them.

"We see this as a real boost and the start of a new phase in the sector's ability to help shape its own future, and that of our society as a whole."