Voluntary groups issue warning as Islington Council announce plans to cap funding
Published: 17th December, 2010
by TOM FOOT
VOLUNTARY support groups have warned of an impending crisis if proposals to slash funding by two thirds are approved.
Town Hall chiefs have announced plans to cap voluntary sector grants at £40,000.
Mike Sheriff, chief executive of Voluntary Action Islington (VAI) – which supports hundreds of groups across the borough – said the move was at odds with Labour policy in other parts of the country where funding was being maintained. He added: “This is a time of very big cuts in public spending and community groups are being asked to play a bigger role.”
Hundreds of organisations in Islington rely on advice and support from volunteer programmes. For example, the Islington Mental Health Forum has sought help from VAI repeatedly over the last 10 months.
Forum member David Oliver said: “Without support from VAI, I would never have known how to get funding or run my club finances.”
Gulderen Koyel, from the Turkish and Kurdish Children’s Groups, added: “VAI helps us find funds, training, help with procedure, with policy – with everything.”