Wed, 08 February 2012
Worcestershire Infrastucture Consortium
2008 - 2009: Findings from WIC's 'The Credit Crunch and Worcestershire's VCS'
Below are the findings from WIC's Survey 'The Credit Crunch and Worcestershire's VCS' 2008 - 2009In total there are curently 17 respondants:
50% of group/organisations received an increase in the demand for services as a result of the current economic situation
There was an (estimated) percentage increase in the demand for services of:
under 5% = 25% of respondants
5% -10% = 25% of respondants
10% - 20% = 25% of respondants
30% - 40% = 12.5% of respondants
40% - 50% = 12.5% of respondants
Into which of these categories do the requests (for the demand for services) fall?
Budget advice = 55.6% of respondants
Housing difficulties = 33.3% of respondants
Unemployment / redundancy = 22.2% of respondants
Pension Credits or Benefits Advice = 44.4% of respondants
Relationship issues = 22.2% of respondants
Domestic abuse = 11.1% of respondants
Are you able to meet this demand within your current budget / resources?
Yes = 63.6% of respondants
No = 36.4% of respondants
Has your group/organisation experienced a reduction in funding over the last twelve months?
Yes = 64.7%of respondants
No = 35.3% of respondants
Has this been a reduction in (please tick all that apply)
Grant funding from charitable bodies = 33.3% of respondants
Grant funding from Central Government = 8.3% of respondants
Grant funding from local government = 66.7 % of respondants
Charitable donations = 41.7% of respondants
Fundraising events = 8.3% of respondants
What has been the impact of this reduction? (please tick all that apply)
Fewer individuals/families helped = 10% of respondants
Fewer services provided = 50% of respondants
Reduction in staff hours = 70% of respondants
Inability to maintain buildings properly = 10% of respondants
Does your group/organisation expect a reduction in funding over the next twelve months?
Yes = 71.4% of respondants
No = 28.6% of respondants
Additonal Comments from Survey:
- "We are still waiting to hear what our County Council Service Level Agreement/Contract will be from April 2009."
- "We used to receive funding from Worcs CC. When the new system to was introduce in 2008 the normal funding dried up. The applications to obtain funding was unnecessarily cumbersome and discouraging.
- "The reduction in bank interest rates will cause us a reduction in interest income which is an essential part of our business structure."
- "Grant Making Trusts capital will have been severely hit by the fall in the markets, therefore the income avavilable for the trsust to disburse will fall. We will see this in 6-18 months time."
- "Due to a change in the way services are delivered we will receive less funding which will again impact on the monies needed to keep our organisation operational. Short term projects taken on in order to recoup core funding are only stop gap measures and add to workload immeasurably, just so that we can continue to provide the direct services we are best known for."
- "We can not predict our future funding because local govt are still offring 1 or 2 year contracts."
- "We are on a knife edge and loss of grant can really affect our viability."
- "We have a range of funding streams - at worst, some of them have not kept pace with increased running costs"
- "New programmes may provide additional funding. Existing funding is being cut significantly."
- "This is a bit early, many people are only just becoming affected. Several organisations are waiting to hear if funding is to be renewed; there should be a 'waiting to hear' or 'uncertain' option for Q9
- "The Credit Crunch traditionally does not hit our sector finacially for some time - but it inevitable will!"
