How Cameron’s coalition is choking the Big Society

Good Society

Half of all charities have seen costs rise due to David Cameron’s policies, a third sector survey has revealed - while 60 per cent have seen income fall.

Half of all charities have seen costs rise due to coalition policies, a third sector survey has revealed. The report, carried out by the Charity Finance Directors’ Group, consulted with 288 NGOs, also found that three-fifths of charities had seen their income fall as a result of legislative and public spending changes by the government.

As a result almost half  have had to draw into their reserves, up from 28% last year.

The report, that also found that only 7 per cent of charities understood the aims of the big society, paints a picture of reduced income, higher costs and increased demands:

Sixty per cent of charities reported that the changes in public sector policy had reduced the funding available to them.

This is most frequent for organisations working in the areas of social services (82%), culture, sport and recreation (77%) and housing (71%). it was least frequent for organisations working in religion (27%). Only 6% have noted an increase in funding available.

Thirty six per cent consider that it has increased the need for their services. This is most frequent for those working in social services (58%), and least frequent for those working in Religion (13%) and internationally (14%). Only 1% of respondents consider the developments to have reduced need.

Fifty per cent consider that it has increased the cost of operation.

Furthermore, if the intention of the Big Society was to open up public sector contracts from a small number of big players to include more smaller charities, it appears to have failed. Larger charities are twice as likely to consider the Big Society as relevant to them as smaller ones.

The scale of the damage caused by Coalition cuts can be found on the Voluntary Sector Cuts website, where charities have reported how £76 million of cuts are crippling the Big Society.

See also:

• Citizens UK: “The Big Society is flawed if people have to work two jobs” – Peter Carrol, October 21st 2011

• Cameronism uncovered: Taxpayer-funded big business – Daniel Elton, September 12th 2011

• Fears government reforms could create a “big divide” not a ‘Big Society’ – Kamaljeet Gill, July 29th 2011

• Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ set to leave a disastrous legacy for public services – Sam McLean, July 28th 2011

• As Cameron talks up the Big Society, it’s crashing down – Dominic Browne, June 6th 2011

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26 Responses to “How Cameron’s coalition is choking the Big Society”

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