‘Cuts Both Ways’: A voluntary sector response to council budget cuts 13 February 2014 Phil Mawhinney Senior Policy Officer Community Action Southwark

1. Session outcomes Participants will gain – Knowledge of how CAS is influencing Southwark council on the impact of budget cuts. Knowledge of the different tools used to collect and share evidence. Ideas for how to influence their local council.

1. Outline TimeItem 2.30 Introductions Worth our while influencing councils? Context : cuts Narrative + evidence 3.30 Refreshments 3.35 Films: prevention Policy asks Recap 4.25 End

1. Introductions In pairs, report the other person’s – Name Organisation Borough What they want to get from this workshop

2. Worth our while? Is it worth your while to try and influence the council on budget cuts? Why?

3. Context: council budget cuts Council spending power cut 27% over 6 years. 15/16 likely to be 11% cut. Less council funding for VCOs. Driver/context

3. Context: council budget cuts Qu 1: National Nationally, we are halfway through 8 years of planned fiscal consolidation. By the end of 2013/14, the government will have achieved how much of this consolidation? a)26% b)44% c)52%

3. Context: council budget cuts Answer 1. a) 26% b) 44% c) 52% Source: IFSIFS However – ‘the benefit cuts and the cuts to day-to-day spending on public services have been relatively back-loaded’.

3. Context: council budget cuts Qu 2: Local government Local government spending is set to fall by how much between 2008 and 2015? a)15% b)30% c)40%

3. Context: council budget cuts Answer 2. a)15% b)30% c)40% Because funding covers new service burdens – the underlying cut for existing services is even higher. Source: JRFJRF

3. Context: council budget cuts Qu 3: London councils Of 32 London boroughs, how many are seeing a cut in spending power per person of >£200 ( )? a)18 b)22 c)27

Answer 3. a)18 b)22 c)27 Southwark, £249 Hackney, £338 Richmond, £39

3. Context: council budget cuts Qu 4: Voluntary sector funding NCVO estimates public funding for charities to decline by how much ? a)9% b)12% c)21%

3. Context: council budget cuts Answer 4. a)9% b)12% c)21% If cuts are disproportionate – as suggested by Compact evidence – it could be 15%. Source: NCVONCVO

3. Context: council budget cuts Qu 5: Voluntary sector impact How many voluntary organisations in London had to close services in 2012, according to an LVSC survey? a)41% b)51% c)71%

3. Context: council budget cuts Answer 5: a)41% b)51% c)71% Source: LVSCLVSC 60% reported a reduction in overall funding. 66% saw an increase in demand for their services.

3. Context: council budget cuts Champions? Image: downloadwallpaper.hdcomdownloadwallpaper.hdcom

4. Narrative 2 narrative options – Image: ft.comft.com No cuts! Where would you be without us?

4. Narrative

VCS make tangible difference in people’s lives VCS bring VALUE – prevents higher costs to stat. services Sensible use of public money Imagine no VCS – needs would go unchecked, higher costs Joseph + Mark, Youth Futures

Evidence/metrics on local VCS as a sector. Concrete, contribution, economic # organisations, # employees 4. Evidence Name others!

4. Evidence

Also – # working with children/older people etc. £ charity (local) spending # organisations # employees # volunteers £ of volunteering £ leveraged in

Refreshments 5 minutes!

1. Outline TimeItem 2.30 Introductions Worth our while influencing councils? Context: cuts Narrative + evidence 3.30 Refreshments 3.35 Films: prevention + themes Policy asks Recap 4.25 End

Films – case studies of VCS prevention/value 5 themes / areas of VCS work Website 5. Films – prevention + themes

Themes? i.e. VCS work

5. Films – prevention + themes Themes reflect council priorities – ‘ Fairer Future Promises’ Health & Wellbeing Strategy Economic Wellbeing Strategy Children & Young People’s Plan

E.g. parenting classes, high quality youth work. E.g. prison, hospital

Prevention, reducing pressure on stat. services. 5. Films – prevention + themes Youth futures ( ) Support and build confidence of young people at risk of exclusion. Prevention – police resources, costs of unemployment. Family Action ( ) Support isolated families – children and parents. Prevention – fewer children into care system. – fewer parents requiring mental health services.

5. Films – prevention + themes

Narrative – what would happen if VCS didn’t exist Evidence – employees, volunteering, leveraged income Examples – of prevention, projects Role play! Pairs – 1 council leader, 1 VCS advocate 3 minutes to argue for the value of the local VCS, risks of cutting Prompts 5. Films – prevention + themes

‘Early Action Commission’ Independent Long-term, cross-sector view How can the council, NHS, police etc. work with the VCS to prevent needs escalating 6. Policy asks Support from – Council CEO Corporate Strategy (demand management) Health & Wellbeing Board CCG (self-management)

What Can You Do? As a Southwark councillor, you can support our Value the VCS campaign in a number of ways: 1. Early Action & Voluntary Sector Commission Support our call for an independent, multi-agency commission to be set up in 2014 to look at how the council, NHS, police and other agencies can work with the VCS to act early and prevent needs and costs from arising. 2. Social Value & better commissioning Improve council commissioning so that social needs are met more effectively, such as by fully embedding social value. 3. Council Budget Formulate budgets that invest in prevention and long-term solutions, rather than making short- term reductions resulting in escalating needs. 4. Keep up to date Follow the campaign as we continue to film local charities. See our website and follow us on 6. Policy asks

Think + discuss! 1.Early Action a good hook? 2.Commission effective in your borough? 3.What would you do differently? 4.Other policy asks? 6. Policy asks

7. Recap Participants will gain – Knowledge of how CAS is influencing Southwark council on the impact of budget cuts. Knowledge of the different tools used to collect and share evidence. Ideas for how to influence their local council.

7. Recap Worthwhile? – pros/cons, politics Context – cuts, national/London/VCS Response narrative – value, what if no VCS? Evidence – sector, employees, volunteers, funding Examples – films, prevention, cost-saving Role play Policy – Early Action Commission (+ Social Value)

Phil Mawhinney Senior Policy Officer Community Action Southwark [e] [t] www. Contact