Latest news with #ThirdSector
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
West Lothian charities need more funding, and say it is an 'investment in communities'
Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Increased funding for under pressure charities in West Lothian should be seen as 'an investment in communities' as expenditure outstrips income councillors have been told. Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Third Sector income in West Lothian fell by almost 20% in the last year - down to £84m in 2023/24 from £110m, the year before - while expenditure was down only marginally, from £89.5m to £88.9m. The report presented to the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP was designed to give an overview of the work across the Third Sector and the £44.9m in funding which goes into the sector from the council, health and related funding streams. Mr McCloskey told the meeting: 'I think the report rightly touches on funding; it is actually an investment in communities. People are still struggling across the county with the impacts of fuel and food poverty, and the work that the Third Sector does to support communities is still much needed and demand on the services continues.' Mr McCloskey said that the Third Sector had proved 'extremely agile' in supporting people and making a difference to lives. He added: 'We look forward to that support continuing as we move forward.' The majority of the 500 local charities working in West Lothian work in social care, sports and culture and community and economic development. They offer support from among the youngest to the oldest residents in the county. The annual report said: 'The key importance of how the Third Sector is able to draw down funding from external funders is recognised and how that ability helps to deliver key support to our local communities.' Some such as the Food Network put food on the tables of many while others such as the Larder, and West Lothian College also offer skills training and access to employment. Some of those organisations helped such as Whitburn's community Development Trust provide a range of specific services within communities such as a community fridge and community garden. In her report to the PDSP Clare Stewart, Community Wealth Building Manager detailed the collaboration with the Third Sector and the work done alongside funding to help secure external support. She said: 'In 2024/25 the West Lothian 4 Communities, a funding website that supports the Voluntary and Third Sector to search for funding, had 203 registrations users who searched the site 18,251 times. 'The website is accessible for West Lothian based organisations to easily search for funding opportunities across the UK. The site will pull together a list of possible funding sources based on the type of organisation and what activities are being delivered. It significantly reduces the amount of time spent searching for funding.' Councillors across the chamber welcomed the continued partnership between council and Third Sector while acknowledging the funding pressures on voluntary organisations. Councillor Andrew Miller said that money was always tight, but the council relied on the Third Sector 'to do what it does, and so much more, reaching down to people that the council often missed.' 'Money is always tight and it's getting tighter. I wouldn't like to see any of these groups fall by the wayside.' Labour's Craig Meek said: 'I welcome the report on the investment that is put into the Third Sector. It's really important. Congratulations to all that have received funding thanks to council officers and the Gateway staff for all their work.' Councillor Sally Pattle said: 'We know how much we are continuing to rely on the work of Third Sector and how valuable the work is.' Clare Stewart concluded in her report: 'West Lothian Council recognises that the Third Sector plays a hugely important role in complimenting and adding values to the work of West Lothian Council in delivering support within communities. "It is vital that our partnership continues.'
Edinburgh Live
6 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian charities need more funding, and say it is an 'investment in communities'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Increased funding for under pressure charities in West Lothian should be seen as 'an investment in communities' as expenditure outstrips income councillors have been told. Alan McCloskey, CEO of the Voluntary Sector Gateway (VSG) said that voluntary groups, relied on by the council and by individuals were facing increasing costs. Third Sector income in West Lothian fell by almost 20% in the last year - down to £84m in 2023/24 from £110m, the year before - while expenditure was down only marginally, from £89.5m to £88.9m. The report presented to the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP was designed to give an overview of the work across the Third Sector and the £44.9m in funding which goes into the sector from the council, health and related funding streams. Alan McCloskey the CEO of the VSG told the meeting: 'I think the report rightly touches on funding; it is actually an investment in communities. People are still struggling across the county with the impacts of fuel and food poverty, and the work that the Third Sector does to support communities is still much needed and demand on the services continues.' Mr McCloskey said that the Third Sector had proved "extremely agile" in supporting people and making a difference to lives. He added ' We look forward to that support continuing as we move forward.' The majority of the 500 local charities working in West Lothian work in social care, sports and culture and community and economic development. They offer support from among the youngest to the oldest residents in the county. The annual report said: "The key importance of how the Third Sector is able to draw down funding from external funders is recognised and how that ability helps to deliver key support to our local communities." Some such as the Food Network put food on the tables of many while others such as the Larder, and West Lothian College also offer skills training and access to employment. Some of those organisations helped such as Whitburn's community Development Trust provide a range of specific services within communities such as a community fridge and community garden. In her report to the PDSP Clare Stewart, Community Wealth Building Manager detailed the collaboration with the Third Sector and the work done alongside funding to help secure external support. She said: "In 2024/25 the West Lothian 4 Communities, a funding website that supports the Voluntary and Third Sector to search for funding, had 203 registrations users who searched the site 18,251 times. 'The website is accessible for West Lothian based organisations to easily search for funding opportunities across the UK. The site will pull together a list of possible funding sources based on the type of organisation and what activities are being delivered. It significantly reduces the amount of time spent searching for funding.' Councillors across the chamber welcomed the continued partnership between council and Third Sector while acknowledging the funding pressures on voluntary organisations. Councillor Andrew Miller said that money was always tight , but the council relied on the Third Sector "to do what it does, and so much more, reaching down to people that the council often missed." 'Money is always tight and it's getting tighter. I wouldn't like to see any of these groups fall by the wayside.' Labour's Craig Meek said: 'I welcome the report on the investment that is put into the Third Sector. It's really important. Congratulations to all that have received funding thanks to council officers and the Gateway staff for all their work.' Councillor Sally Pattle said: "We know how much we are continuing to rely on the work of Third Sector and how valuable the work is.' Clare Stewart concluded in her report: 'West Lothian Council recognises that the Third Sector plays a hugely important role in complimenting and adding values to the work of West Lothian Council in delivering support within communities. It is vital that our partnership continues.'
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Third sector gives council a tough fund balancing act
Across Edinburgh we are blessed with many valuable community organisations and voluntary groups that bring people together, keeping them active and healthy. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In Craigentinny and Duddingston the most obvious is the Ripple Project but the range spans Edinburgh's different demographics as shown by the Eric Liddell Community in Morningside and Pilton Equalities Project to name just a further two. The Ripple Project tackles poverty and inequality in Restalrig, Lochend and Craigentinny. Collectively the council calls these groups the 'Third Sector'. Many raise some of their own funds while others rely on various public grants or contracts from the council or the NHS – almost becoming delivery arms for the state. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last year the funding for 70 of these groups was cut by the joint NHS and Council Board that oversees health and social care in Edinburgh. This week saw further agonising at the council about that funding gap. NHS Lothian, short of funds through Scottish Government decisions, has effectively passed the buck to the equally cash strapped council, which is far more susceptible to community campaigning, being democratically elected. This state-organised cost and blame shunting led the council, with good intent, to allocate £3.5m from reserves to stave off the crisis, but as always there is no real plan. On Monday councillors agreed to allocate £3m, with most of it being described as the 'Third Sector Resilience Fund'. Except there is no 'resilience' because it will all run out again next March just as council is looking for further savings across its own budget. A parallel review of the council's 'approach to supporting the Third Sector' will report later this year, but it is very hard to see how this will fill the gap without more money that just isn't available. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad You might think, as I suggested, that the £500k of one-off funding left over might be best used to cushion any rationalisation this review proposes. Instead, it was easier for most councillors to agree to spend it immediately by opening it to bids from wider groups who haven't even had a funding cut. This creates a double danger of raised expectations of ongoing funding, with more failure when it doesn't materialise. It is also dreadful politics because it will make the public outcry worse when the reckoning inevitably comes. Ultimately, the council must decide what services are most needed in communities within the budget it has available. But with local groups all lobbying for their own continued existence, that's a hard decision that most councillors will avoid. The danger is that the council makes cuts to its own services and still fails to fund local groups strategically. They will then go under at random, leaving communities without the support they need.
