Charities make fresh funding plea

[UNISON Scotland Community & Voluntary sector e-group]

More money is needed to maintain current services, charities say
Scotland's charities and voluntary organisations have launched a
manifesto in which they call for an increase in government funding.
They want the Scottish Executive to increase the cash they receive as
part of the commitment to tackling poverty.

The call came as a number of charitable organisations closed projects
because of a lack of funding.

Voluntary organisations offer a variety of services beyond those
provided by the executive and local councils.

'Belt-tightening'

The manifesto, which was launched at The Gathering, a voluntary sector
event being held in Glasgow on Monday, states that its funding should
not suffer from "belt-tightening" in the public sector.

It calls on the executive to offer tax payers the opportunity to donate
a proportion of their tax directly to charities.

The executive has acknowledged the value of the voluntary sector, but
the 16-page document called on ministers to provide more money to allow
services already on offer to be maintained.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations claimed 65% of
voluntary organisations were unable to grow because of funding
difficulties.

It said many organisations received three-year funding and were forced
to either reduce services or close after that period.

Any party that ignores the huge resource that is the voluntary sector
is selling Scotland short

Helen Tyrell
Voluntary Health Scotland

SCVO chief executive Martin Sime said the voluntary sector could play a
huge role in improving life in Scotland.

"It is through voluntary organisations that people express themselves
and make commitment to their causes and make a real difference to their
communities," he said.

Helen Tyrell, chief executive of Voluntary Health Scotland, added:
"Politicians would ignore the strength of the voluntary sector at their
peril.

"Any party that ignores the huge resource that is the voluntary sector
is selling Scotland short."

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie MSP said government
interference was undermining the voluntary sector.

"Volunteers and voluntary organisations play a vital role in ensuring
that we all live in a strong and cohesive society.

"However, in order to carry out this role, they need to be free to come
up with innovative solutions to the social problems which face our
society.

"This can only be done if they are truly independent and autonomous of
government."