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| Navca has launched a campaign, 'Strong Independent Roots' setting out action steps for how Navca and its members can help politicians support local voluntary action and counteract public spending cuts. |
The recession means that we face public spending cuts in the next few years, whoever wins the General Election. This means it is crucial that politicians and funders understand the importance of investing in local voluntary action.
They must understand that major cuts to organisations that help develop and support local charities, voluntary groups and community organisations will weaken the resilience of many communities.
As part of our campaign in support of voluntary action, NAVCA recently held a parliamentary launch of Strong Independent Roots, our vision for the local third sector.
It demonstrates the value of local support and development organisations and sets out how NAVCA and its members can help politicians support local voluntary action.
In Strong Independent Roots NAVCA makes six specific requests of government but we also pledge ourselves to six actions that NAVCA and its members will take to help government.
NAVCA members often have an unsung role in helping local groups and voluntary organisations, what Strong Independent Roots calls the ‘quiet force behind voluntary action’.
In the past because they have not shouted about their work, local support and development organisations have been among the first to feel the pain of cuts.
Strong Independent Roots illustrates the value of local support and development organisations to local voluntary action. It also shows that funding support for local charities and community organisations in this way offers the best value for money.
The campaign is starting to be successful. At the launch event, hosted by Tom Levitt, chair of the All-Party Group on the Community and Voluntary Sector, both Third Sector Minister Angela Smith MP and her Conservative Shadow, Nick Hurd MP, paid tribute to the work of NAVCA’s members.
Kevin Curley, NAVCA Chief Executive, used his speech to emphasise the additional value investing in local support and development organisations can give governments.
“They make small amounts of money go a lot further”, Kevin said. “With the returns local support and development organisations give, public bodies should look elsewhere to make their cuts. One pound removed from recruiting volunteers will take nineteen pounds of services out of the local area. One pound removed from support services will cut away five pounds of voluntary action.”
There is a shared understanding amongst politicians of all parties that strong local voluntary action helps communities to be both vibrant and caring. However, to achieve this, the investment in support and development services for local charities and community groups has to be sustained.
Strong Independent Roots shows how government can work with NAVCA and our members to support the individuals, groups and organisations that make local voluntary action happen. Visit http://www.navca.org.uk/publications/roots to learn more.
By Neil Cleeveley, Policy and Communications Director, NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action)