Funding of Voluntary Sector Organisations in Wales Consultation Response from Torfaen Citizens Advice Bureau

1.  Ease or difficulty of obtaining funding from the Welsh Assembly Government or relevant national bodies

The logic of some of the funding priorities can be difficult to comprehend - most notably the exclusion of some advice services from Communities First funding despite bodies of evidence demonstrating that locally available advice services are a core aspect of community development and empowerment.

Similarly, sufficient provision is rarely made for covering core costs (see also point 2 below) either specifically or in the delivery of work derived from project or capital funding.

2.  Ease or difficulty with complying with constraints or conditions placed on funding

The biggest difficulty is the funding is rarely based on full cost recovery and does not extend to inflationary increases.  Even if the project is meeting all targets and is therefore assisting to meet the core strategic objectives that underpin the scheme, organisations are obliged to subsidise the project, cut it back or end the service in order to address the funding restraints.

3.  Issues related to the duration or timing of funding

Many representations have been made before this one that present very sound reasons why funding for extended periods of time (5-10 years) offer a much more realistic basis for service delivery, and supporting the case for early indications if funding is to be continued so that the instabilities that can otherwise arise in service delivery and continuity of employment are avoided.

4.  Any other comments