Viewpoint
This page contains reviews of consultations which have already occurred and feedback on events hosted by the Third Sector Assembly. Please scroll down to review each section...

Response From Coventry Women's Voices To Measuring Progress On The Council's Equality Objectives
Coventry Women's Voices Is Pleased To Have The Opportunity To Respond To The Councils Equality Objectives
Click here for more information

Virtual Cohort Surveys
The Coventry Third Sector Assembly has formed a representative cohort of Coventry's Third Sector to take part in a virtual consultation exercise. The cohort are sent surveys asking them to respond to areas of consultation within the City or areas of concern raised by the wider Third Sector Assembly.

If you would like to review the results of our surveys, please select the titles below. Third Sector Assembly engagement in Consultation
The Big Society

If you have any suggestions for subjects and questions we may pose to the Third Sector Assembly Cohort please email them to s.ogle@vacoventry.org.uk

Impact of the public sector funding cuts
Voluntary Action Coventry are working with Coventry City Council to gather information on the impact of the public sector funding cuts in Coventry.

Each quarter we are sending out a survey to all our members to monitor the effects on the Voluntary and Community Sector over an 18mth period from July 2010. We would like to thank everyone who has completed surveys and encourage all our members to complete subsequent surveys. Key findings from the latest survey are available here in the attached report.

Coventry City Council Annual Budget Consultation Jan 2011
A representative of the Coventry Third Sector Assembly attended the Coventry City Council's annual budget consultation on the 19th January 2011 and read out the following statement:

Coventry Third Sector Assembly wishes Coventry City Council to take note of the following key points that are made on behalf of the Voluntary and Community Sector in our city:
The Voluntary and Community Sector are facing challenging times as sources of funding usually open to them are diminishing, for example:

• we are seeing reduced charitable donations from individuals,
• the level of support grant making trusts can offer is reducing due to the poor return on investment caused by low interest rates.

Added to that groups are being forced to look for funds through competitive tendering processes that are not set up to accommodate the structure and delivery levels of small groups. It is these small groups that often provide a niche service to vulnerable people in Coventry and are those that are most at risk of closure.

Research undertaken with members of Voluntary Action Coventry anticipating the potential impact of the Public Sector spending cuts shows that:

• 55.6% expect income to decrease over the next 3 years
• 57% are considering developing new services to compensate for lost income

When asked ‘what impact will the proposed public spending cuts have on your organisation? (Based on 30% reduction over 3 years)' comments included:

• We would have to reduce our capacity to deliver very significantly (probably more than 30% - as the combination of reductions from more than one source will have a multiplier effect)
• We will have to reduce service provision to vulnerable children and adults with a learning disability
• It may make us unsustainable
• Worse scenario is we close
  The Voluntary and Community Sector should be recognised for:
• its ability to reach into the hardest to reach communities in our City
• the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to the need of individuals
• its ability engagement of local people as volunteers or service users in the design and delivery of services.

All of which add value to our city and the Big Society debate.

The Third Sector Assembly recognises that these are difficult times and that we need to work together to look for more cost effective ways to deliver services. It is with this in mind that the Third Sector Assembly has worked in partnership to develop a consortia approach that will reduce administrative costs and enable those small groups not in a position to tender the opportunity to deliver through the ‘Here to Help' Consortium.

The Third Sector Assembly would urge the council to build on the productive relationship that exists with the Voluntary and Community Sector and to add further value by:
• Supporting the partnership approach and the Here to Help development
• consider the Sector when allocating discretionary funds and resources.

Togther we believe that the Council and the sector can make the city a vibrant place for all its citizens even in such difficult financial times.

Cllr George Duggins, Deputy Leader, welcomed and acknowledged the statement and a copy will be sent to the Council in due course.