Funding cuts hit frontline organisations in Manchester
Article published: Wednesday, December 16th 2009
Several Greater Manchester organisations have been among those hit by government cuts to funding for grassroots campaign groups.
Bolton Solidarity Community Association, Gender & Participation Unit, Press for Change and Manchester Disabled People’s Action Group had all been allocated central government funds as part of the Capacitybuilders Campaign Research Programme. Nationwide, 32 similar groups have had funding from the scheme withdrawn.
Letters sent by Minister for the Third Sector Angela Smith stated that “I have taken the decision to transfer the £750,000 that was allocated to the Campaigning Research Programme to the Hardship Fund, which had almost run out. The Hardship Fund offers grant support to larger third sector organisations in England delivering front line services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society… On this occassion [sic] I have taken the difficult decision to prioritise recession support.”
In lieu of 18 months’ grant funding and bespoke training and mentoring, the organisations affected will, according to Ms Smith, be offered smaller scale opportunities for training and may be reimbursed for costs incurred up to £1,000.
Hannah Berry of the Central Manchester-based Gender & Participation (GAP) Unit, said that “in our case, we were really excited about the opportunity of working with women refugees and asylum seekers in the North West to design together and promote a campaign on their issues.”
“Because we were offered the grant, we had employed a new worker and spent considerable time and resources planning the project as well as organising the first campaign meeting with women from Bolton, Liverpool and Manchester, only to have to pass on disappointing news,” Berry continued.
GAP Unit was planning to spend the money working with seven groups of women refugees and asylum seekers which it had previously provided support for. According to Berry’s letter of protest to Angela Smith, “The news created a sense of expectation and excitement among big groups of women across the North West, in Manchester, Bolton and Liverpool. Refugees and asylum seekers are indeed “some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society”, living under conditions of great stress and insecurity, with serious consequences for their health and self-esteem. Having the chance to get out of the house, finally put their many skills to good use, meet with other women, be challenged intellectually and to collaborate on aspirational work is extremely important for their well-being, quite apart from any political benefits that might result from the campaign itself.”
Tendayi Madzunzu, the Zimbabwean refugee contracted by GAP Unit as link worker for the project, backed Berry’s comments. She added that: the cuts were “a clear example of smaller community organisations being put to one side in times of financial crisis.”
“We realise there is little or no genuine commitment to empower us as marginalised and excluded groups,” Madzunzu continued. “It reinforces the women’s sense that we do not really matter or deserve this funding. We appreciate the importance of delivering frontline services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society but I strongly believe this was not the best way to achieve it.”
Madzunzu also challenged the government claim that it needed to prioritise job creation during the recession, pointing out that she had been unemployed for some time and that the news of her own new post had provided hope for her and her children in the run-up to Christmas.
Third Sector organisations affected by the cuts have set up a petition and senior figures in the voluntary and community sector have condemned the move, which the government has admitted breaches its Compact, the voluntary agreement that advises on how third sector and public bodies should treat each other.
Stuart Etherington, the Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations said of the funding cuts that “I am appalled at the decision to withdraw this funding. Charities play a critical role in campaigning and advocating for change. Without them, the voices of marginalised people can often go unheard. Making this decision at such a late stage has resulted in a complete waste of public funds and time for all involved.”
Sarah Irving is a freelance writer based in Manchester
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