Today I spent the afternoon at the Merton Voluntary Services Council AGM, which was followed by a question time where I joined Conservative, Labour, Independent and Green representatives to take questions about the issues affecting the voluntary sector in Merton.
By coincidence I got the London voluntary and community sector manifesto sent to me this week. Both the manifesto and the questions were realistic about the challenges we face in funding public services and the pressures that the voluntary and community sector will be under either in bidding for contracts or grant funding.
I am told that London’s Voluntary and Community sector comprises 60,000+ voluntary and community organisations, including registered charities, community groups and social enterprises, accounts for 7% of London’s workforce, has around 2.5 million active volunteers each year and an economic turnover contributing around £18bn annually to London’s economy.
MVSC clearly works hard to provide support for all the groups operating in Merton. Organisations are concerned about how they are going to cope as finances get tight. I think options such as merging, working on a consortium to bid for contracts, or working in a sub-contract arrangement delivering specialist services is a way forward.
I’d like to thank MVSC for the invitation today and also for the wonderful chocolate cake afterwards.
