‘This is Us’
Summary of the State of the Sector Report 2010
KCP Steering Group, 19th January 2010
'This is Us' is the second stage of the State of the Sector research that began in 2007. Stage one was published in October 2008, it reported on the size and scope of the local voluntary and community sector. Following the publication it was determined that a more detailed report on the local voluntary and community sector was required which would assess the current and future social and economic impact of government policy on the service provision, resources, capacity and future potential of local voluntary and community organisations in the borough.
155 organisations that are based or deliver services in Kensington and Chelsea responded to the survey revealing a 28% response rate. Analysis of income for 2007/8 using the Charity Commission website revealed the sector's income to be approximately £127 million. RBKC grant funding to the sector for 2009/10 was just under £4million (£3,927,946). It is estimated that during 2009/10 total income for the sector from RBKC and NHS K&C totalled £7million.
'This is Us' provides a range of case studies, facts and figures based on issues relevant to the sector, whilst it is recognised that commissioning is on the increase nationally as well as locally, here in Kensington and Chelsea 50% of VCOs say they are not delivering a contract compared to 44% that are. In trying to understand the impact of delivering a contract 63% of respondents say that it has improved their organisation's financial stability compared to 14% that say it has made it worse. 70% of VCOs currently receive grant funding but 38% say that they will look to generate income for the future. 27 BME VCOs were selected for a separate analysis of the same questions, results showed that 78% of BME VCOs are funded through grants but receive considerably less income compared to the general sample when looking at donations, fundraising activities, investment income and legacies.
34% of the total sample and 30% of the BME sample say that they find it easy to represent the views of their service users to statutory bodies. When asked if they feel satisfied that their views are acted upon by statutory bodies 28% of the total sample agreed with the statement whilst 19% of the BME sample agreed. However almost 50% of both the general and BME sample felt neutral about the statement. 41% of the BME sample compared to 28% of the general sample felt that there are significant barriers to getting their voices heard.
The report concludes with recommendations based on the findings of the research which include the recession, reduction of grants, commissioning and the personalisation agenda which are all matters of high importance for the future. 'This is Us' signifies the value the sector brings to local services but also its vulnerability at the level of changes which are taking place. Whilst some of the results paint a positive picture of a sector which has increased its income and feels secure about its future over the next 12 months, it also shows the realism of dwindling public finances, tighter resources, and a sector that wants to know that its voice matters.
The full summary report ‘This is Us – The state of the voluntary and community sector in K&C 2010’ can be viewed at Annex A.
Mary Gardiner (CEO) and Angela Spence (Policy Development Manager)
Kensington and Chelsea Social Council
020 7243 9800