Post by nickd on Mar 12, 2011 20:58:06 GMT 1
An article in today's indepenent puts forward the mixed message which government is currently sending out to charities. In December of last year government was full of praise for a leading charity - now they've pulled the plug on their funding and told them they've got six months to think of another way of raising funds.
Thanks to Ikbikb from Ilegal for posting this one...
Here's what the article says.
"David Cameron's mission to promote a Big Society was dismissed as mere rhetoric yesterday after a charity that appeared to encompass all of its values lost vital funding.
TimeBank, which puts volunteers in touch with projects where their skills are needed, said it was mystified and devastated to be refused a grant and could be forced to close as a result.
Just months ago, Civil Society minister Nick Hurd – who leads the Government's Big Society agenda – was full of praise for the organisation. After speaking at an event in December, he wrote on Twitter: "Happy 10th anniversary to TimeBank! Good event trying to counter cynicism on Big Society." But yesterday the charity's chief executive Helen Walker revealed that its latest funding application as a strategic partner of the Office of Civil Society had been refused. The £500,000 grant represents a quarter of its income and will mean drastic cuts among its 35 staff, a scaling down of its workload and potentially closure.
Yesterday a Cabinet Office spokesman said: "TimeBank was given six months notice, which is ample time to plan for the future."
How is this consistent with government's hopes to build a volunteer based big society?
Thanks to Ikbikb from Ilegal for posting this one...
Here's what the article says.
"David Cameron's mission to promote a Big Society was dismissed as mere rhetoric yesterday after a charity that appeared to encompass all of its values lost vital funding.
TimeBank, which puts volunteers in touch with projects where their skills are needed, said it was mystified and devastated to be refused a grant and could be forced to close as a result.
Just months ago, Civil Society minister Nick Hurd – who leads the Government's Big Society agenda – was full of praise for the organisation. After speaking at an event in December, he wrote on Twitter: "Happy 10th anniversary to TimeBank! Good event trying to counter cynicism on Big Society." But yesterday the charity's chief executive Helen Walker revealed that its latest funding application as a strategic partner of the Office of Civil Society had been refused. The £500,000 grant represents a quarter of its income and will mean drastic cuts among its 35 staff, a scaling down of its workload and potentially closure.
Yesterday a Cabinet Office spokesman said: "TimeBank was given six months notice, which is ample time to plan for the future."
How is this consistent with government's hopes to build a volunteer based big society?