The financial squeeze West Lothian faces is being increasingly felt in the charity sector, with the council’s voluntary organisations budget remaining static at around £944,000 for several years.
While the bulk of that goes to provide direct services for the council £360,000 is available for charity groups to bid for. This year that fund received more than £1m of applications.
Alan McCloskey the CEO of West Lothian Voluntary Sector gateway which acts as an umbrella organisation told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the Third Sector recognised the financial situation facing all councils and stressed that partnership was the way to work.
He added: “West Lothian’s Third Sector is under increasing pressure as demand for community support continues to rise, and greater long term investment from West Lothian Council is now essential to ensure vital services can be sustained and expanded.
“Local charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises are at the heart of our communities, providing critical support to vulnerable residents, tackling poverty and isolation, improving health and well-being, and helping people to reach their full potential.”
Mr McCloskey highlighted the growing demand for the services voluntary groups provide.
“Every day, third sector organisations deliver services that strengthen communities and reduce pressure on public services.
“However, many organisations are being asked to do more with fewer resources. Without increased and sustainable investment, there is a real risk that some of the support local people rely upon will become increasingly difficult to deliver.
“Investing in the third sector is a proven investment in prevention, early intervention and community resilience.
“While acknowledging the tight fiscal backdrop, by continuing to work in partnership with and appropriately resourcing the third sector, West Lothian Council can help secure long-term positive outcomes for residents while delivering social value, reducing inequalities and strengthening local communities for the future.”
A total of 43 charities applied for funding. Only 16 were awarded. A report to the Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP said: “In total 43 applications were received totalling £1,234,652.91 with an available budget at the time of £362,613. All applications were assessed by a panel composed of representatives from the NHS, Voluntary Sector Gateway, and a range of Council services including Anti-poverty, Community Regeneration and Business Gateway.”
Officers contacted all unsuccessful applicants and offered a series of dates to give more detailed feedback on their application on a one-to-one basis either in person or via teams. The feedback varied on a case-by-case basis but included feedback on the application, the panels process and assessment and potential other funding sources. Information was provided on the funding website, West Lothian 4 Communities. In total 10 organisations engaged for one-to-one feedback from Officers
Five services were funded a total of £569,467 in Service Level agreements These are: West Lothian Youth Action Project £190,000; HcL Transport £182,119; Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian £63,770; Citizen’s Advice Bureau £76,266 and Linlithgow Heritage Trust and the Bennie Museum £6,170.
Written by Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
