By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Some voluntary organisations in Ashfield have told councillors they are “at breaking point” amid funding concerns during the cost of living crisis.
New ideas, such as a levy on businesses willing to give to charities, have been put forward as groups look to find extra ways of raising cash.
The comments were made during a cost of living debate at Ashfield District Council on Thursday (December 8).
It included presentations from numerous groups, including organisations offering community transport, food parcels and financial advice.
Councillors were told some of the organisations are struggling to fund their own budgets at a time when they are helping households on the breadline.
They say extra council support and better negotiations with generous businesses could be made to fund wages and vital services.
Some charities do receive core funding from councils in the form of grants but local authorities are also facing significant squeezes on their own budgets.
Teresa Jackson, manager of Ashfield Voluntary Action, represents numerous organisations across the district.
She said: “There isn’t one voluntary organisation I represent that’s thinking ‘we’re okay’. They’re all struggling.
“We’ve been thinking about funding issues because we know the council hasn’t got the money. It’s been brewing in my mind for a while.
“Every organisation passionately works for the people they support and some fortunately get a lot of support while others do not.”
She suggested an “exchange” with businesses, the council and voluntary groups could be create to direct goods and money donated from the business community.
And she also believes an optional levy could be created for willing businesses to get more cash into the banks of charities.
She added: “I’m wondering whether we could ask local businesses for a certain amount, to then give to the voluntary sector.
“This could be distributed around the sector when people say they’d like money and this is what they would spend it on – in the same way we apply for grants.
“I think that would be a good way of finding some of the money – not just at Christmas but for the whole year – so some organisations can continue operating.”
The meeting heard from Our Centre, a community transport organisation, that said it was struggling to even cover the funds for a full-time minimum wage.
One of its representatives urged the authority to consider “investing in, rather than funding” these organisations and giving them more ability to hire staff.
And Angie Peppard, its manager, told councillors: “We’re at breaking point, we really are. Everyone is being referred to us but we don’t have the money to do our services.
“I don’t think everyone realises how important we are – not just us [as an organisation], but other organisations like us. Invest in us, don’t lose us.”
It’s as the voluntary sector and charities face what one councillor described as the “perfect storm”.
Charities’ own bills are increasing and external support is reducing at a time when people need their services most and others can’t afford to donate.
It was a point recognised by Councillor Jason Zadrozny (Ash Ind), leader of the council, who recognised his authority “can do more to help”.
A review is expected to take place into the Discover Ashfield board – a group of community and business leaders created to drive forward the district.
Cllr Matt Relf (Ash Ind), portfolio holder for regeneration, said this review will help the board to find solutions for supporting the voluntary sector.
In his summarising remarks, Cllr Zadrozny added: “Everybody in the voluntary sector is a community hero.
“But I’ve always felt businesses network really strongly together and our charities and the voluntary sector aren’t linked in with them.
“I’m hoping the changes to Discover Ashfield will be the catalyst to bringing the right people around the table.
“If it’s not, we should find a way of doing that so we can support and invest in these great organisations.
“There are lots of people who have money and want to do something with it but don’t know how. We have the ability to string those strands together.”
