Govanhill charities back calls for Scottish government to adopt more sustainable multi-year public funding models
Community organisations are doing impactful work to support the neighbourhood, but short-term public funding cycles make it difficult for them to plan ahead, leaving them struggling to survive. We spoke with some local organisations to find out their experiences with the current funding cycles.
By Devon McCole | Photos by Iain McLellan
In Govanhill, third-sector organisations have long played a vital role in supporting local residents. From Community Renewal to The Well Multicultural Resource Centre to MILK community, these organisations provide vital support services for communities; running social events to create connections and combat isolation, providing employability support, or running workshops to give people the skills they need to lead more sustainable, healthier lifestyles.
But recent concerns raised in a pre-budget report by the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee highlight a growing challenge –unstable, short-term public funding cycles. The report identifies a two percent decrease in public funding from the Scottish government despite increasing demands for services, spurred on by high inflation rates.
We spoke to a number of local organisations who rely on public funding to find out how this has impacted them.
The South East Integration Network (SEIN), a non-profit organisation in Glasgow that supports the work of its predominantly third sector members, know exactly what it means to try and run operations on unpredictable, short-term grant funding: “We’ve had to make hard decisions about staffing in the past year, we simply don't have the funding security we need to be able to run at full capacity.”
SEIN’s development manager, Hester Wylde, added that too much time and resources are spent on maintaining their survival when they should be invested in the support services they provide: “It means we are always playing catch up.”
Tabassum Niamat photographed at the Bowling Green
Director of Bowling Green Together, Tabassum Niamat, who runs operations at the Bowling Green on Kenmure Street, said “Funding is very competitive, for a small grassroots organisation like ours, it is very hard. I've had eight funding rejections back to back and am running the Bowling Green completely voluntarily right now. We have a lot of good people wanting to help, but without money, we are all limited to what we can deliver.”
She warns that: “an environment that is scarcity driven can not thrive, we are all at a burnout stage… There needs to be more help for us if the government truly wants equity within the third sector.”
Echoing these concerns, Alicia Macrae, Head of Partnerships and Communications for The Well, said: “Smaller local charities may not have the resources of larger national third sector organisations to weather the funding drought…You need to read the small print often found at the bottom or end of the funding guidelines. It can say things like 'funding is indicative and may change', particularly if you are fortunate enough to receive multi-year funding. It can be really demotivating for staff and volunteers.”
This uncertainty around funding often leads to yearly redundancy consultations, affecting morale. Not only does the current public funding model negatively impact staff, but the community at large, potentially disrupting vital services for families or individuals.
Even organisations that are recipients of multiyear grants face uncertainty as it is still subject to an annual reconfirmation, which is in line with the UK Government Spending Review. But people have noticed the UK government has been taking longer and longer to confirm the budget to Scotland.
We heard from one organisation who didn’t wish to be named that they haven't received confirmation of funding until as late as February or March about the following financial year. It’s quite difficult then for them to retain staff – who have their own bills to pay – when the redundancy consultation period is extended due to unpredictable and sluggish reconfirmations of public funding that was already awarded to organisations.
We also heard how projects need to be repackaged when existing funds are rebranded with one community development worker saying: “Organisations are having to tie a new ribbon around their projects even though they are providing the same services.” This is time that could be spent on delivering the work.
SEIN, Govanhill.
In an effort to address these challenges, there are calls from the Social Justice and Social Security Committee for the government to consider adopting more sustainable, multi-year funding models, offering greater financial security to these essential, charitable service providers.
Adding to the Committee's call to change the public funding process, Hester of SEIN said: “the Scottish Government needs to support the third sector more by making the funding process as straightforward, and accessible as possible. They need to trust the organisations that they fund, and stop putting such an administrative burden on organisations, which decreases their ability to provide for need.”
The community spirit in Govanhill is strong, and organisations here are dedicated to creating lasting change. But in order for that change to happen, they need more than just short-term support, they need long-term investment in the future of the neighbourhood. The call for more reliable funding has never been more urgent.
But, until the Scottish govenrment releases the next Scottish Budget, to be presented to the Scottish Parliament on 4 December, it’s a waiting game. Only then will we find out if the government has paid heed to the recommendations of the Committee.