What they say…
“The time has come for us to think of the voluntary sector as the first sector [...] No matter how difficult the problems facing our society, there is none so difficult that someone, somewhere, isn’t already solving it through voluntary action. The question is not whether the sector can do it, but what government can do to help them do more of it.” – David Cameron
“Wherever possible frontline voluntary organisations should be resourced and empowered to commission the support they need from Councils” – Conservative Party Policy
What they do…
“Last week, the Westminster City Partnership ended ten years of partnership with the voluntary sector, by voting to relegate voluntary and community representatives to a powerless advisory role, with no voting rights.
Following the vote, voluntary sector representatives Drew Stevenson, Jackie Rosenberg and Bernard Collier walked out of the meeting.
After the meeting, Bernard Collier, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Westminster said: “It’s hard to see the logic behind this decision, which ends ten years of partnership working with Westminster’s voluntary and community sector. It’s a u-turn in terms of local policy – and flies in the face of the policies of all three main political parties. We’re deeply unhappy with this decision.”
The decision comes shortly after the decision to cut £500,000 from the voluntary sector grants budget.”
