Peter Lewis Chief Executive London Voluntary Service Council

1. The recession and London’s VCS London Advice Conference 15.10.2009 Peter Lewis Chief Executive London Voluntary Service Council

2. London’s VCS An estimated 60,000 organisations 26,634 registered as charities Employing around 250,000 people – 6 - 7% of London’s working population Approx. 5000 social businesses

3. Set up to tackle poverty, inequality and poor health of Londoners Centenary next year New strategy, same challenges Policy, support, training Knowledge, best practice, impact LVSC

4. Messages from national organisations not resonating in London Needed to better understand impact on Londoners and VCS serving them Desire to tackle the recession on the front foot, and present a positive VCS Big Squeeze impetus

5. 104 London–based VCS groups: 40% local organisations (one borough) 41% pan-London 16% sub-regional (more than one borough) 4% national, but London based Who responded?

6. Who funds these groups? 25%- Local Authorities 19% - London-foundations (e.g. City Parochial) 18% - national foundations (e.g. BLF) 11% - regional statutory agencies (e.g. London Councils) 11% - national statutory bodies (e.g. CLG, Home Office) 9% - Primary Care Trusts 4% - private/corporate sector 3% - other

7. Headline survey results Is the recession affecting the communities you work with? Yes - 95% Has your workload increased due to the recession? Yes - 71% Are you confident you will be able to meet increases in demand now and in the future? No - 80% Is your organisation already taking action to help survive a recession? Yes - 78%

8. Increasing number of cheaper / free services Prioritising core services Recruiting and investing in more volunteers Reviewing existing services, looking for efficiencies Stopping final salary schemes for all new employees Freezing wages, reducing working hours VCS active in seeking solutions

9. Advice Volunteering Employment support Sectors with immediate impact

10. LVSC experience PEACe helpline Redundancy and restructure calls rose by 100% Variation of contract advice sought

11. increased anxiety amongst client groups – heating bills; threat of redundancy (UBS) more people dropping in for support Increased needs for counselling services (FORWARD) “less motivated because they don’t think they will get a job anyway” Psychological impact

12. Raising VCS profile & influence • Economic Recovery Action Plan • “at this time the public sector should reaffirm its • commitment to the VCS which helps to provide vital • local services” (Boris Johnson) • Working with London Funders • “We’re in it together” Feb 09 • Commitment to renegotiate from London Councils • Re-stated at VSF conference • Catalyst for other recession work • - Debt Summit; local initiatives • Renewed activity this autumn

13. Marginalised becoming more marginalised Public spending cuts 5-10% over next 5 years London’s poverty profile changing already Unknown depth of this recession Lag in impacts on the sector: unemployment; mental health; debt and advice needs Commissioning Pressures to collaborate more and merge (CLACs) Change in government Future challenges

14. Questions to consider • How did the advice sector respond to the recession? What would it do differently next time? • Has the government’s Third Sector Action worked? Lessons for the future • Is the relationship between specialist and generic advice provision working? What could be improved? • How best can LVSC support the advice sector?

15. Open dialogue with partners Focus not just on outputs but impact Stronger together Maintain focus on core mission Final thoughts

16. Thank you Your feedback: Peter@lvsc.org.uk Policy@lvsc.org.uk