Grants Committee – for information
Effects of Recession on the 3rd Sector Item no: 13
- Update
Report by: Ian Redding Job title: Head of Grants, Direct Services
Date: 10 February 2010
Contact Ian Redding
Officer:
Telephone: 020 7934 9802 Email: ian.redding@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Summary
This paper provides an update on the effects of the recession on public
services and in particular those provided by the Third Sector.
Appended to this report is a copy of the December 2009 report to the
Social Exclusion Task Force of the Cabinet Office entitled “Social impacts
of recession: The impact of job loss and job insecurity on social
disadvantage”.
Recommendations
Members receive this paper and note its contents.
Background
1. This brief report provides Grants Committee Members with up to date information on the
effects of the recession on the work of the 3rd sector. Members had previously indicated
their interest in, and commitment to, ensuring that services prioritised for commissioning
continue to meet the needs of Londoners.
2. In July 2009 it was agreed only to provide Members with updates around recession where
it was likely that new evidence/information would
lead to changing target outcomes for currently commissioned services, or
help inform discussion on future commissioning priorities.
This was as a result of the continuing wealth of reports, data and events that were taking
place and a desire by Grants Committee members to reduce the volume of information
that they were receiving.
Key update
3. Whilst conferences, events, and various reports around recession have continued apace
over the last six months, perhaps the most relevant piece of work for informing Grants
Committee activities has been research commissioned by The Social Exclusion Task
Force of the Cabinet Office.
4. The resulting report produced by the National Centre for Social Research, and entitled
“Social impacts of recession: The impact of job loss and job insecurity on social
disadvantage”, is appended hereto. It provides evidence of effects on mental health,
financial problems including leading to evictions, and relationship breakdown amongst
others.
5. Officers will consider its implications, particularly on future commissioning priorities;
Members will certainly find the issues raised to be of interest and potentially relevant to
activities undertaken within their own boroughs.
Recommendations
6. Members are recommended to receive this update paper and note its contents.
Attachments
London Financial Inclusion Champions Leaflet
Pan-London Social Enterprise Strategy consultation document
Executive summary of the report “The Economic Downturn and the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
(BAME) Third Sector”
Summary of City Parochial Foundation report “London’s Poverty Profile”.