The Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism collaborative have produced a Triple Squeeze Report which can be read here

It paints a picture of funding restrictions, increased demand and the pressures faced by charities because of the increase in both the minimum wage and national insurance contributions, legislated in the last Government budget.

Our Northamptonshire VCFSE sector and its challenges mirror the national picture.

From a VIN perspective, the report is a yet another which confirms the perilous state of our sector in these difficult economic times. Ultimately though, it’s not about charities or their structures or people but the beneficiaries they serve. If the sector starts to degrade our communities will be the poorer for it, and out statutory colleges will not be able to fill those gaps.

As for what can be done, well that’s a much trickier conundrum but it starts with Central Government and works through Local Government and Local Funders.

As CEO of VIN, I welcome the debate, not about restrictions or reductions but how better value can be achieved for what’s already committed.