Published at 15:08, Wednesday, 29 August 2012

ONE of Cumbria’s best known charities is considering whether to introduce charging for services as it battles to ensure its long-term survival.

Cumbria CVS supports and advises voluntary organisations across the county, many of which are struggling to make ends meet as the economy continues to flounder.

The charity has already warned it could lose up to a third of its staff in an effort to remain viable as battles with “savage” funding cuts.

Its latest attempt to boost funding is likely to include charging for some of its services to voluntary groups.

Chris Coombes, from the charity, said: “We have charged for some services in the past – for some training and some of the financial services we do.

“Our funding base is changing, and we will lose money because we won’t have some of the grant money we’ve had in the past.

“We are starting to discuss the issue with people in local forums but we are not alone in that many CVSs around the country are doing this.”

Asked what services might be charged for in the future, Miss Coombes said that they may include intensive development work with voluntary organisations that runs into weeks or months.

She added: “We’re trying to work with the people we serve to secure the longevity of our service and to secure our existence into the future.

“We believe that [voluntary] groups and organisations need the infrastructure and support that we provide to work effectively.

“This is a move away from the way we have offered services in the past. Everybody is going through hard times.”

In March, the charity was awarded a Big Lottery grant of £468,000, but the funding will not continue in the future.

The cash would give the charity a “breathing space”, said chief officer Karen Bowen, but the loss of other funding means that jobs are likely to be lost.

The charity employs 39 staff, who do the equivalent of 29 full-time posts.

Cumbria CVS offers services to voluntary and community groups, faith groups, sports groups, including funding advice, HR and IT support, and staff training.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk