The Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS) conducted the survey ahead of a funding conference held last Tuesday that found widespread concerns about funding procedures and guarantees.
GCVS chief executive Helen Macneil said, 'This is a sector in crisis. There are over 900 voluntary and community organisations in Glasgow with paid staff, all making a huge contribution to the lives of individuals and communities. And yet very few of them can tell us with any certainty whether they will be functioning this time next year.'
'It really is time now for public agencies to take proper responsibility through their contracting and funding processes for supporting and safeguarding voluntary sector activity. We need full-cost recovery on contracts and more secure funding contracts of at least three years to help us plan, train our staff, support our volunteers.'
The liquidation of voluntary childcare provider One Plus early in the year led to the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR) launching an investigation into the organisation's financial management. The OSCR said it would attempt to 'draw out lessons' for other charities (News, 15 February).
Ian Maxwell, deputy director at One Parent Families Scotland, said Glasgow was 'particularly shaky,' blaming the tailing off of certain funding sources such as the European Structural Fund.
Mr Maxwell said, 'Glasgow council also seems to be in the middle of outsourcing services, setting up charitable organisations to deal with funding, so providers are often getting money with many different funding sources. Uncertainty makes it very difficult for organisations to plan ahead and keep their services going.'
