Cost of the Cuts – How are austerity measures affecting local government and communities?

Cuts to local authority budgets are having a profound effect on the services people receive. The poorest communities and residents are being hardest hit and those least able to cope with service withdrawal are bearing the brunt. A report of the impact on local government and poorer communities’ was published last week by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. There are two reports available on the JRF website; the main research report and a short summary with info graphics and photos. Click here to access both.

Understanding the new public procurement rules

New Philanthropy Capital has produced a briefing on the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. These regulations brought into effect a European Directive on public procurement, from 26 February. NPC say they will help charities win government contracts but do not go far enough.

Internships

NCVO has published a new guide for charities thinking of working with interns. It says that unpaid internships should not be used to displace paid staff or undercut their pay and conditions of service. It also says that unpaid internships that are, in effect, jobs rather than genuine volunteering opportunities, should be paid.

Local government cuts

A report from the Institute for Fiscal studies says that the sharpest cuts to local government spending are in poorer areas and the same areas likely to lose most in next few years. They find that on the whole, more deprived areas and those that saw faster population growth have seen larger cuts.

(This post contains some content written by NAVCA)