Volunteer services facing an uncertain future after cuts

A HANDFUL of Ashbourne volunteer services are facing an uncertain future after a series of financial cuts have been announced by health bosses.

Commissioners from the four Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Groups have agreed to make the “difficult” and “serious” decision to cut more than half a million pounds of funding from voluntary organisations.

The cuts will have a direct effect on Voluntary and Community Services Peaks and Dales, which has a base in Ashbourne and operates a series of schemes some people see as a lifeline.

The removal of discretionary grant funding as part of the CCG cuts means Voluntary and Community Services Peaks and Dales will lose £100,000 across the organisation, which gives bosses a tough battle in the run-up to Christmas and beyond to review the services they oversee, in a bid to ensure the effects are not too severe.

Chief executive Gill Geddes had been leading a campaign to highlight the value of the services she and her volunteers run, in the hope it might affect the decision by CCG bosses.

She says she feels the recent decision to cut discretionary grants is “shortsighted”.

Mrs Geddes told the News Telegraph: “I fear that it is a decision the CCG will grow to regret in the coming months, as pressure on acute and emergency services increases.

“The result of the cuts reduces capacity from the voluntary and community sector to be able to respond, risking that a simply resolved situation becomes a crisis for those most vulnerable in our communities.

“I want to express my grateful thanks to everyone who has helped lobby for our services.

“Staff and volunteers from across the organisation have helped demonstrate the value of the services they provide, and the difference our services make to our service users.

“Your support in responding to requests for evidence, often at very short notice, has been invaluable, and your encouragement and understanding throughout has been inspiring.

“My thanks also go to our service users, many of whom have rallied in our support – some offering donations and funding ideas to help redress the loss of grant support.”

Among the services that will be directly affected by the removal of the grant funding are the voluntary car scheme, the Readycall Befriending Service and the Home from Hospital Service. The Voluntary Car Scheme provides transport for older and vulnerable people who are unable to use public transport services due to health or mobility issues.

Transport is provided by a team of volunteer drivers, who give their time to transport service users and provide them with companionship and support.

The proposed funding cut of almost all its grant funding by southern Derbyshire CCG represents around 35% of its total service income.

Meanwhile the Readycall Befriending Service, which provides social contact and practical help to lonely, isolated older people, will, in the future, have to restrict its offer to only support older people who are affected by cancer and other long-term conditions. This element of the service can continue thanks to funding for the coming 12 months from Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Home from Hospital service provides practical support and social contact over a six-week period to older people who have no or little family support and who have been discharged from hospital.

The proposed loss of CCG funding leaves it in limbo as the service was subject of a tender by Derbyshire County Council and will be part of a county wide service.

A decision to choose a successful bidder will be announced soon by the council.

A Volunteering Brokerage service across the Derbyshire Dales and in Buxton is also currently under review as part of the joint CCG and Derbyshire County Council review of infrastructure services in Derbyshire.

This service recruits volunteers for voluntary and community projects and organisations across the area, and helps people find the right volunteering role for them.

The cuts will also impact Ashbourne Community transport, which will see a grant of almost £5,500 taken away.

Mrs Geddes has moved to reassure people involved with Voluntary and Community Services Peaks and Dales that there are no immediate plans for staff reduction as part of the review, which is now ongoing.

She said: “I want to reassure the staff in the services affected by the cuts that we are not proposing to rush into any knee-jerk response by changing staffing or service delivery at this stage.

“We will, of course, have to assess the full impact of the cuts on each service and the organisation as a whole but we will keep you updated as to our plans, as things progress.”

I fear that it is a decision that the CCG will grow to regret in the coming months Gill Geddes (left)