Scots charities struggling under weight of demand
‘Devastating’ fallout from welfare and benefit reform
SCOTTISH charities are facing rising pressure as a result of the Coalition Gove r n ment’s controversial welfare and benefit reforms.
A survey of the voluntary sector found nearly 90% expect to face a further increase in need for services this year.
The report, carried out by charity umbrella group SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations), found the average increase in demand quoted was 39%.
Increasing use of sanctions for people accused of failing to seek work or take part in employability programmes, the housing benefit under-occupancy charge – or “bedroom tax”– and medical testing to assess eligibility for disability benefits are among wide-ranging changes to benefits policy which charities believe are putting them under greater pressure.
Charities were questioned about current levels of services in their area and the problems faced by the people who used their services. Of the 581 responses, more than threequarters of charities – including advice bodies, older people’s charities, youth groups, housing associations and disability groups from across Scotland – said the quality of benefits and welfare advice in their local council area was not good.
Charities were particularly concerned about lack of access to the internet in many communities, especially given that some claimants will soon be penalised if they do not seek work and apply for benefits online.
Charities also highlighted a need for access to credit, transport and starter packs and furniture for people on a low income moving into a new home.
The survey was carried out between January 10 and February 8 and was designed to assess the scale of the challenge, to help the sector deal with the impact of welfare reforms. Charities said they were providing emotional support (45%), one-toone advice (62%) and budgeting help (38%) to people affected by benefit changes and cuts.
The most common reasons for people seeking help were that they had been affected by benefit sanctions or other cuts (82%), stress (75%), housing concerns (70%) or needed help with filling out application forms (65%).
Most charities said they were either very well informed (30%) or quite well informed (50%) about welfare issues.
However, charities said the biggest obstacle to helping people facing “devastating” cuts was the level of ignorance of the changes among the general public, and a negative attitude towards benefit recipients.
Martin Sime, SCVO chief executive, said: “A welfare system that leaves people broken and scared is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. While the general public remains in the dark about the devastating impact of welfare cuts, the outlook for people living in poverty and fear in Scotland is bleak,” he said.
“It’s left to charities and voluntary organisations across Scotland to pick up the pieces, but there is also a job to be done in bringing this issue out into the open so that the devastating impacts of cuts are not conveniently swept under the carpet.”
Practical ways of helping people affected by welfare reform and the possibilities for a future Scottish system of welfare are both expected to be the subject of debate at the Gathering, a two-day event for people working in charity and voluntary sectors, which opens today at the SECC in Glasgow.