A new era for the community sector

The chancellor called it efficiency savings while over the weekend David Cameron talked about a future of austerity, but what they were really talking about were massive cuts in public services that will be with us for a long time.

Long after special measure funding initiatives such as the Hardship Fund and Third Sector Action Plan have faded into the memory, frontline community organisations will be facing a public services budget black hole.

At the same time, demand for services to some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities will be on the increase.

To sustain community-based organisations such as our members, who have weathered many social and economic storms over the years, we now have to adapt and evolve.

The community sector needs to build up relationships, partnerships and networks with like-minded organisations, strengthen engagement with their local authority and seek creative solutions for acquiring new resources.