Paul Butler
London Voluntary Services Council
&
United Way London and UK
Market Context
• London has the highest poverty rates in
England at 28% (7% higher than England).
• Incomes are more equally spread than in the
rest of England.
• Average earnings shrank by 4.4%.
• Food poverty is increasing, illustrated by the
increase in food banks.
• London ranks as most ‘debt vulnerable’ region
in terms of total debt and unsecured debt
Market Context
• 375,000 people unemployed in London in 2012,
increased by more than 40% since 2007.
• 25% of economically active young adults were
unemployed.
• 16% of Londoners earned below the London
Living Wage in April 2012.
• Over 40,230 households in temporary
accommodation.
• Rough sleeping increased by 13% in 2012/13 to
6,437
London’s Poverty Profile
Trust for London
• 57% of adults and children in poverty are in working
families.
• At 39%, the private rented sector now has a larger
share of people in poverty than either social rent or
owner occupation.
• In 2012 just under 600,000 jobs in London were paid
below the London Living Wage (8.55 per hour). Over
40% of part-time jobs and 10% of full-time jobs are low
paid.
• 80,000 London families were estimated to be affected
by the under-occupancy penalty, losing an average of
£21.00 per week.
findings: demand for services
Trends: Has demand for your services increased this year as a result of
economic or policy changes?
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
71%
68%
81%
66%
82%
Trends: Are you confident that you will be able to meet any increase in
demand for your services in the coming year? “No” responses
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
80%
75%
77%
50%
46%
Findings: fragile VCS finances
How has your
organisation's
overall income
changed over
the last year?
What do you
expect to
happen to
your overall
income in the
next year?
Findings: fragile VCS finances
Have you used
free reserves to
cover running
costs in the last
year?
Approximately
how much of
your
organisation's
current
expenditure do
you have left in
unrestricted
reserve funds?
Findings: VSC innovation
Trends: Actions taken to respond to user needs
Action
2011
Improved fundraising
Increased partnership work with other
voluntary and community sector
organisations
Made staff redundant
Taken on more volunteers
Merged with another organisation
Increased collaborative work with the private
sector
Improved your use of technology
Redesigned services to better meet needs
Closed a service
Opened a new service
Developed a new business model
Improved your work with funders or
commissioners
2012
2013
15%
60%
50%
51%
95%
70%
54%
56%
0%
39%
52%
11%
30%
54%
10%
1%
23%
24%
9%
16%
51%
8%
36%
39%
41%
50%
41%
49%
27%
32%
29%
2%
61%
31%
Case Studies
•
•
•
•
Third Sector Implementation Board – NIACE
Council of Somali Organisations
United Way London & UK
Reach Society