News / Bristol
Bristol community groups slam £3m funding shake-up
Community groups and charities have slammed a multi-million pound Bristol City Council funding shake-up that leaves the future of some hanging in the balance.
Disability forums, multi-faith organisations, and grassroots projects in some of the city’s most deprived areas are among those losing out under the council’s reallocation of grant money.
But the cabinet says its approval of the new Bristol Impact Fund will give a voice to representatives of some of the most vulnerable sectors and fund 49 life-improving programmes, many of which have never received public money.
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Volunteers and community group leaders expressed their shock and sadness at suddenly finding vital funds slashed and several called for members to reconsider its shake-up and the “unintended casualties” of a new application process.
There were cries of dissent from the public gallery as mayor Marvin Rees spoke of the difficulty in distributing a limited pot of money among the voluntary sector and challenged the groups opposing changes to select a cause on the list that should not receive funds.
Asher Craig, the cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “This is the culmination of a long process of work to change the way we allocate grants. The money will go to 49 life-improving programs that will help many of the city’s most vulnerable.
“There was always going to be disappointment from all who have been unsuccessful.”
She added that the council is “between a rock and a hard place” but said the impact fund is designed to address important issues of reducing poverty, unemployment, social isolation and improving mental health and support for those with HIV.
More than 900 people to date have signed a petition to save Hartcliffe Community Park Farm and its chair Lorraine Horgan spoke publicly of the “devastation” caused by the council’s decision to cut its £15,000 grant – which puts the site in one of Bristol’s most deprived areas under serious threat.
A representative from Bristol Disability Equality Forum argued a cut in funding prevents members from operating on an even playing field with able-bodied groups and set out some of the challenges and costs faced just for them to book meeting space.
Paul Hazeldon of Bristol Multi Faith Forum – the only one of its kind in the city – warned of the danger of disengagement among some sectors of the community if it cannot carry out its work.
Craig pledged a commitment to work with groups that have lost out under the shake-up but argued the impact fund will provide opportunities for several organisations that have not had any allocation of grant money previously.
Cleo Lake, deputy Green group leader, spoke of her concerns that the system has unfairly created an imbalance between small voluntary organisations and larger ones that might have better resources to complete the application effectively.
She pledged to personally look at working with successful groups and see how they might be able to help those that have lost out.
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