It's no surprise that a recent survey by the National Audit Office found that face-to-face debt advice delivers excellent value for money. However the debt advice helpline funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is finding it difficult to meet demand following the economic downturn.
The decision of the Office of the Third Sector in late 2009 to cancel Campaigning Research grants to 32 small charities was a blow to the voluntary and community sector. Angela Smith, the third sector Minister admitted that her decision was a clear breach of the Compact and that it damaged the small charities who had been promised this funding. Now the OTS has added insult to injury.
With the general election rapidly approaching it is important that the advice sector continues to press politicians of all parties to ensure the future of independent legal advice around areas of social welfare
At a time when the voluntary and community sector is already feeling under threat, the decision of the Office of the Third Sector to cancel Campaigning Research grants to 32 small charities (7 of them London based) is extremely damaging.
Lasa recently carried out a survey of frontline agencies which shows how much they rely on infrastructure support.
