Thousands of local voluntary groups are celebrating
today's news that the £425m being diverted from the Big Lottery
Fund (BIG) to subsidise the growing Olympics bill will not be at
the expense of funding for voluntary and community
groups.
Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
announced in the Commons today that although the costs of the
Olympics has increased significantly, no funds for local groups
will be taken from BIG.
The funds transferred to the Olympics Fund will
come from that share of BIG's budget which was intended for
statutory projects. Before the crisis began, the expectation had
been that about £1.1bn would be awarded in grants to the local VCS
in the period 2009 to 2012. As a result of the nationwide campaign
that figure holds good.
Kevin Curley, NAVCA's Chief Executive,
said:
'Thousands of local groups have written to Gordon Brown
and Tessa Jowell telling them why Big Lottery Fund grants are vital
to disadvantaged communities all over
England. They told ministers how local people
would suffer if these grants were lost. The Government has
listened. Not only does this decision save £425m for local groups.
It also assures the local voluntary sector that this is a
Government which listens to our concerns and acts on them. Of
course we must all remain vigilant in case the threat recurs,
especially if costs rise again. So NAVCA will keep the local
voluntary sector fully informed and make sure that if the threat
reappears or the commitment is not being honoured that further
pressure is brought to bear.'
Tessa Jowell's oral statement
Statement from Ed Miliband
'NAVCA fully supports the Olympics and Paralympics. Many NAVCA
members are recruiting Olympic volunteers and supporting local
sports groups. But it was always unacceptable that the price of
winning the Olympics should be paid by disabled people, pensioners
and disadvantaged youngsters all over
England'.