What's the best way to protect a small voluntary group against local council cuts?

[Wombly]

The Today programme has been on about the Equalities Act - anyone know exactly how that can be used to protect a voluntary group? And what about consultation? Sounds like local councils are meant to consult on cuts - but I haven't been consulted about any cuts. How are councils required to consult - anybody know?

I would have thought - only from a logic point of view - that equalities act would be useful only if you were involved with a sector of the community who are being particularly unfairly treated. The consultation thing's more complex. I'm on my mobile atm, but will look for more info later. Have you been in touch with your local CVS? They would be a really good source of info on this.

Thanks - I'm only just now thinking about hte Equalities Act because of the Today programme.

Is the group wholly or partially funded by the council?

They should do an equalities impact assessment before they make a change that affects people but I'm not sure if they would have to do this before deciding where to cut funding. If it's any consolation, I can sympathise. My last three jobs have ended due to lack of funding.

If you know cuts are likely, en I think you need to seek a plan B for the group. It's clear that council budgets are under huge strain, and many have huge debts to service too, so non-statutory services are in for a hard time.

As you seem to have some notice thus is coming, you have time to investigate other sources of funding. I found it helped to work out a "3 figures" approach: how much to carry on as now, a second figure based on what you have to do to be worthwhile, and a third figure of what you need just to survive. [Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, and you've already done this].

But then it is a case of fund-raising, ideally to the middle figure or above. Good luck.

It's partially funded. It's not my job at stake - just a local project which is really important to me. At this stage, I reckon the best thing is to fight the cut, although I hear what you say, Onimolap, about it being a hard time for voluntary groups. But councils ought to make sensible choices about where to cut - not hit local projects which are of prime importance to the borough.

You're right that the Equalities Act can be used (that's what the Fawcett Society used recently when they took the government to court over the June Budget) but in practice local authorities are finding ways around the Act and many are just doing impact assessments in a box ticking exercise kind of way.
There's some useful guidance here. It's specifically about women but the same guidance applies to other groups (depending on what the voluntary group does.
Gathering support and campaigning locally, writing to MPs, organising petitions, getting articles in local press, etc are all good strategies.

Yay, thanks, Rosa. Will have a read.

There's guidance on the EHRC website too.

And here

Thanks, Rosa - good old Unison.

Wombly: don't disagree with you. But such action will take time, and you may be starved of funds during that time. Do look for a plan B in tandem, especially if continuity is important.