This document summarizes the results of a survey of organizations in the voluntary and community sector in Havering, UK. It finds that while staffing levels and income decreased for many organizations since 2012, demand for services continues to increase. The future remains uncertain, as organizations anticipate adding volunteers but reducing staff. Overall, the sector is struggling under funding cuts but showing resilience through diversifying income and determination to continue serving communities.

1. HaveringHavering
State of the Sector SurveyState of the Sector Survey
20132013
Kim GuestKim Guest
CEOCEO
HavcoHavco

2. BackgroundBackground
 In April 2012 Havco developed a smallIn April 2012 Havco developed a small
survey to try to understand how the localsurvey to try to understand how the local
voluntary and community sector were/arevoluntary and community sector were/are
coping with cutscoping with cuts
 In April 2013 we repeated the survey toIn April 2013 we repeated the survey to
capture any changes to the sector andcapture any changes to the sector and
trendstrends

3. ComparisonsComparisons
 Where possible we have identifiedWhere possible we have identified
comparisons with the 2012 surveycomparisons with the 2012 survey

4. Responses to the Havering surveyResponses to the Havering survey
 In 2012 91% of responses were fromIn 2012 91% of responses were from
organisations with some paid staff.organisations with some paid staff.
 In 2013 82% of responses were fromIn 2013 82% of responses were from
organisations with paid stafforganisations with paid staff
 In 2012 the organisations who respondedIn 2012 the organisations who responded
employed 1220 people either part-time oremployed 1220 people either part-time or
full time.full time.
 In 2013 the organisations who respondedIn 2013 the organisations who responded
employed about 1800 p/t or f/t staffemployed about 1800 p/t or f/t staff

5. Types of Organisation/ groupTypes of Organisation/ group
 48% of the organisations only work in48% of the organisations only work in
HaveringHavering
 18% of the organisations work in Havering18% of the organisations work in Havering
and neighbouring boroughs.and neighbouring boroughs.
 4% work across East London4% work across East London
(broadly similar to 2012 survey)(broadly similar to 2012 survey)

6. Types of Organisation/ groupTypes of Organisation/ group
 The turnover of the organisations whoThe turnover of the organisations who
answered the survey ranged from £0 peranswered the survey ranged from £0 per
year to £7 million per year.year to £7 million per year.
 A representative sample of groups andA representative sample of groups and
organisations who work locallyorganisations who work locally

7. The impact of the spending cutsThe impact of the spending cuts
 21% of organisations reported that their staffing levels21% of organisations reported that their staffing levels
had decreasedhad decreased
 11% of groups plan to increase their number of staff.11% of groups plan to increase their number of staff.
 6% of groups had reduced their number of volunteers6% of groups had reduced their number of volunteers
 10% groups plan to increase their number of volunteers.10% groups plan to increase their number of volunteers.
 33% of groups reported that their income had decreased33% of groups reported that their income had decreased
 8% of groups had received an increase in income.8% of groups had received an increase in income.
 60% of the respondees reported no significant change in60% of the respondees reported no significant change in
the level of their income.the level of their income.

8. The impact of the spending cutsThe impact of the spending cuts
 Despite losing income 51% of groupsDespite losing income 51% of groups
reported an increase in demand for theirreported an increase in demand for their
services (similar to 2012)services (similar to 2012)
 27% groups reported an increase in the27% groups reported an increase in the
number of people supportednumber of people supported
 Interestingly like last year no groupsInterestingly like last year no groups
reported a reduced demand for theirreported a reduced demand for their
services.services.

9. The FutureThe Future
 9% of respondees anticipate employing9% of respondees anticipate employing
additional staff (down on 18% in 2012)additional staff (down on 18% in 2012)
 44% did not anticipate employing44% did not anticipate employing
additional staff (37% in 2012)additional staff (37% in 2012)
 14% thought that they14% thought that they maybemaybe likely tolikely to
employee additional staff. (an increaseemployee additional staff. (an increase
from 2012)from 2012)

10. The FutureThe Future
 63% of groups anticipate adding extra63% of groups anticipate adding extra
volunteers to their workforce (slightly downvolunteers to their workforce (slightly down
from 69% in 2012)from 69% in 2012)
 8% not anticipating adding extra8% not anticipating adding extra
volunteers. (again down from 2012)volunteers. (again down from 2012)

It was not possible to gauge if any of theseIt was not possible to gauge if any of these
groups intend to replace paid staff withgroups intend to replace paid staff with
volunteers.volunteers.

11. The FutureThe Future
 5.4% of groups expect that they will have5.4% of groups expect that they will have
to close some of their services in the nextto close some of their services in the next
year, with 9% percentage expecting toyear, with 9% percentage expecting to
make staff redundant.make staff redundant.
Thank fully no groups expect to close theirThank fully no groups expect to close their
organisation or group although two didorganisation or group although two did
think that this was a possibility for them.think that this was a possibility for them.

12. The FutureThe Future
 “”“”Very bright indeed” “stable” “healthy”Very bright indeed” “stable” “healthy”
 ““risky”risky”
 ““greater stresses”greater stresses”
 ““fragile”fragile”
 ““ relatively stable but hugely dependent on therelatively stable but hugely dependent on the
generosity of our community”generosity of our community”
 ““at this time we are struggling from year to year”at this time we are struggling from year to year”
 ““Not encouraging”Not encouraging”
 ““we are resilient but have made significant decisions towe are resilient but have made significant decisions to
become more commercial to sustain ourselvesbecome more commercial to sustain ourselves

13. Message to Funders and LocalMessage to Funders and Local
AuthorityAuthority
 Improve the job market please
 Release funding for voluntary organisations
 Build alliances with local organisations in a more open and
transparent way
 More focus on small user –led organisations at the heart of their
communities
 Please appreciate us and the work we do in the community
 Grants from local authorities for voluntary groups can save the LA
money in the long run

14. Key Trends/ObservationsKey Trends/Observations
 Havering’s voluntary sector is strugglingHavering’s voluntary sector is struggling
but survivingbut surviving
 General turnover is down and there isGeneral turnover is down and there is
evidence of groups using reserves toevidence of groups using reserves to
survivesurvive
 Some groups reported their reserves areSome groups reported their reserves are
significantly depletedsignificantly depleted
 General determination to continue for theGeneral determination to continue for the
sake of their service userssake of their service users