NZ Hot Issues: Cut To Funding For Three Voluntary Sector Umbrella Groups

– Dorothy – 13/11/98

Government shoots messenger and wounds local social services.

Which umbrella groups have had a funding cut? The Government’s Community Funding Agency has cut $148,000 in funding support for three voluntary sector umbrella groups, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, the Council of Social Services and the Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations. The cut will be effective from July.

Response from John Elvidge of Presbyterian Support “It’s hard not to see a punitive motive in these cuts,” says John Elvidge, executive Director of Presbyterian Support (Upper South Island). ‘It’s another case of shooting the messenger. The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) has dared to be critical of the Community Funding Agency and the CFA has responded by cutting funding for NZCCSS.”

In a recent report reviewing the performance of four significant social service funders, the Community Funding Agency, the Lotteries Board, Regional Health Authorities and Trustbanks, the CFA came last in all eleven criteria considered. “Today has the feel of pay back time about it,” says John Elvidge.

It’s ironic, too, that Mr Smith is rationalising the cut by talking about moving this $150,000 out of bureaucracy and directing it into local services when only a few months ago the CFA reduced funding to the Canterbury Westland region by $850,000. Presbyterian Support is one of the groups affected by that reduction. “The government relies on us to deliver its strengthening families policy, but despite the rhetoric, it is withdrawing the means to help us carry that policy out,” Elvidge says. The government is doing the talking, but, with the help of NZCCSS, we’re doing the doing!”

Mr Smith’s claim that the NZCCSS are “talkers not doers” is simply offensive. The Council is able to offer alternative advice to government precisely because it draws on the wisdom of the people on the ground. It depends on the daily experiences of the people who are actually out there offering service in this country.

“The work of the NZCCSS is vital” says Elvidge. “It enables us to offer the right social services to the right people. It is our voice in the discussion with government trying to get the provision and mix of social services right. I’m angered and I’m concerned that this morning’s attack on the Council is little more than a crude attempt to silence the voice of common sense.”

Communication shackled by the cuts. Ruth Gardner, manager of the Christchurch Volunteer Centre, expressed her concern about the reduction in communication caused by the funding cuts.

“Associate Minister of Social Services, Nick Smith, justifies removing Government funding from the key voluntary sector umbrella groups by saying he wants to fund ‘doers’ not ‘talkers’. Whatever happened to social cohesion which was about talking as well as doing?

“This action will lead people to assume that the Government is fearful that ‘talking’ might be expression of opinion contrary to current policy. The groups whose funding has been cut are ones which listen to the grassroots and respond with action in a way the Government is unwilling to do.

“Those who are ‘doing’ most rely on these umbrella groups to stimulate the discussion and provide the information which is vital in ensuring that the ‘doing’ is effective, accountable and socially responsible.”

Important discussion hindered Sharon Torstonson of the Council of Social Services emphasises how the cut in funding will limit discussion of important issues.

“Basically our concern is that the government, in looking to address social issues, focuses on individual solutions for individual people and families. The funding which has been cut from our organisations is going to a new initiative working with at risk families in their homes.

“The trouble is, dealing with social concerns only at the individual level keeps us all isolated and vulnerable. When we engage with our issues only as personal problems we come to blame ourselves for our troubles. With no way of being able to look at the big picture and the social context we live in we don’t see the impact that they have on our lives. This makes it harder to question and challenge the structures and authorities which affect our lives or to make the links with others in similar situations or who will support us.

“As long as we’re looking inwards, we don’t make the demands on government to address these things, as we as citizens have a right to do. This means it can then reduce social spending and taxes, creating a more divided society, with the least advantaged blaming themselves, the increasingly wealthy believing that it is due to their superiority that they are better off, and a loss of community and any recognition of our interdependence.”

What is the Government’s policy? Is it to silence its critics? Does the funding cut come from the same motivation as the ruling that Student loans are not to be used to pay Students’ Association fees?

Shooting the messenger won’t silence concerned New Zealanders.