As we enter a new period of austerity, voluntary income will be critical.
A new study by London Metropolitan University, funded by the Trades Union Congress, and revealed exclusively to the Guardian, exposes the devastating impact of austerity drives on LGBT voluntary and community organisations in England and Wales.
And BSC's potential £600m pot is overshadowed by the £1 billion drop in funding from government to the voluntary sector over the next four years.Under fiscal austerity, the Big Society will not emerge of its own accord.
It also wants a commission of inquiry to be set up to examine the impact of the coalition's austerity measures on the community and voluntary sector, which seeks evidence from frontline workers.
And while the board used "Austerity Britain" as a cover to use voluntary donations to supplement its own budget, it pays its chief executive nearly £200,000 a year, with seven other directors on £100,000 a year.
There are a number of ways you can assist our underfunded and overstretched police force in a voluntary capacity and, important in these times of so-called austerity, save the taxpayer some money into the bargain.
In a climate of austerity, efficiency and pressure, we have looked at how the public and voluntary sector can measure the impact it makes, and asked what the public values about their local services.
Clarke is far from the only voluntary sector employee to feel services have deteriorated as a result of the coalition government's austerity agenda.
It would be a tragic loss and mistake if current austerity and central government policies were to be allowed to drive a wedge between the voluntary and community sector and local government.
With income from property and raising funds from local businesses, its grant funding to voluntary groups of all types has supported a diverse and vigorous third sector, and incidentally a protection against the effects of austerity on public funding.
