[WiLT] Cohesion Guidance to Funders (grants to single issue groups) closes this evening

[WiL Admin]

Threat to funding for 'single issue groups' by Cohesion Guidance to
Funders

Very late reminder that because of the Bank Holiday on Monday 26th May
responses to the Consultation on Cohesion Guidance for Funders by the
CLG need to be in by the end of today
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/cohesionfundersconsultation

It is this draft guidance that has been used by, for instance, Ealing
Council to justify cutting funding to SBS.

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LVSC Conclusion and recommendations

London's VCS organisations felt that this draft guidance could be
misinterpreted by funders resulting in a negative impact on VCS
groups, access to services, reducing inequalities and will result in
the dismantling of specialist services which had demonstrated their
effectiveness. It may also cause funders to neglect their legal
equality duties, by over emphasising the cohesion agenda.

It is recommended that Communities and Local Government should
withdraw the draft guidance and review whether guidance around
community cohesion is needed at a national level. If this is found to
be the case they should begin from scratch, working with the
Equalities and Human Rights Commission to develop equalities and
cohesion guidance. This could directly relate to the previous Home
Office Strategy on racial equality and community cohesion and build on
work on the six national indicators included in PSA212.

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A BME Perspective on the Cohesion Guidance for Funders - Voice 4
Change at 13th May 2008 LVSC Consultation Conference

Background to the Draft Cohesion Guidance for Funders

June 2007: The Commission on Integration and Cohesion Report 'Our
Share Future'
. Annex D discussed that 'single group funding should be the exception
rather than the rule for both Government and external funders'
. Single group funding defined as that 'awarded on the basis of
particular identity, such as ethnic, religious or cultural'
. Annex D recommended the CLG to develop Guidance to assist
grant-making bodies in deciding 'the appropriateness of single group
funding', hence
. Feb-May 2008 - Consultation on the draft Cohesion Guidance for
Funders

Implications for BME groups and organisations:
. BME organisations are struggling for funding to provide services to
minority, ethnic communities, and are now being further affected by
the Cohesion Guidance - funding is being made available for those
organisations that provide services to all communities despite the
need for specialist services for BME communities. These organisations
will include
- BME Women's organisations
- BME Faith based organisations
- Other equality groups such as specialist support for BME disabled,
elderly people and LGBT groups

Quality of the draft Cohesion Guidance for Funders:

1. Ambiguous
- Status of the Guidance - already an agreed policy or policy in
making?
- Introduces 'Cohesion Impact Assessment' alongside Equality Impact
Assessment - the two areas cannot be combined, nor given equal weight
- Non-compliance with the Compact and its Codes - may undermine
self-determination and independence of the BME and other equality
groups

2. Omissions
- Does not mention equality duties, even though it could potentially
come into direct conflict with general duties to promote race, gender
and disability equality
- Presents partial information - not accompanied by the Equality
Impact Assessment but plans to carry out one

Insensitive
- A flawed premise to identify local needs and local context -
'evidenced need' to be determined by funders in making funding
decisions and not by community groups
- Strengthens negative stereotypes - "young black men to tackle gun
crime.. Muslim communities to prevent violent extremism." (Foreword,
the Guidance)
- Narrow understanding of bridging - considers BME communities as
homogenous group of people. Bridging can and does take place within
and across BME communities
- May push BME and other equality groups to change their objectives
and/or include a cohesion policy in their governing documents
- Assumes that BME and other equality groups contribute in segregated
communities

Further information including briefing and online survey about the
consultation
http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/cohesion_lobbying.html

Voice 4 Change is part of the new National Equality Partnership who
are also trying to build up a picture of projects supporting
equalities community groups, so please fill in their survey.
http://www.improvingsupport.org.uk/equality