A NEW deal between community and voluntary groups and Dorset Council is being worked through.

After upset last year when the authority warned that some groups might face a cut in their grants with the possibility of some getting nothing at all, the council has reassessed its stance. Now councillors are saying they want to work in more collaborative ways, often commissioning services from third sector organisations.

Much of the change has been brought about by lockdown which saw many organisations step forward and offer assistance, with grassroots groups springing up to help neighbours.

While the final details are being worked out Dorset Council will maintain overall levels of support for voluntary community group funding until October 2021.

But there is still likely to be changes in the longer term with the council warning that some, historic, funding to voluntary and community organisations could still be reduced, while other organisations will be able to access discretionary grants for the first time where their work helps support the council’s own priorities.

Many of the grants under the new system are likely to be offered over a five-year period which will help with planning. Financial arrangements for some museums and community centres, which the council has an interest in, in many cases owning the buildings, are expected to be guaranteed from April 1st 2021 until April 2022, depending on a decision at October’s Cabinet meeting. What happens after that for these organisations will depend on a review of the council’s assets, currently underway, and any disposal strategy councillors might agree.

Councillors at an overview committee meeting on Tuesday were told that a public consultation exercise showed strong support from the public for groups which offer information, advice and guidance for residents as well as for voluntary community support groups and the arts.

Said Cabinet brief holder Cllr Jill Haynes: “It’s so important that we have working in collaboration and that we allow groups to work together and we allow them to flourish by talking to each other and not by us telling them how to do it.”

Dorset Council ordered a review of its funding realising that different arrangements were in place across the county at the time of local government reorganisation. It hoped to bring funding criteria into line both by sector and geographically.

In the 2019/20 financial year a combined total of £1.9million was invested in the county’s voluntary community sector by the previous six local councils.

Since the pandemic more than 60per cent of those surveyed by Dorset Community Action warned that they are at risk of potential closure in the next 12 months – primarily because of a loss of income and lack of fundraising opportunities.

Of 204 organisations who responded 4 per cent were closed permanently, 41per cent temporarily and 18 per cent had reduced their services while 12 per cent were offering more services.

Of the 117 organisations which employ staff, 62 had furloughed some of all of their paid workforce and more than half said they believed the current crisis would lead to staff losses, most expecting to lose up to half.

Only a quarter of the organisations who use volunteers said they had seen no change while 9 per cent said that have had to close or significantly reduce activity due to the loss of volunteers, many of which had self-isolated during lockdown due to age or health issues.

Three quarters of those surveyed reported a loss of income.