Friday, September 28, 2007

Just met with our Chairperson today about our funding for next year. At the moment we have lots of funding applications submitted to lots of funders, but as yet very little funding secured for next year. We met to look at whether we thought we could exist next year and we reckon even if we don't get any other funding in we could exist for another 6 months. After that we would fold. We would still have to next year make lots of our staff redundant, but that 6 months would give us a bit of breathing space at least.

It always amazes me when we talk to people at the council about how precarious our funding is and they are surprised. We operate so much on a hand to mouth basis from year to year that we are always vulnerable to folding. I envy charities that get a regular grant from the city council or are popular in the public's mind and get large donatiosn or bequests.

It is particularly galling that whether a charity gets government funding or not is as much to do with politics and who you know as how good a service you actually provide. Anyway I guess I shouldn't be too negative.

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