News from East Midlands Labour

East Midland charities could lose out on share of £100 million

Charities and voluntary groups in the East Midlands could lose out on a share of £100 million worth of vital financial support under plans announced by the Conservatives.

Labour’s East Midlands Regional Minister and MP for Corby, Phil Hope, today warned that local groups in the East Midlands including groups for over 50’s, parent and toddler groups, sports associations and groups for disabled people, who have all benefited from government grants to help them support local people will face an uncertain future if these grants are no longer available.

Phil said:

“Young people, parents and people with disabilities in our community rely on these organisations run by hardworking local volunteers. It would be a tragedy if Cameron’s short sighted cuts meant that groups cut back or are forced to close because they lost grant funding. I am determined to stand up for the East Midlands and I will oppose these Tory cuts which will put our local groups as risk.”

If David Cameron were Prime Minister now he would cut £100 million from the budget that supports voluntary and youth groups from this year, which could wipe out all of these grants.

Commenting on these figures nationally, Liam Byrne, Labour’s Cabinet Office Minister responsible for these grants said:

“David Cameron says he cares about charities and volunteers, but his plans for cuts to the grants they need expose the complete hypocrisy of the Tory Party today.

“This is opposed to the Labour Government who are taking action to ensure such groups are safeguarded through the economic downturn.

“In February we announced a £42.5 million recession action plan for the third sector to help them step up – not scale back – their work. Over the last ten years we’ve doubled public income for the third sector – from £5.5 billion to over £11 billion. And the Office for the Third Sector is spending £515 million in support over this 3 year period.

“The action plan package underlines Labour’s determination to do everything we can to help the third sector even more.”

Other news from East Midlands Labour

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• New figures reveal Car Srappage Scheme's success in the East Midlands - 15 January 2010
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