Will your organisation renew its contract with the LSC in April?
Many organisations are wondering whether it is worth all the trouble and a couple have already made the decision that they will not; many are now so reliant on LSC funding that they will run the rapids whatever
Whatever the reasons, please reply to this message and tell us why your organisation will renew its contract if one is offered or, has decided that it will not renew it
If any of you, as individuals, are thinking of leaving your organisation to get away from contracting then please add your comments to the existing thread started by richardholland: "Advisor flight or 'not going down with the ship'"
We have certainly thought about this and discussed it but while we think it is a lot of trouble we have very little choice. I think our management and trustee board are worried that ultimately we won't have a choice as we might be pushed out by cheap "advice" providers in the near future.
We will also be looking to renew as the Board want to keep all options open. Risks to Bureau and time to manage contracts are being explored by Finance and Personnel committees
I know our trustee board were unhappy with the clause about personal guarantees but now this has been withdrawn it's business as usual. My only worry is that they will reduce the size of the contract they offer us because we will have still underperformed by the end of March despite best efforts.
Post by Mr Fiona T. Wardle on Jan 31, 2007 8:44:42 GMT
With no other funding (immediately obviously) avaialble to carry out our debt and welfare benefits work - small but I would argue vitally important CAB in rural town of Berwick upon Tweed - only one of three local solicitors offers any free legal help in Family casework and no other advice agencies in the area - nothing funded or provided within local authority etc etc - we see our choices as either sign up to the new contracts, or stop providing the services. Well over 90% of the casework done in the bureau is done by LSC funding, and a sizeable proportion of all enquiries come through to one of our two LSC funded workers. Not only would two people - in fact probably 5 people with knock on effects on funding of admin/management work - immediately lose their jobs, but there would be a very big hole in the advice provisions in this area. Other than telephone advice, which a lot of people do not like and at best see as being second best to face to face advice, there would not be another debt or benefits adviser within 50 miles of the town. The impact on our community - we not only serve the town but many smaller townships and villages across a huge area - home visits when needed can be over 30 miles away and still be within the Borough of Berwick upon Tweed - would be dramatic. So we will sign up - probably.
