Study shows increased optimism in VCS

An increasing number of councils for voluntary service are optimistic about taking on staff members and extending their range of services, according to a study published by NAVCA.

The local infrastructure body has assembled a representative panel of about 30 members who take part in quarterly surveys that are designed to give a snapshot of the mood among the organisations it represents.

The results from the latest survey show that out of the 24 members who took part this time, 17 percent said they were optimistic about increasing staff numbers and four percent felt they would need to decrease them, although 80 percent said they expect staffing levels to remain the same. It is the first time since the quarterly studies began in July 2012 that more NAVCA members are planning to take on staff rather than reduce numbers.

The study also found that 39 percent of respondents planned to extend the services that they offer, the highest percentage since the quarterly studies started, and 9 percent said they intended to decrease services.

58 percent of respondents felt that their prospects would stay much the same over the next three months, and 30 percent felt that their prospects would improve slightly or greatly during the period. 

The prospects for the local voluntary sector follow a similar pattern. 67 percent of respondents said prospects for their local voluntary sector would be about the same, up from 52 per cent in April, and 17 percent said that the prospects for local groups would be slightly improved. 17 percent thought that the prospects locally would be slightly worse.

58 percent of respondents saw the NHS as key to their success and a 54 percent said their relations with local NHS bodies were improving. However 21 percent of respondents this quarter said relationships with local authorities had got worse rather than the 17 percent who said it had improved.