MP highlights work of Gillingham’s Sunlight Development Trust at PMQs and questions Prime Minister on voluntary sector funding

Wednesday, 16 July 2008

See Paul speak at PMQs by clicking on the ‘Paul Clark TV’ link to the left of this article

Gillingham and Rainham MP Paul Clark today asked the Prime Minister for reassurance that voluntary sector groups will continue to receive support from Central Government.

During today’s Prime Minister’s Question Time, Paul asked Gordon Brown for a commitment that organisations like the Sunlight Development Trust in Gillingham can rely on continued funding for their voluntary and social enterprise work.

Speaking after PMQs, Paul said:

“I was pleased that I was able to highlight the excellent work of the Sunlight Development Trust in front of an audience of millions of people watching at home and to the Prime Minister and fellow MPs.

I was also reassured by his response that an extra £130 million is being made available for small community groups, as well as a £70 million scheme to help organisations become more sustainable”

Full text of exchange in House of Commons is as follows:

Q6.    [218934] Paul Clark (Gillingham) (Lab): My right hon. Friend will be aware of the importance of volunteers and the voluntary sector in our communities, as amply demonstrated by the Sunlight Development Trust in my constituency, which is leading on social enterprise work and campaigns locally. However, there is concern that central Government support for the third sector must continue, so what steps will my right hon. Friend take to ensure that third sector organisations are reassured about the commitment of this Government to their neighbourhood campaigning and the delivery of complementary services in neighbourhoods?

The Prime Minister: By increasing the grants that we are making available for grassroots community action, £130 million is being provided directly to small community groups, and we are establishing a £70 million community builders scheme to help community-led organisations become more sustainable. At the same time, we are helping youth volunteering by giving more money to the v organisation to encourage young people to get a step on the ladder to community action. I should also remind my hon. Friend that we have strengthened gift aid, which gives millions of pounds to charities by virtue of tax relief. But we will not see the charitable sector, as some Opposition Members do, as a cut-price alternative to public services. We will reinforce the work of the voluntary sector in partnership with Government