Regional News - Scotland, London and the South East

Church Action on Poverty and the Iona Community have joined over 40 other civil society organisations in the Scottish Campaign for Welfare Reform which has issued a Manifesto for Change . The Manifesto calls for “a system which prevents poverty, treats people with dignity and respect and supports everyone to flourish”.

In London the Big Squeeze 2013 report highlights the impact the post-recession economic and policy climate on Londoners and the voluntary and community sector organisations that support them. The survey suggests that, “The cumulative impacts on Londoners and VCS organisations mean that there is little flexibility to rise to new challenges and it is difficult to see how this problem of growing needs and decreased income will be resolved. There is a limit to how far the sector can stretch and very real concerns that it is unable to stretch far enough to fill the growing holes in the state safety net.” 27% of the organisations surveyed closed services over the year and 23% expect to close services in 2014-15.

People Powered Health - RAISE in the South East have highlighted national research which shows that four out of five GPs believe that social prescriptions, alongside medical prescriptions, should be available from GP surgeries. RAISE’s paper on social prescribing is available here. The original larger report is available from NESTA and with examples from other parts of the country.