Description

Reading’s ruling Tory-LibDem Coalition has “suspended” the grants process for up to 100 local charities with immediate effect, the Council admitted in a press release late on Friday.

All local charities that have been getting “core funding grants”, and had been told to apply for 2011-12 funding by 4 October, ranging from Readibus (£390,000 this year) down to Caversham Globe (which got £329), “will be reviewed”, the Compact Steering Group (a partnership between voluntary organisations the Council and other funders) was told last week (see attached). Groups have to wait until the year’s end to be told if they will go on being funded or be subject to “transitional arrangements”.

There is no indication of the criteria for the Coalition’s reviews, nor of any possibility of appealing a review decision to cut or end funding.