VCFSE Financial Pressures - Snapshot Survey

We know that the financial environment for VCFSE (voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise) sector groups across Somerset continues to be tough. We also know that some groups are facing particular challenges at the moment, as funders struggle to meet increasing demands on their resources.

We'd like to update the information from our 2024 'State of the Sector' survey so we have a clear snapshot of the current position to inform our sector support and advocacy.

We anonymise data for reporting purposes. We will not share your personal details, or the details of your responses, with anybody else without your consent.

It would be helpful to know who is submitting the response so that we can send you information and updates and offer support. However, if you feel the information you are giving is particularly sensitive and prefer to answer without identifying your group you are able to do so.

This survey will close at 5pm on Saturday 31 January.

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* 1. What is your name?

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* 2. Which organisation or group do you represent?

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* 3. What is your email address?

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* 4. How would you describe the current financial position of your group?

Improving

Good

Stable

Deteriorating

Critical

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Please tick any of the following that apply to your group's current financial position.

Our income is largely unchanged but cost increases are affecting our viability

Our income is largely unchanged but demand for our services has risen

We have gained new contracts, business or grants that enable us to meet additional costs

We have lost contract, business or grant income and have been unable to replace it

Trusts/Foundations who have regularly supported us in the past have recently reduced or withdrawn support due to pressure on their resources

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Has your group taken any of the following actions in the past 6 months to address financial pressures? (tick all that apply)

Drawn on reserves to meet shortfall in income

Reduced staffing costs

Minimised or reduced other core costs

Reduced or 'rationed' services available

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 7. For how long do you feel your group's current financial position is reasonably secure?

3 months

6 months

12 months

18 months

2 years +

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Would you like to explore any of the following ideas to support the future sustainability of your group?

Sharing premises/office space

Sharing specialist staff posts

Collaborative funding applications

More support with fundraising

Income diversification

Organisational health check

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Is there any specific training or support you would like to access to help you navigate current challenges more confidently? For example, training sessions around budgeting, trustee finance duties, financial planning for resilience, full cost recovery, cash flow forecasting, building and managing reserves, diversifying income, social investment, specific areas of fundraising, finance managers forum. Please detail below.

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* 10. Is there anything else you would like to share with us to inform conversations with partners and/or support options in the future?

By completing this survey, you are agreeing for your personal data, provided by Survey Monkey, to be processed by Spark Somerset, in accordance with GDPR so that we can improve on our services and report on our impact. We may contact you about your answers, but we will not pass on any personal contact details, or details of individual answers or comments, without your permission. You can find out more about how we use and look after your data in our privacy policy.