In 2010 the Conservative-Liberal Democrat then Boris Johnson. This gradually ended EU coalition government led by David Cameron funding for voluntary organisations in the UK. took office and launched the idea of the ‘Big Austerity bore down heavily on local authorities. Society’. No UK government in living memory According to the National Audit Office, direct had trumpeted the role of the voluntary government revenue funding for English local sector as loudly as this. Proponents hailed it authorities fell by more than 50% in real terms as a new recognition of the role of voluntary during the decade from 2010-11 and 2020- organisations within ‘civil society’. However, 21[3]. This was partly counterbalanced by rising critics saw it as little more than a slogan, hiding council tax income, but still resulted in a 26% a disengagement from partnership between reduction in spending power. government and national voluntary sector representatives and a cover for privatisation. VAI’s turnover fell from a peak of £1.5m in 2010 Core funding for national infrastructure bodies to £500,000 in 2015. Grants from all sources was ended, and the Compact was revised. In dropped from £1.5m to £485,000 over the 2013 the crucial requirement was removed for same period. However official membership government and local authorities to give 12 stood at 475 in 2017, compared with 238 weeks’ notice before withdrawing funding for in 2006. voluntary organisations. Moreover, it marked a period of measures that aimed to restrict New Direction recipients of public funding from criticising In 2010, acting on the findings of its ‘Invisible Government policy. Islington’ report [4], 2008 Cripplegate Foundation invited local and national At the 2015 general election the Conservatives organisations to launch Islington Giving, a gained an overall majority. This administration place-based initiative to harness the power of continued the policy of austerity and launched community fundraising. VAI was from the start a controversial referendum on membership a consultative partner. of the European Union. The latter resulted in a vote for ‘Brexit’ and the replacement of 3. NAO The local government finance system in England: David Cameron as PM by Theresa May and overview and challenges 10 Nov 2021 HC 858 4. Invisible Islington: living in poverty in inner London (cripplegate.org) 34 Celebrating 50 Years of Service