It appears from this article that the government are not quite sure how to spend some EU money intended to alleviate child poverty and homelessness. It should be noted that this is £3.5m - which might sound like a lot but in reality isn't if we consider it in the context of the following statistics:
Homeless link suggest there are 57,890 individuals acknowledged as "Statutory homeless" in the UK, so £3.5million equates to less than £61 each.
The Children's Society state there are over 4 million children living in poverty in the UK, so £3.5million equates to less than 87p each.
It is obvious neither of these would go anywhere near solving the scale of today's social problems, yet there are alternatives to the funds not reaching any beneficiaries and being wasted in further administration either here or in Brussels.
The possibilities mentioned: young refugees; victims of modern slavery; child poverty; homelessness; rough sleeping; breakfast clubs; food banks; etc. are all the types of projects we have supported and funded.
At community foundations we undertake research to identify the areas of greatest deprivation and need. We undertake the necessary due diligence to ensure that the charities that are delivering the work are fit for purpose, and, after awarding a grant, we monitor the impact the grant has achieved.
So, perhaps the government should transfer such pots of money to community foundations, who are closer to the problem, have greater local knowledge and have the necessary infrastructure to distribute the funds quickly and efficiently across a much more contained geographic area. Such that rather than being diluted or forfeited the funds could be used for the purpose intended and achieve greatest impact.
Child poverty cash handed back to Europe unspent https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-49131685 More than £3.5m intended to alleviate child poverty and homelessness is at risk of being wasted because the government has failed to spend it, says a House of Lords committee. They warn that some of the cash has already been forfeited and are worried about the rest being handed back. The government said there had been "barriers" over spending the money. The UK was allocated more than £3.5m for 2014 to 2020 from the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, to be used in projects such as child poverty, homelessness or food banks. The Home Office says there are now plans to use funding for projects for young refugees or "potential victims of modern slavery, some of whom are unaccompanied children and young people".
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