The Stage

Jowell under fire from voluntary groups over Olympics funding

Published Monday 23 April 2007 at 18:30 by Nuala Calvi

Four of the UK’s biggest voluntary organisations have called on culture secretary Tessa Jowell to reconsider her decision to raid the Lottery to pay for the Olympics.

Heritage Link, the Voluntary Arts Network, the Central Council for Physical Recreation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations are demanding a Commons debate on the diversion of millions of pounds of Lottery money, which they say will have a devastating effect on arts and cultural organisations.

Under the plans, Arts Council England is set to lose £112 million, the Heritage Lottery Fund £161 million and Sport England £99 million.

Robin Simpson, chief executive of the Voluntary Arts Network, said: “The voluntary arts sector provides the potential for collaboration and celebration on a vast scale which would increase participation, both in the arts and in local communities.

“The further diversion of Lottery funds threatens to erode this support and threatens the development and even the survival of many groups both between now and 2012 and beyond 2012.”