Family Resource Centres Budget Recommendations 2013 (the Budget Recommendations) Funding History

The Family Support Agencys (FSA) contractual funding agreement with Family Resource Centres (FRCs) under the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme provides core funding to Projects for a three year period subject to satisfactory progress being made on the implementation of an agreed three year Workplan. Specifically, the funding provides for: The employment of a maximum of three full-time equivalent workers working 35 hours per week. a Co-Ordinator, a Development Worker and an Administrator; and Some overhead costs.

This core funding enables FRCs deliver on their three year Workplan which includes accessing other sources of funding that enables FRCs to deliver on the child and family support services. Due to the economic downturn and the Governments decision in 2008 to curtail public expenditure, the amount of funding available to the FRCs remained at 2008 levels up to 2011. Then, following the Governments Comprehensive Review of Expenditure which was completed in November 2011, an annual 5% reduction in FRCs budgets (based on the 2011 FRC budget) was introduced for the three years from 2012 to 2014 which means a reduction of 5% in each of 2012, 2013 and 2014. It is recognised that notwithstanding efforts already made by FRCs, these reductions in FRC budgets are proving very difficult for many FRCs. It is also recognised that the voluntary Board of Directors within FRCs may need to take additional action to manage their budgets. The Budget Recommendations In that regard, following the recent Review of FRC Funding carried out for the FSA by Nexus the FSA is now issuing the following Budget Recommendations to FRCs in relation to managing their budgets:1. Salaries In 2006, a recommended Salary Scale was agreed for the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme, this Salary Scale was increased annually up to September 2008. References to adherence to salary scales have always been subject to funding being available. a) It is recommended that the voluntary Board of Directors of each FRC should take cognisance of the fact that FRCs budgets were frozen at 2008 levels up to 2011 with subsequent budget reductions of 5% in each of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Whilst the FSA 2008 Salary Scale still exists, it is acknowledged that certain FRCs may need to reduce salary costs in accordance with budget allocations. This will be a matter for each FRC and its employees.

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b) FRCs paying FSA core funded staff above the recommended Salary Scales should ensure that only the recommended Salary Scale rate of pay comes from the FSA core funding. 2. Deficits a) Where an FRC is in deficit, the voluntary Board of Directors should now develop a plan to address the deficit. The Regional Support Agency should be consulted on this matter. 3. Efficencies a) FRCs are encouraged to continue to manage carefully administrative and overhead costs in accordance with the Comprehensive Review of Government Spending. Please note these recommendations are current as at the date of issue and supersede any previous communications on the above issues.

Family Support Agency 30 April 2013

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