VOLUNTARY groups in York and North Yorkshire have been given a slight reprieve, after the local NHS trust reversed its decision to slash funding with just one month’s notice.

NHS North Yorkshire and York was strongly criticised after giving only four weeks’ warning in October that it was scrapping its 2010/11 grant to 18 voluntary groups. Previously, the notice period had been three months.

Now, following a campaign by local councillors and MPs, health bosses have agreed to reinstate the three-month notice period, meaning voluntary groups will continue to receive their funding until mid-January.

Angela Harrison, chief executive of York CVS, said this meant groups would lose about 20 per cent of the year’s funding, rather than 37 per cent.

She said: “Some groups will still face reductions in services, but hopefully no group will now have to make redundancies or even have to close.

“From that point of view it’s a relief, but it’s still a 20 per cent cut in funding, which for York CVS is about £8,000.

“I think if the voluntary sector is to be a key partner in enabling the Government to deliver its vision of a Big Society, groups need to have some certainty over their future funding arrangements.”

She said the health trust had agreed to meet with them to discuss a possible grant for the next financial year.

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, who led a debate on the subject in the House of Commons, said: “To lose any one group as a result of local funding difficulties would be a tragedy and I very much hope that the primary care trust will continue to review this matter over the weeks and months ahead.”

Coun Barbara Boyce, who chairs City of York Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee, said she welcomed the health trust’s decision to reinstate the three-month notice period, but remained concerned about future funding for the voluntary groups.