Assurances by Third Sector Minister, Angela Smith to look again at how funding contracts are administered has been welcomed by Unite, the largest union in the country.

The minister's statement came during a lobby of Unite Not for Profit sector activists who are under increasing pressure in the workplace due to the short term nature of the contracts awarded to voluntary sector organisations.

Rachael Maskell, Unite's national officer, not for profit sector, welcomed 'the very positive response' from Angela Smith in agreeing to explore, on receipt of further information from Unite:

• the information requested from commissioners i.e. auditing and reporting requirements, to see if greater consistency would assist organisations and staff

• issues relating to the workforce, which impact on the well-being of staff, from management practices to tackling stress at work.

Rachael Maskell said: "We wish to work closely with the minister to bring greater stability in terms of funding to the sector, which, in turn, will alleviate the enormous strains our members are facing in terms of pay cuts/freezes, excessive working hours and anxieties about their financial future."

A recent survey by Unite revealed more than 90% of voluntary sector staff feel their well-being is being undermined due to the financial crisis facing charities.

The survey showed that the way contracts are awarded in the voluntary sector - short term with the emphasis on cost-cutting - is having a detrimental effect on the sector's 750,000 employees and the services they deliver to clients and service users.

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