The Association of London Government’s grants executive has also singled out disability and black and minority ethnic groups as a key focus for its spending on voluntary sector work across the capital.

The committee has drawn up a list of recommendations for spending, to be finalised by the ALG’s leaders’ committee next month. In addition, it has indicated that projects aimed at tackling homelessness, providing a route out of prostitution and tackling domestic violence should be recipients of funding.

The leaders committee has overall responsibility for setting the budget and policy framework for the grants programme.

“The voluntary sector plays an important role in supporting London’s diverse community and we take our responsibility very seriously,” said Paul McCannah, chair of the grants committee. “We have a limited pot of money to allocate and have had to make some tough choices. However, we have sought to ensure we are recommending schemes giving people the chance of accessing job, training and educational opportunities; reduce social exclusion and poverty and promote equality.”

But voluntary sector organisations have feared that the shifting of priorities will also lead to a cut in funding levels for some groups. The Voluntary Sector Forum said the redistribution of cash would hit the sector hard (Charity Times news alert 131- click here for that story)).

ALG chair Merrick Cockell said the budget would be decided on the basis of London-wide priorities and he was not expecting a major change from recent spending levels.