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Deaf Society donations hit by double whammy : thewest.com.au
A drastic drop in donations to the WA Deaf Society could threaten its community and employment programs when its services are needed more than ever.
General manager Geoff Manton said donations had “fallen off a cliff” since Christmas because of the double whammy of the financial downturn and Black Saturday.
Donations fell from $127,000 in the first three months of last year to $37,500 for the comparable period this year. Although the society is not yet in debt, it is eating into its reserves and needs $250,000 to break even this financial year.
“When it comes to discretionary spending, donations are one of the first things to go,” Mr Manton said.
Many of the Deaf Society’s programs, including offering counselling and information for families with deaf children and a seniors’ support group, are run solely on donations.
About 80 families used the support program last year, which cost the society at least $100,000. Donations also underpin administration overheads and falling revenue has been a key factor in the move to lay off six of its 30 full-time staff since October.
“Administration will be first thing to go, but that makes running the service harder,” Mr Manton said. “Our last stand will be cutting services.”
Government funding of about $650,000 last year barely covered staffing costs and drop-in programs.
Mr Manton said the society had been hit by a “tidal wave of need” for employment services.
A drastic drop in donations to the WA Deaf Society could threaten its community and employment programs when its services are needed more than ever.
General manager Geoff Manton said donations had “fallen off a cliff” since Christmas because of the double whammy of the financial downturn and Black Saturday.
Donations fell from $127,000 in the first three months of last year to $37,500 for the comparable period this year. Although the society is not yet in debt, it is eating into its reserves and needs $250,000 to break even this financial year.
“When it comes to discretionary spending, donations are one of the first things to go,” Mr Manton said.
Many of the Deaf Society’s programs, including offering counselling and information for families with deaf children and a seniors’ support group, are run solely on donations.
About 80 families used the support program last year, which cost the society at least $100,000. Donations also underpin administration overheads and falling revenue has been a key factor in the move to lay off six of its 30 full-time staff since October.
“Administration will be first thing to go, but that makes running the service harder,” Mr Manton said. “Our last stand will be cutting services.”
Government funding of about $650,000 last year barely covered staffing costs and drop-in programs.
Mr Manton said the society had been hit by a “tidal wave of need” for employment services.