The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is to spend £104m less on the voluntary and community sector from 2011 to 2016, according to a report by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

Counting the Cuts states: “Cumulatively, the voluntary and community sector stands to lose £2.8bn from the government over the current spending review period.”

The NCVO has estimated the government’s spending plans by extrapolating from future expenditure forecasts provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The NCVO also obtained data from government departments and local authorities with regard to their planned spending on voluntary organisations during the same period.

“Central government must collect and publish a comprehensive and robust analysis of its total spending on the voluntary and community sector, the impact of cuts to the sector and an evaluation of the resultant cost/benefit to government,” concludes the report.