Crisis-hit voluntary organisations are to receive a £100,000 lifeline from Wirral Council.

Director of public health Fiona Johnstone has warned that with a considerable reduction in funding in the public sector smaller voluntary sector organisations face financial difficulties and could possibly fold.

In a report to next week’s cabinet budget meeting she proposed the release of £100,000 from the Public Health Outcomes Fund to support request of £3,000 or less.

Each of the peninsula’s four constituencies would received funding of £25,000.

She insists however: “This proposal seeks to address the immediate concern, although it should not be seen as a longer-term solution  as work is also ongoing to review how the council supports this sector overall.”

Each proposal will have to meet special criteria relating to increased healthy life expectancy and reduction of differences in healthy life expectancy between communities.

Councillor Chris Meaden, cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “Voluntary sector organisations have contacted me and my fellow councillors with concerns about their funding, and it is for that reason we are setting up this fund, which will be administered through our constituency committees.

“We are doing this because we recognised the importance of a strong, resilient community and voluntary sector; and in the short term this will hopefully alleviate some of the pressures they face.

“However we continue to seek a sustainable, longer-term approach to supporting our community and voluntary sector.”