In the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) world, one question often surfaces in local and national conversations:
Is it good or bad that multiple organisations deliver similar services?
At first glance, duplication may sound inefficient — even wasteful. Yet, as with most things in community work, the reality is far more nuanced. As we at Community Together CIC know, the ecosystem of support in a place like Tamworth thrives on variety — but it also needs coordination and trust.
The Pros: Choice, Capacity, and Innovation
1. Freedom of Choice for Communities
When several VCSE organisations offer similar services — whether that’s food support, wellbeing activities, or befriending — it can actually empower residents. Choice allows people to find the service or environment that feels right for them.
A “one size fits all” model doesn’t always work, especially when it comes to people’s wellbeing, confidence, or social connection.
2. Increasing Support Capacity
In a time of rising demand and stretched resources, multiple organisations offering similar help can expand overall capacity. When one group reaches its limit, another can step in. This collective strength ensures fewer people fall through the cracks.
3. Encouraging Innovation and Specialisation
When different groups work on similar challenges, each brings its own creativity, networks, and style of delivery. Healthy competition can inspire improvement and innovation, leading to better outcomes for service users.
The Cons: Duplication, Diluted Impact, and Funding Pressure
1. Duplication of Effort
Without coordination, several groups doing similar work can lead to confusion — for both funders and residents. People might not know where to go, or they may bounce between services without continuity of care.
2. Draining the Funding Pool
Funding is finite. When multiple organisations apply for similar grants to deliver overlapping services, the funding pot can quickly fragment. This risks creating short-term projects that struggle for sustainability rather than long-term, joined-up support.
3. Competition Over Collaboration
When resources are tight, collaboration can give way to competition. This can unintentionally erode trust between organisations and make it harder to build the partnerships that communities truly benefit from.
Finding the Balance: Collaboration Over Competition
The key isn’t to reduce the number of VCSE organisations — it’s to strengthen the connections between them.
True community impact happens when groups recognise each other’s strengths, communicate openly, and align around shared goals. Shared referral systems, joint bids, and coordinated communications can ensure we maintain freedom of choice without duplicating effort.
At Community Together CIC, we’ve seen first-hand that collaboration doesn’t mean losing identity — it means amplifying impact. The more we work together, the stronger our collective offer becomes.
Final Thoughts
Multiple organisations delivering similar services isn’t inherently a problem — it’s a reflection of the community’s richness and compassion. But to ensure this energy leads to sustainable, effective change, we must continue to share, plan, and act together.
Because ultimately, what matters most isn’t who delivers the service — it’s how many lives are improved through it.