Tessa Jowell has announced yet another raid on lottery funds - this is bad news for Wandsworth's voluntary sector. Since January 2006 Wandsworth groups have received just under £1million in grants.

As the lottery pot gets smaller, the good causes will have a lesser chance of getting support.

Several lottery funded groups will be looking to have their funding renewed and those groups could find themselves with little or no support as the funds get diverted to the Olympics.

The National Lottery was set up to support the good causes and the funds were an addition to any statutory or local government funds.

The Labour Government has treated the lottery as a private piggy bank to be raided each time it finds itself in a tight squeeze.

Since 1997, Government has taken more and more control of the way the funds are distributed and far too often have targeted the funds to supplement its own priorities.

In the past, regional committees of the Community Fund were responsible for distribution of funds.

The Community Fund with its independence from Government control, influence or interference had a reputation for supporting a range of good causes from the ordinary to the innovative, as well as some that would be seen as controversial.

Since the Big Lottery Fund does not have the same independence as the Community Fund funding for the voluntary sector has been greatly compromised.

I believe unless Wandsworth's voluntary sector makes its criticism known to Government and local MPs, there is a real possibility they will be the losers of this and any future loss of lottery funds.

Councillor Ravi Govindia, Wandsworth Town Hall