Local authorities keep our communities together and protect the most vulnerable. We’re calling on our leaders to end the cuts and save our services.
Libraries are shutting, waste collections are reducing, and social services are shrinking. More and more essential services that we all rely on every day are crumbling away.
Local services need proper funding to ensure their resilience. Right now, even our most basic services are facing cuts as a result of chronic underfunding from the government.
Staff working in local councils are finding their budgets slashed to the bone; after 13 years of constant cuts, there’s not much left. We face the very real risk of the number of councils declaring effective bankruptcy growing rapidly.
We desperately need to save our services.
Watch the video to find out what is happening to our communities:
What can we do?
Our research has uncovered that there is a funding gap of just over £3.5 billion for 2024/25 and predicts a cumulative shortfall of £7 billion by 2025/26 in local government. Use our map to see the shortfall in your council.
Local services will disappear without emergency funding now. That’s why we are calling on the government to #SaveOurServices. Send an email to your MP* now, asking them to pledge their support.
*If you’re in Scotland, email your MSP, and in Wales your MS, using our tool.
Other ways to get involved
If you’re a UNISON activist, you can download campaign graphics and videos here. Find our comprehensive campaign toolkit here, and our quick guide to help you get started, here.
If you’re a UNISON branch secretary, we’ve created a template email you can send to your colleagues to encourage them to use our interactive map and lobby their MP:
