Do you really need VC money? I mean really need it. Most projects I've come across can be bootstrapped.
> they all insist on it
Did you counter them with "I have 3 contractors at my disposal on-call, round-the-clock"?
> I can't afford to hire someone on good money
£30k is a lot of money. Nearly $50,000 USD. How much do you have left? How much are you paying your Russian developer? (too much, I'd bet). $50,000 is 5 developers salaries, full-time, from India, for a year.
> I'd rather find someone who is passionate about the idea and with whom I could work well.
If that's the direction you want to take it, I wish you all the best of luck. I personally would go a different route.
> I am working with a great contractor.
It's entirely plausible that a business run by 1 technical contractor will fall apart (life happens... I've had contractors break contract several times due to personal issues that arose). It is, however, much less likely that a business run by 5, competent, well managed developers will fall apart.
Just sharing what's worked for me. Best of luck whichever direction you go.