Yesterday, 8 April 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced financial support for charities - a total of £750 million of funding for the charity sector -
The announcement will be welcomed by many. For some organisations it will be a lifeline, winning them valuable time to plan for the future and make the changes necessary to survive and continue delivering much needed services. For example, hospices like many charities have been reviewing their financial positions urgently in recent weeks. Unsurprisingly, Hospice UK has welcomed the announcement saying "This unprecedented funding recognises the vital role that hospices play in supporting the NHS in its fight against COVID-19, and means hospices across the country can keep providing beds, specialist clinical care and staffing to relieve pressure on the NHS at this critical moment."
The work of sector umbrella bodies and leaders pulling together to press the government for this support has been impressive. It was good to hear the Chancellor acknowledge publicly that "One of our greatest strengths as a country is our civil society" and describe the work of charities in providing "so much compassion, care and community to the most vulnerable in our country".
However, as NCVO point out, the promised £750 million "will not be enough to prevent good charities around the country from closing their doors [and] many that survive will look very different in a few months’ time, with a severely reduced capacity to provide the support that people rely on."
It is good to see the commitment of NCVO, ACEVO, NAVCA, ACF and others pressing the government for further support.
Meanwhile -
Find out more about the key issues for charity trustees responding to the coronavirus crisis.