Civil society leaders are once again calling on government to develop an emergency support package for the not-for-profit, charity and social enterprise sector.
Ahead of the government’s Budget statement in March, charity leaders are urging Rishi Sunak to urgently work with them to develop a package of financial support for #NeverMoreNeeded non-profit organisations.
The sector is facing an unprecedented hole in its finances – estimated to be at least £10bn for the year from the start of the crisis – due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions.
The government’s £750m package of support announced in March 2020 was welcomed by charity leaders, but was not enough to ensure they and other not-for-profit organisations could continue to deliver essential services to those people who rely on them.
As well as asking for an emergency support package, the representation also reiterates the sector’s Five Point Plan which sets out specific measures as to how the government can support civil society in the medium and longer-term.
Sector leaders state: ‘…We ask you to deliver on your claim to make changes when necessary to ensure that this Budget delivers for social change organisations and the unique role they occupy in our economy to deliver public benefit.
‘Our sector is essential both to the immediate response to Covid-19 and to the medium and longer-term ambition to level up and build back better. Our nation needs our charities and social change organisations to play their part and your Budget must enable them to do so to.’
Sector leaders urged Treasury to meet with them to discuss the proposals in more detail and a specific financial sum which would form part of an emergency package.
Read the full representation here.
The Charity Finance Group has also repeated its call for government to create a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme that is fit for purpose, and has joined with Charity Tax Group, to seek improvements to the tax system. These representations have also been made ahead of #Budget2021.
Notes for editors
About the Signatories
The signatories lead civil society organisations, representing between them thousands of social change organisations of all sizes across the four nations, working in diverse areas including disability, homelessness, social exclusion, health, faith, community infrastructure, fundraising and funders. They are:
Debra Allcock Tyler Chief Executive, Directory Social Change
Tony Armstrong Chief Executive, Locality
Dr Charlotte Augst Chief Executive, National Voices
James Banks Chief Executive, London Funders
Caron Bradshaw OBE Chief Executive, Charity Finance Group
Vicky Browning OBE CEO, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations
Kathy Evans CEO, Children England
Ali Harris Chief Executive, Equally Ours
Vivienne Hayes MBE, CEO Women’s Resource Centre
Neil Heslop Chief Executive, Charities Aid Foundation
Rhidian Hughes Chief Executive, VODG
Michelle Janes Joint CEO, Jewish Leadership Council
Peter Lewis Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Fundraising
Carol Mack OBE Chief Executive, Association of Charitable Foundations
Ed Mayo Chief Executive, Pilotlight
Clare Mills Head of Communications and External Affairs, NAVCA
Rosalind Oakley Chief Executive, Association of Chairs
Ndidi Okezie CEO, UK Youth
Kunle Olulode MBE, Director, Voice4Change England
Dr Matt Plen Chief Executive, Masorti Judaism
Paul Reddish Chief Executive, Volunteering Matters
Angela Salt OBE CEO, Girlguiding
Paul Streets OBE Chief Executive, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales
Sarah Vibert Director of Membership and Engagement, NCVO
Adeela Warley CEO, Charity Comms
Donal Watkin Chief Executive, Association of Charitable Organisations
James Watson-O’Neill Chief Executive, Sign Health
About Charity Finance Group
Charity Finance Group (CFG) is the charity that inspires a financially confident, dynamic and trustworthy charity sector. We do this by championing best practice, nurturing leadership and influencing policy makers.
For further information and interview opportunities, please contact:
Emma Abbott, Communications Manager at Charity Finance Group: emma.abbott@cfg.org.uk
Roberta Fusco, Director of Policy and Communications at Charity Finance Group: roberta.fusco@cfg.org.uk
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