Chancellor John Healey today delivered his first Autumn Budget, setting out the government's fiscal plans in a statement in the House of Commons. The budget provided no major additional costs for the sector, yet there was little to celebrate in terms of concrete support for charities.
Commenting on the budget, Clare noted that it was positive that the Chancellor has taken some steps to tackle the cost of living pressures.
"Help with rising energy costs and a repeat of the commitment to ending rough sleeping will make a positive difference to people and families who often have only charities to support them" Clare said. "Charities meeting these and other needs, across the whole of the UK, are working under real strain, with growing demand, rising costs and, often, reduced income. Thankfully, this budget did not introduce any major new costs for charities.
Barely a mention of civil society
Clare also noted however that CFG and the Civil Society Group had previously outlined many low-cost steps the government could have taken to ease pressure on the sector. Despite the government's efforts to increase collaboration with the sector, there was little mention of charities in today's announcement.
"Though the government has made efforts to work more closely with charities through the Civil Society Covenant, charities and civil society barely featured in the Chancellor's speech, despite the significant and vital role the sector fulfills in supporting the Government's missions and contributing to the much-mentioned ‘good growth in every postcode’."
Looking ahead
Clare added that she is looking forward to opportunities for further discussion with government, with future fiscal events on the horizon.
"We will continue to work to secure closer engagement between the sector and government, ahead of the announcement of the Prime Minister’s Ten Year Plan and next year's spending review, The Prime Minister has focused on a preventative agenda for addressing some of the biggest challenges facing society, and civil society has a huge wealth of expertise and innovation to support that approach."
Clare's full comment:
"We welcome the small steps the Chancellor has taken in his first budget to alleviate some of the pressures faced by millions of people up and down the country. Help with rising energy costs and a repeat of the commitment to ending rough sleeping will make a positive difference to people and families who often have only charities to support them.
"Charities meeting these and other needs, across the whole of the UK, are working under real strain, with growing demand, rising costs and, often, reduced income. Thankfully, this budget did not introduce any major new costs for charities.
"However, as CFG and the Civil Society Group outlined prior to the budget, there were many low-cost steps the government could have taken to ease pressure on the sector. Though the government has made efforts to work more closely with charities through the Civil Society Covenant, charities and civil society barely featured in the Chancellor's speech, despite the significant and vital role the sector fulfills in supporting the Government's missions and contributing to the much-mentioned ‘good growth in every postcode’.
"We will continue to work to secure closer engagement between the sector and government, ahead of the announcement of the Prime Minister’s Ten Year Plan and next year's spending review. The Prime Minister has focused on a preventative agenda for addressing some of the biggest challenges facing society, and civil society has a huge wealth of expertise and innovation to support that approach."
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