A group of eight senior representatives from charity and voluntary sector infrastructure bodies met with ministers and government officials at Number 10 on Wednesday 15 April.
The roundtable discussion focused on the impact of the US-Iran war on charities and the communities they serve, and the group shared insights on the voluntary and charity sector’s vital role in building cohesive, trusting and equitable communities.
Community tension and divisions, people having less time to volunteer and engage with their communities, and rising costs – for beneficiaries, volunteers, and for the organisations themselves – were all highlighted.
Ministers recognised the substantial and impactful contribution to society made by charitable sector organisations, and that taking account of the sector’s needs was vital to supporting the people and communities the sector serves.
The group set out the sector’s wider financial and funding challenges, including the increasing pressures on public service contract delivery, public donations and fundraising, and inflation. The financial and time constraints faced by volunteers, particularly amid rising fuel costs and wider cost‑of‑living pressures, were also explained.
Evidence was shared of some charities reluctantly reducing support for vulnerable people, along with examples of charities that are now meeting operational costs from the organisation’s reserves.
The meeting, which began with remarks from Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Civil Society, and Rt Hon Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, was also an opportunity to reflect on the new Civil Society Covenant.
Dr Clare Mills, Co-CEO, CFG, comments:
“On behalf of CFG and the rest of the group, we are grateful to the Charities’ Minister for organising and chairing the roundtable meeting which was timely and very positive. We also thank the Economic Secretary to the Treasury for attending and listening so carefully.
“Between us, we were able to share the current and potential impact of the war in Iran, set against the broader challenges that charities and their communities are already responding to.
“We are encouraged that government is listening to the sector’s concerns and making sure that the Civil Society Covenant is upheld. By working in partnership, we can continue to support the thousands of charitable and voluntary organisations that do vital work in communities across the UK and overseas.
“We understand that the door is open for future discussions and so look forward to working together with the Minister, Stephanie Peacock, the Economic Secretary, Lucy Rigby, and other government officials from DCMS, HMT and the Number 10 Partnerships Unit.”
Jane Ide OBE, CEO, ACEVO, comments:
“This meeting gave me hope that this is the start of a genuine, ongoing dialogue with government about the pressures facing ACEVO members and charity leaders – not just in response to the current crisis, but for the long term. It also underlined the importance of the Civil Society Covenant as a framework for building a stronger, more effective partnership across all areas of government.”
Leigh Brimicombe, Chief Influencing Officer, NCVO, comments:
“The voluntary sector is under significant strain, and the knock-on impacts of the US-Iran war are adding further pressure at a time when many charities are already stretched to their limits. At the roundtable, we reflected the real challenges our members are facing – from rising costs and increased demand, to the impact of community tensions and reduced capacity for volunteering.
“It was encouraging to have the opportunity to share these issues directly with government and to see a clear willingness to listen, engage and act. This is the ambition of the Civil Society Covenant in action, and continuing this positive engagement, on both sides, will be essential to ensure charities have the support they need to continue holding communities together during a period of uncertainty.”
Attending the meeting on behalf of the VCSE and charitable sector:
Dr Clare Mills (CFG); Jane Ide OBE (ACEVO); Roberta Fusco (ACEVO); Maddy Desforges OBE (NAVCA); Carol Mack OBE (ACF); Robyn Knox MBE (VCSEP), Anna Fowlie (SCVO) and Leigh Brimicombe (NCVO).