
Last night Rishi Sunak announced £750 million of funding for the charity sector.
The announcement follows weeks of campaigning by leading charities and MPs from all parties, including the #EveryDayCounts campaign.
The funding pot is for frontline charities – including hospices and those supporting domestic abuse victims.
£360 million comes directly from government departments and £370 million for smaller charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund
The government will match donations to the National Emergencies Trust as part of the BBC’s Big Night In fundraiser later this month – pledging a minimum of £20 million.
NCVO's Chief Executive, Karl Wilding has published their response; acknowledging that it is an important first step but isn't enough to cover the predicted £4 billion losses for the sector and prevent vital charities from closing. NCVO has also published a blog breaking down what was offered in the support package.
NAVCA's Chief Executive, Jane Ide, has posted their response. Asking for more detail and highlighting that medium to longer-term support for the sector is necessary and for small charity funding to be available quickly.
Our Chief Executive, Alison Page gave her reaction on twitter. Calling for the utilising of infrastructure organisations and longer-term investment that includes social enterprises.
In response to the support package Children England has stated that government support needs to recognise that all charities are a lifeline - this is no time to pick and choose what families and communities rely on.
The Directory of Social Change (DSC) published their analysis of the Chancellors announcement finding that it won’t be enough to prevent thousands of vital services across the country from closing down at short notice, leaving people in desperate need.
Caron Bradshaw, Charity Finance Groups CEO posted a blog with her thoughts on the support package echoing the words of others that while it is a good start there is a big gap between the package and the sector's projected loss. Caron also rebuts that the charity sector isn't homogenous and it isn't gentle. It’s messy and hard and difficult and painful.
Acevo has published a Q&A on government financial package based on notes from Vicky Browning. The notes are from meetings with sector leaders and DCMS on the 9 and 16 April. Read the Q&A here.
#EveryDayCounts
It is still important to support the #EveryDayCounts campaign.
You can help by completing these surveys from NAVCA, CFG and the Ethical Property Foundation on the impact of coronavirus on your organisation.