The calls come ahead of next week’s Spring budget at Westminster.
Organisations supporting communities hardest hit by the cost of living crisis have united ahead of next week’s spring budget to call on the chancellor to provide urgent support.
Over 30 organisations supporting thousands of people and charities across the UK have written to Jeremy Hunt urging him to act.
The letter warns of the devastating impact on communities if charities are forced to scale back services or stop operating.
The organisations – which include sector infrastructure bodies and well-known charities – argue that the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors can’t respond to this crisis without support.
The signatories highlight that many charities are themselves at crisis point. Many are facing a triple threat of rising demand, falling income and rising operational costs.
Latest research shows that half of charities are worried about their survival and ability to deliver services due to the current crisis.
Sarah Vibert, CEO of NCVO, said: “The cost of living crisis is impacting every corner of this country and the need in communities continues to rise. Volunteers and charities are on the frontline of this, offering lifelines to people who would be devastated without that support.
“The risk here is real. For every charity that shuts down, a whole community of people have the rug pulled out from under them. Even scaling back services can have a detrimental effect on people’s lives.”
Record energy costs are also a key concern for a range of charities. Average energy prices for charities are still four and a half times higher than in February 2021.
Charities’ incomes have not seen a like-for-like increase. Unlike businesses, charities are unable to pass on the cost of delivery to the people accessing their services.
Ms Vibert: “We need the chancellor to act on these warnings and provide urgent help for the voluntary sector in next week’s budget. Without it, many of the people hardest hit by the cost of living crisis face losing vital support.”
