This website uses cookies for anonymised analytics and for account authentication. See our privacy and cookies policies for more information.





The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Jobs to go at cancer charity

This news post is over 3 years old
 

CLIC Sargeant has become the latest health charity to propose redundancies as a result of Covid-19 funding reductions

A cancer charity has announced it is set to make job cuts in light of Covid-19.

CLIC Sargent has said it may have to make around 39 jobs redundant as it battles a £9 million shortfall in its accounts.

The organisation, which supports young people and their families with cancer, is the latest health charity to make proposed redundancies as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Now and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have all said that jobs will be lost due to dramatic reductions in funding.

CLIC Sargent chief executive Rachel Kirby-Rider said the scale of the challenge facing the charity is unprecedented.

“CLIC Sargent is currently facing the biggest challenge in its history,” she said. “The Covid-19 outbreak has had a devastating impact across the charity sector, and will continue to have a long-term impact on charities’ ability to raise money and provide services.

“At CLIC Sargent we are looking at a financial shortfall of £9 million this year alone. For a charity which needed to raise around £28 million this year, this is a devastating blow. It is clear that the fundraising impact of Covid-19 is set to continue, and we cannot afford to think short term.

“In July the charity launched a change programme in direct reaction to the immediate impact of the outbreak on our fundraising and trading arms. At that time, we informed our staff that we would need to make a further organisational restructure with a view to our medium and long-term sustainability.

“We need to make significant changes to the way we operate in order to protect our frontline services and ensure that we are still here for the young people, children and families that need us now and into the future.”

Despite savings being identified, the charity said it has no choice but to make redundancies.

Kirby-Rider continued: “The proposals under consultation would see a reduction in current staffing levels of 7%. Together with the redundancies announced in July, this equates to a 15% reduction in staffing levels. This change could see approximately 39 roles made redundant.

“Every single member of staff at CLIC Sargent is dedicated to making sure children and young people with cancer and their families get the support they need. Which is why it is very difficult to lose people who have worked so hard and shown such team spirit - especially over the past few challenging months. But the sad reality is that this change cannot be avoided.

“If we want CLIC Sargent to still be here in the future then we will need to change our ways of working, refine our focus on the key support we provide, and put ourselves in the best position to seek out opportunities to grow back stronger than ever.

“This been a difficult time for everyone at CLIC Sargent. But we know that cancer is not stopping for Covid-19. As lockdown eases and we settle into our ‘new normal’, for those children, young people and parents facing the terrifying reality of cancer diagnosis and treatment, this pandemic is one more huge obstacle for them on an already incredibly difficult path. It is our responsibility as a charity to change so that we can ensure we are still here for them all.”