Our weekly survey is designed to take the temperature of the civil society sector as the Covid-19 crisis continues to unfold, monitoring the pressures being faced by charities and voluntary organisations across the country and understanding how the picture is changing over time.
Over the course of 5 & 6 May 2020, a total of 126 respondents filled in the survey. The results showed:
Commenting on the findings Matt Whittaker, Chief Executive of Pro Bono Economics, said:
“The charity sector is accustomed to working under pressure, but these latest results highlight the many additional difficulties organisations are now having to deal with as a matter of course. The landscape has changed dramatically and there is little sign that the challenges are going to ease: rather, more than half of our survey respondents say they’ve grown more pessimistic about the coming six months over the last week.
The overriding message from this week’s survey, and in particular from the comments made by respondents, is one of concern about the incompleteness of the government’s support for the sector. Many organisations say they are falling through the cracks, and that their long-term survival is under threat. Smaller charities feel that financial support is only being channelled to larger organisations; while larger charities say that there is a disproportionate – if understandable – focus on front-line services dealing directly with the COVID-19 crisis.
If we want the sector to continue to be able to make the vital contribution that it does to society – and indeed meet rising levels of demand for charitable support – then it is clear that more financial support is required.”
Notes: 28/29 Apr = 433 responses. 5/6 May = 126 responses.
Source: Charity responses to PBE & Civil Society Media survey.
Notes: 126 responses, comprising 39 ‘small’, 73 ‘medium’ and 13 ‘large’. Modest sample sizes mean these breakdowns should be treated with caution.
Notes: 126 responses.
Notes: 126 responses. Respondents were asked to tick all options that applied.
Notes: 126 responses, comprising 39 ‘small’, 73 ‘medium’ and 13 ‘large’. Modest sample sizes mean these breakdowns should be treated with caution. Respondents were asked to tick all options that applied.