The UK voluntary sector remains “less resilient and more vulnerable” than before the coronavirus outbreak, the charity leaders body Acevo has concluded.
The membership body said the latest edition of its rolling monthly survey of charity leaders, carried out at the end of June, indicated that the financial situation for charities remained broadly flat compared with the previous month.
The 88 charities that took part were asked about areas including cash flow, employee numbers and reserves.
Kristiana Wrixon, head of policy at Acevo, said: “It is positive that the charities we have surveyed are reporting fewer acute financial health challenges this month.
“However, talking to our members and looking at data from the previous two months, I am deeply aware that an unchanged picture in June is still a much poorer, less resilient and more vulnerable outlook than four months ago.
“Some key questions now include: how long can charities sustain themselves at unchanged financial levels? And will we see growth or a further dip in coming months? The Chancellor’s July statement focused on protecting and supporting jobs, and it is clear that this support is still much needed in the charity sector.”
Acevo has warned that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s statement yesterday did not reflect the challenges faced by the most marginalised and disadvantaged people because it was reliant on the country being able to “consume its way out of crisis”.
The umbrella body said: “Acevo was one of a number of charities that wrote to the Chancellor outlining a five-point plan to unlock billions to deliver social good.
“Danny Kruger’s upcoming civil society review and the autumn Budget still provide an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to investing in communities and civil society so that we can build back better together.”