Leaders from across the charity sector have written to the government to demand the implementation of emergency measures to support charities during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Signatories include the CEOs of Acevo, the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), Charity Finance Group (CFG), National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Institute of Fundraising (IoF), Small Charities Coalition (SCC) and the Directory of Social Change (DSC).

The bodies united to urge Chancellor Rishi Sunak to implement measures to help charities in the face of economic turbulence caused by Coronavirus.

“The charity sector is facing serious economic challenges in including the impact of local government funding cuts over many years,” the letter said.

“Coronavirus is already having a negative impact on fundraising activity and fundraised income around the UK, with event cancellations and potential travel restrictions looming.

“Fundraised income and trading income are the bulwarks of many charities’ business models. Disruption to both represent real risks to solvency for many organisations, and more widely a loss of funds to invest in charitable activity at a time when they may be more needed.”

The leaders have called on the government to establish an emergency fund to support charities at risk of insolvency or other funding issues; to implement ‘immediate short-term tax deferments’ or temporary waivers to help charities stay solvent; and to ‘explicitly include charities in economic stimulus packages.

To read the full letter, click here.

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