According to the Charities Aid Foundation Resilience Index, demand for charity services is rising, as 85% of the charity leaders surveyed last year reported an increase and most expected this to continue.
Rattling tins and dry January fundraisers can only do so much, and charities are against a backdrop of serious funding challenges. Moreover, 30% of charities surveyed by the foundation expected to or had already reduced their workforce while a worrying 18% were unsure if they would survive the next five years.
Combined with the forthcoming changes to national insurance contributions it is set to be a tough year ahead with many charities – particularly smaller ones – likely having to make very difficult decisions and some closing their doors for good.
The people who ultimately suffer the most are those being supported by the charities – in this case vulnerable children, young people and families. Funding uncertainties can mean their support changes, diminishes or stops altogether.
Pulling the rug from under anyone's feet is the last thing a charity wants to do and they are often put in a very difficult situation – explaining to a vulnerable young person that the service helping them get back on track and build their life will soon be ending.
Charities have a justifiably proud track record of supporting children and young people, often acting as a bridge between the state and the young person. When their situation is particularly complex, charities can provide the time and intensive work needed to make a sustainable difference. Young people often perceive charities as more independent, approachable and on their wavelength, so engagement levels tend to be higher.
This can relieve the pressure on already hard-pressed staff in statutory services. Charities can help remove barriers, make services more accessible and positively influence service design. Speaking about St Giles's caseworkers embedded in hospitals, a consultant at the Royal London Hospital commented: “They bring a positive influence and do something we can't.”
These effects could be amplified if charities working with young people were sustainably, reliably funded. Instead, their already valuable time and energy is too often spent chasing pots of short-term funding, managing project closures and desperately trying to retain talented, skilled staff who understandably move on when they see the writing on the wall.
Let's make 2025 a year when charities get the support and resources they need from the state. A reduction in their number will leave a big dent in the lives of children, young people and the professionals from other sectors who work with them.
