The Foundation’s operational plan now reflects a different reality: charities we support can no longer (for most services) deliver to young people and communities, our jointly agreed planned priorities are on pause, and charities are focusing on meeting urgent and emergency needs from vulnerable people and communities across the UK.
In March 2020, NCVO reported that UK charities expected to lose at least over £4 billion income (resulting from lockdown closure of retail shops, the cancellation of fundraising events, the repurposing of reserves and demand for services increasing). Like other charities, the Foundation has concentrated on its purpose and refocused short-term effort to provide ongoing and further financial support to our charity network.
We launched the Hardship Fund in April 2020: open to eligible charities across the UK where the Foundation and Hymans Robertson had relationships. Tranche 2 of the Fund was approved by the Foundation’s Board in May, underlining our ongoing support to the charity sector in its vital work with the UK’s most vulnerable people and communities.
We’re also working with our Foundation partners to identify more areas for their joint working and where possible, opportunities to develop online and remote resources, particularly with MyBnk’s involvement in financial education for young people.
We continue to talk weekly with partners demonstrating our interest and support. In the worst of these times, it’s humbling to see the effort charities are making to provide much needed services and lifelines to the most isolated and vulnerable.
