Nicky Wilsenham’s Post

“𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓” We're not against the Government raising funds for vital services, but estimates suggest that the National Insurance increase alone could cost the homelessness sector up to £60m per year. Coupled with the rise in the National Living Wage, this is forcing extreme financial pressure on already stretched #homelessness services - and could lead to increased caseloads for staff and smaller charities closing altogether. This is unacceptable, so we're working with other organisations to seek an NI increase exemption for charities. #NIRise #NationalInsurance #Tax #Homelessness #Charity

🚨 The Autumn Budget – A Critical Moment for Charities 🚨 The 2024 Budget’s new cost increases have brought urgent concerns across the charity sector. A raised Living Wage will benefit many, but alongside the National Insurance Contribution (NIC) hike and without targeted support for civil society organisations, this significant increase in outgoing costs could risk essential services and staff. 📢 In response, NCVO and ACEVO have written an open letter to the Chancellor, urging action. Charities and supporters can add their voices by signing this letter, amplifying our sector’s call for support. Sign the open letter today ➡ https://lnkd.in/exqrim58 Charity Finance Group (CFG) have also launched a post-budget survey and are asking charities to share their views on the impact of the announcements. Responses are confidential and the survey is open until 15th November. Complete the survey ➡ https://lnkd.in/eHZNDPia #AutumnBudget #Charities #SocialImpact #ThirdSector 

We are delighted to announce that we are embarking upon a new corporate charity partnership with UK charity, Trussell. Trussell is anti-poverty charity and community of 1,400 food bank locations. They work together to ensure no one in the UK needs a food bank to survive, while providing emergency food and practical support for people left without enough money to live on. Working together, they aim to ensure that no one in the UK needs a food bank to survive. The funding being provided by Baxters, in the first year of the partnership, will support projects that provide tailored advice on money matters and support to people facing hunger and hardship, as well as supporting the charity’s general body of work. We are enormously proud to launch our partnership with Trussell and look forward to supporting their vision of a UK without the need for food banks and where everyone has enough money to afford the essentials. Read more here https://bit.ly/4gbcSOG #bedifferent #bebetter #charity #partnership #community #givingback

In the Autumn Budget announcement, it was declared that there would be an increase in National Insurance Contributions to 15% alongside a 6.7% increase in National Living Wage. As a small charity, who is registered as a National Living Wage Organisation, we are now faced with substantial increasing costs, less funding opportunities and we're not alone. The NCVO and ACEVO have written an open letter to the Chancellor, calling for a review of these costs for the charity sector, and we urge you to sign the letter. You can sign the letter here: https://lnkd.in/eQ5gzHA6 Without a reconsideration for the charity sector, charities will have tough choices to make in the upcoming year with increased costs significantly impacting attempts on stabilising any reserves #charity #autumnbudget #openletter

To fix social care, or not? We speak on behalf of the frail elderly and disabled, a rapidly growing number. We also speak as to caring for others, which is why we came into social care. The government knows the problem, knows the cost and solutions, but avoids them. It's no only done nothing to address the challenges, worse still, it's made policy decisions that will directly reduce care quality, care provision and in an increasing number of cases, any care at all, which will have catastrophic consequences. Why have a Care Act to support people if it's ignored. Why have a cost of care exercise if it's ignored. Why have a regulator if it's ignored. Our system is riddled with contradictions, anachronisms and hypocrisy. Worst of all, as a society, it seems the government is content that we are just caring less and less. Inflation alone (not levels of dependency, complexity or even expectation), which are probably higher still), between 2010 to 2024 was circa 75.6% in 14 years (ave c5.0%). (Hargreaves Lansdown - although different Matrix vary from 53% to 75.6%). In 2010, there were 1.4 million people in the UK aged 85 and over; this number will be 2.3 million next year (ONS) (circa 64%) in 15 years (average 4.26% p.a.). The average now, in residential care, is invariably into the 90's. Yet Local Authority social care expenditure only increased by a paltry circa £2.7m between 2010/11 and 2022/23, just circa a 12.3% increase in 12 years, average 1% p.a. People denied care is rising, a number stated to be near 2m currently, and set to get dramatically worse.

The Law Commission is consulting on changes to the Co-operative & Community Benefit Societies Act that could have a significant impact on RSLs, including that (for RSLs that fall under the act and are classed as "exempt" charities): - Q9: they will cease to be "exempt" charities and will be required to register with the Charity Commission; and - Q10: The lead regulator for charitable community benefits societies will be the Charity Commission. The consultation closes on the 10th of December - https://lnkd.in/eKHAWpVM A housing sector response to this is vital to ensure the great work these organisations undertake is not negatively affected with unintended consequences. #housing #consultation #RSLs

Housing charities like Shelter have recently withdrawn their support for the Renters Reform Bill, leaving many wondering if the bill has been watered down to the point of inefficiency. The government's actions have raised the questions: Have they have bowed down to landlords? Is this just a shadow of what the bill promised to be? These developments offer some valuable lessons around managing stakeholder expectations and avoiding overpromising and underdelivering. #HousingCharities #RentersReformBill #StakeholderManagement #ExpectationManagement #SocialHousing

This week is #smallcharityweek celebrating the role that small organisations play in our sector and wider society. We don't need any convincing. The average size of organisation supported by our Foundation is just under £98,000 of annual income, and 53% of grants made in 2023 were directly supporting their core costs (a % that will be noticeably higher in 2024). Small charities often have to do incredible work with very limited resources. Many of those we support rely on their trustees and other volunteers to raise funds, write the reports, manage the finances, organise volunteers, write policies, manage service users and so much more. As the cost of living increases hit, it was small charities who felt it most across the sector with rents, utilities, and other core costs rising sharply, while they struggled to simply maintain income. Over the coming months we are working to find new ways we can support small charities even better, whether that is through improving our own processes (such as cutting out reporting altogether for smaller grants) or by adding value through the use of Skilled Volunteering from McCarthy Stone colleagues... We must continue to support these organisations. They are the engine room of our sector and their loss would have devastating consequences to the millions that access their services.

📢 Community Call to Action The Ontario government is issuing $200 cheques to eligible adults and children under 18. While this will provide much-needed support to many, some individuals have shared that they don’t require the funds and are choosing to donate them instead. Here in Peterborough, the demand for assistance is higher than ever. Families are facing hunger, housing insecurity, isolation, and health challenges, and local charities are working tirelessly to address these needs. There are many local organizations that could benefit from additional support from you. If you’re in a position to give, consider donating your rebate to a charity that aligns with your values. You can find organizations through platforms like CanadaHelps (https://buff.ly/2Lot8xR), donate directly to your chosen charity, or support the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (https://buff.ly/41viYmA) 🌟 Together, we can strengthen our community and provide hope to those who need it most. #HereForGood #GiveWhereYouLive

We are calling on government to exempt charities tackling homelessness and rough sleeping from the increase in Employers' National Insurance. The withdrawal at the stroke of a pen of £1.4 billion from the charitable sector will cost a lot more than it saves as the impact on services will be dramatic. At Framework Charity we are facing an additional bill of £1.1 million a year in Employers' National Insurance contributions and an extra £700,000 to cover the increase in the National Living Wage. The challenge of finding another £1.8m a year of savings is immense. At Framework we have done the cost-saving measures; the only option now is to cut services if the organisation is to remain viable. These are not services that are nice to have; often these are the only public services available to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. #NationalInsurance #CharitySector #Homelessness