Advertisement
Activism

UK charities maintained or increased income during pandemic

A new study has revealed that the charity sector have continued to received public support during the pandemic.

The pandemic and ensuing lockdowns have hit the UK economy hard, but new research suggests that the public has remained supportive when donating money to charity. 

Although the last two years have been a time of restricted opportunities, many of the charities surveyed by fundraising platform Enthuse revealed 61 per cent had maintained or increased income since the pandemic began. 

“Charities have had to work incredibly hard during the last 20 months to try and bridge the gaps in their income and have continually had to pivot fundraising to ensure it is both safe and viable for their supporters. This has been a uniquely challenging time’, said Chester Mojay Sinclare, CEO and founder of Enthuse.

“The sector’s natural optimism has shone through and morale has remained high. I’ve also been struck by how the sector is taking the few positives the pandemic has brought and is building those into future fundraising for example the accelerated development of virtual events and digital transformation,” he said. 

Focusing on the last 18 months, the report looked into how the pandemic had an impact on UK based charities, receiving responses from more than 200 in total. Each of the charities were surveyed in November and December of 2021.

A majority said they saw the shift to digital fundraising as “an opportunity for 2022.” This was in spite of the fact that only 12 per cent of them initially considered themselves to be “digital first.”

Advertisement
Advertisement

The report reveals that most charities hosted virtual fundraising events, campaigns and activities during the pandemic  even though nearly half of the 204 charities had no in-house digital capabilities and considered themselves to be either “ad hoc” or “starting out” in terms of online fundraising.

Switching to online content is also suggested to have led to an increase in support from a younger demographic. Almost two-thirds  of the charities said they are planning to continue holding virtual events in the next year. 

Four out of the five charities spoken said that they are feeling “fairly” or “very” optimistic about the year ahead. 

With support and income growth coming from all areas and after a difficult two years, the sector as a whole thinks it has turned the corner. 

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Malala Yousafzai on taking on the Taliban and why 'storytelling is the soul of activism'
Malala Yousafzai
Activism

Malala Yousafzai on taking on the Taliban and why 'storytelling is the soul of activism'

How Mexico's women hijacked Día de los Muertos to remember the missing and the murdered
The Day of the Dead Women protests in Mexico City in 2021
Activism

How Mexico's women hijacked Día de los Muertos to remember the missing and the murdered

TV legend Carol Vorderman on death, social media and why she's still voice of the opposition
Exclusive

TV legend Carol Vorderman on death, social media and why she's still voice of the opposition

I'm an Israeli who helped survivors of 7 October attack. Here's why we need a ceasefire in Gaza
War in Gaza

I'm an Israeli who helped survivors of 7 October attack. Here's why we need a ceasefire in Gaza

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue