# Cancer Research UK anticipates £300 million drop in income over three years

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/07/16/cancer-research-uk-anticipates-300m-drop-in-income-over-three-years/
- Published: 2020-07-16T09:58:48+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Cancer Research UK has announced how it plans to continue its work in the face
of an estimated £300 million decline in fundraising income over the next three years.
This includes making 500 roles redundant.**

 

The cancer charity expects to receive **£160 million (30%) less** this year in donations
as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and its associated financial damage to the
UK economy, reaching a total of £300 million less after two more years.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

 

It is therefore making decisions on how to operate at a significantly reduced scale.

 

In a statement yesterday, the charity states that it plans “to rebuild, adapting
to the changed world and finding new opportunities, in order to continue to make
an impact for people with cancer”.

 

It reaffirmed its focus on

 

 * world-class research
 * shaping the UK’s science ecosystem
 * influencing and providing excellent information across cancer prevention, diagnosis
   and treatment.  

 

 

 

**SEE ALSO: [Pandemic’s impact means inevitable shrinkage of the voluntary sector](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/07/08/pandemic-impact-means-inevitable-shrinkage-voluntary-sector/)(
8 July 2020)**

 

 

 

## 500 job losses

 

The charity’s leadership confirmed that, as well has stopping some activities and
reducing the scope or amount of other activities, it will also reduce its workforce
by **500 roles**. This represents **around 24% of the total**, not including trading.
Of these, between **295 to 345 redundancies will be made within six months**, representing**
14-17%** of the total, no including trading.

 

But due to the projected drop in income, of £160 million this year (30%) and £300
million over three years, the charity needs to make tough choices about where and
how it spends its money.  There will be a greater focus on investing strategically
for the future, whilst contracting in other areas amidst continued financial uncertainty.

 

The charity had already placed a freeze on recruitment as an early response to COVID-
19. It had also moved all of its staff to **80% pay, furloughed 60% of staff, and
cut £44 million from its research budget**.

 

 

 

> .[@CR_UK](https://twitter.com/CR_UK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is what it is thanks 
> to its brilliant people & they’ve never worked so hard than over the last few 
> months. I’ve outlined our 3-year recovery plan & steps we’re taking to reduce 
> our costs, which sadly means consulting on the reduction of 500 roles [https://t.co/KxGjGqYaXh](https://t.co/KxGjGqYaXh)
> — Michelle Mitchell (@Michelle_CRUK) [July 15, 2020](https://twitter.com/Michelle_CRUK/status/1283436838355701760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

## Cuts to research

 

The charity has already announced cuts to its research, **spending £150 million 
less** than it planned to within four to five years.

 

Its new research model is “designed to maximise impact from a lower level of spend”.

 

It is also working hard to find more financial support, of course, and has [called on the Government](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/07/08/uk-scientists-urge-pm-to-prevent-catastrophic-fall-in-charity-research-funding/)
to help find a solution to this funding gap.

 

 

 

## Three-year plan

 

The three-year plan details how the charity will be “more focused than it has ever
been”.

 

In terms of fundraising and communications it will: 

 

 * deepen relationships with its supporters
 * continue to invest in digital transformation, basing its approach on how supporters
   want to engage
 * reach out to philanthropic individuals and organisations around the world to 
   support its work.

 

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Cancer Research UK talk of the huge economic
impact that the charity will have to contend with for years to come. She said: “
As the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research,
we must always focus on delivering our pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis
and treatment of cancer.” 

 

She added that it was “with a heavy heart that I can confirm we will have to reduce
the size of our workforce, and make significant cuts to our research spend, as a
result of the situation we find ourselves in. 

 

“We’re keeping our dedicated, hard-working staff up to date on developments as we
have them, and their professionalism throughout this period has been hugely appreciated.”

 

Cancer Research UK remains committed to ensuring at least 80p in every £1 raised
is available to spend on beating cancer.

 

 

 

## Read more

 

 * **[Charities face £12.4 billion shortfall in income for the year](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/06/19/charities-face-12-4bn-shortfall-in-income-for-year/)(
   19 June 2020)**
 * **[All Race for Life events cancelled for 2020](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/06/05/all-race-for-life-events-cancelled-for-2020/)(
   5 June 2020)**

![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader-
2x.gif)