# Covid-19 Support Fund survey highlights pandemic-fuelled rise in demand for charity services

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/12/22/covid-19-support-fund-survey-highlights-pandemic-fuelled-rise-in-demand-for-charity-services/
- Published: 2020-12-22T09:50:25+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Almost one in eight (14%) UK adults have received support from a charity since
the Covid-19 crisis began in March 2020, according to research. More than half (
55%) of these (equating) to 3.9 million UK adults, never expected to need it before
this.**

 

The research was commissioned by [The Covid-19 Support Fund](http://www.covid19support.org.uk),
established by the insurance and long-term savings industry. It also shows a significant
proportion (75%) of people using charity services this year have had to do so regularly,
while two in five of these adults say there is no end in sight yet as they expect
to need charity support for at least another six months and possibly longer.

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It found that this dependency on charity is more likely among adults in full-time
employment and those aged 18-34.^(. )Londoners are also disproportionately dependent
on charity compared to elsewhere in the UK, 95% of Londoners who have used charity
support have been dependent on it.

 

Mental health support (35%), food support (28%), and employment support (25%) are
the most common types of charity services that people have used. Those aged 18-34
are most likely to have received some form of employment support (35%), while 40%
of 35-54s have had mental health support from a charity.

 

When asked to consider the potential impact of the crisis without support from charities,
two fifths of those who had support think they would have felt depressed (41%) and
roughly the same number anxious (37%). These figures rise to 45% and 40% respectively
among 18-34s.

 

However, many of those who had support say they feel reassured that there are charities
there to help during crisis (42%), and relieved that there was someone there for
them (39%).

 

Overall, two in five UK adults think they have a better understanding of how charities
in the UK can help people since the Covid-19 crisis began. While there’s been a 
boom in the recognition of support from charities, as two thirds (67%) of UK adults
say they are now more likely than before to seek charity help, people are also more
likely to support charities since the pandemic began, with two in five (42%) saying
they are more likely to donate and nearly one in three (30%) would be more likely
to volunteer.

 

However, despite these findings, three in five (58%) are concerned about the drop
off in funding that charities are experiencing because of the crisis.

 

Yvonne Braun, Executive Lead at the Association of British Insurers for the Covid-
19 Support Fund, said:

 

> “This research paints a worrying picture of how dependent people across the UK
> have been on charity support since the beginning of this crisis. The support people
> have needed hasn’t been a one-off, instead many have required regular help from
> these organisations. And many people would have suffered more without the help
> that many charities have provided them with this year. It is also clear that without
> charities, the emotional impact of not having any support could have worsened 
> this crisis even more.”
> “That’s why it is so crucial that business communities come together to financially
> support the vital work of charities now. We’re proud that the Covid-19 Support
> Fund is enabling charities to carry out their vital work in this unprecedented
> time, and we’re grateful to all the firms across the insurance and long-term savings
> industry who have generously donated this year.”

 

The Covid-19 Support Fund was launched by the insurance and long-term savings industry
in May to help those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic and has since raised
over £100m.