Impact of Covid-19 sees 1 in 5 charities consider downsizing
Melanie May | 19 February 2021 | News
One in five (19%) charities are looking at downsizing as a result of the pandemic, while a similar number (17%) are considering closing some or all of their offices, research from insurer Ecclesiastical has found.
The data highlights the impact Covid-19 has had on how charities operate due to Covid-19 with 95% now working remotely, and a third considering having staff working this way on a full-time basis.
Over two fifths (43%) of respondents also said that they are considering changing their office arrangements in the future, either through downsizing or sharing with partners.
Some charities have already announced they are downsizing. In January the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) announced the sale of its London HQ as part of a modernisation programme to develop new offices that would “better meets the needs of our customers and staff”. In addition, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) recently announced it wasn’t renewing its lease on its office spaces as part of a cost-saving programme triggered by the pandemic.
The findings from Ecclesiastical’s Charity Risk Barometer found that almost three quarters of charities (71%) were more concerned about a loss of funding as a result of the pandemic.
This has led to a number of charities including Age UK and Macmillan making redundancies with an estimated 60,000 jobs to be lost in the sector as a result of the pandemic, while Cancer Research has cut pay and reduced working hours.
Other charities have seen demand increase over the last 12 months, meaning their current premises is too small. Wiltshire Treehouse, a children’s bereavement charity based in Swindon, has seen demand increase as a result of the pandemic and is looking for larger premises to help them meet demand for support.
Ecclesiastical’s charity niche director Angus Roy said:
“Covid-19 has challenged us in ways we’ve never experienced before, but it has also given us a chance to be bold and seize on new opportunities. Be that moving to all staff working from home, downsizing or sharing space with partners.
“The sector has adapted to meeting the needs of its users while changing how it works – which is no mean feat and should be applauded. It is no surprise that thoughts have been turned to how charities can evolve by adapting the way they operate, including the spaces they work from.
“While the continuing threat of a loss of funding plus huge demand continues to drive much of the sector’s decision making – charities have been presented with a unique opportunity to review what works for them and in doing so future proof their organisation.”
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.