# Charities turning people away due to ‘entrenched’ financial challenges

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/10/07/charities-turning-people-away-due-to-entrenched-financial-challenges/
- Published: 2023-10-07T07:00:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**More than half of charities (53%) surveyed by Charities Aid Foundation say they
are at full capacity for their services, with two-fifths of these unable to help
anyone else, and one in eight saying they have been forced to turn people away.**

[CAF](https://www.cafonline.org/) surveyed 607 charities last month for the research,
including food banks, community groups and support services. One London-based girls’
charity quoted said: _“demand for our services has tripled but we’ve had to turn
people away, which is a step we never wanted to take”_. A Welsh homelessness organisation
said: _“our operations, more crucial now than ever, are stretched thin, forcing 
us to prioritise essential services while pausing others, leaving gaps in our support
network.”_

Around six in ten (59%) charities say that demand has increased compared to a year
ago, with a third saying this has increased substantially. In a similar CAF survey
in November 2022, 63% said demand had increased during the last year.

## 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/)

CAF reports that the continuing pressures of the cost-of-living crisis means that
the challenges facing many charities of higher demand, lower income, inflated costs,
have become entrenched, with no improvement in the last year. 53% of charities currently
say they are worried about surviving in the current climate – the same as in October
2022.

Energy costs remain a significant issue for charities – despite the Government discount
scheme in place for businesses and charities, nearly a third (31%) of charities 
say they have not been able to get support to cope with the cost of their utilities.
Additionally, one in seven (14%) say they are locked into an unfavourable energy
tariff. With all Government support for energy costs expected to end in March 2024,
one-third of charities say they plan to invest in improving their energy efficiency
for the long-term.

Neil Heslop OBE, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said:

> “The relentless financial pressure on charities is continuing. Many are unsure
> how they will survive from month-to-month. Tens of thousands of charities are 
> at full capacity, and sadly this means many are having to turn people away, people
> who desperately need their support.
>  
> “We can’t afford to have charities facing such uncertainty. The Chancellor recognised
> their critical work in the March Budget, but now a longer-term plan is required
> to build the fantastic, hardworking charity sector back up.”