The charity sector is calling on government to urgently invest in social infrastructure to build back better.
A coalition of 21 infrastructure bodies, which represent thousands of charities across the UK, says that government must work more closely with civil society if it is to keep its promises on levelling up and building back better.
In a submission to the Treasury’s autumn spending review this week, the group sets out a series of recommendations which include greater investment in communities through new funds, and a call to cancel the cut to Universal Credit.
The group also wants greater action on climate change, the restoration of the UK overseas aid budget and more powers for local authorities and communities.
The group highlights three main areas of concern: The role charities can and should play in levelling up; investment in local communities and meeting future challenges, including climate change.
The recommendations were submitted in advance of the forthcoming Chancellor’s budget statement on 27 October.
Richard Sagar, Head of Policy, CFG, comments: “The wide-ranging recommendations the coalition has set out in our joint submission to the Treasury are potential solutions to a range of problems that government must urgently tackle, from poverty and disadvantage through to climate change.
“The government rightly recognised the value of public spending during the pandemic and, along with the support of charities and social change organisations, this led the country through the worst of the Covid crisis.
“The government must continue to do all it can to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are not plunged deeper into poverty. We are calling on the government to cancel its planned cut to Universal Credit and to meet its commitments to overseas aid.”
Caron Bradshaw OBE, CEO, CFG, added: “The past 18 months have proved to be a very challenging time for everyone and we’re not out of the woods yet. Civil society has played an incredibly important role in communities that have been left behind and disadvantaged through no fault of their own. And it continues to do so now.
“We not only urge government to recognise the enormous impact the third sector has on the lives of millions within our communities, we also urge them to work more closely with us if they are serious about levelling up.”
Read the full representation to the Autumn Budget and Spending Review.
The signatories are:
- Association of Charitable Foundations
- ACEVO
- Charity Finance Group
- NCVO
- Chartered Institute of Fundraising
- Directory for Social Change
- Children England
- Charity Retail Association
- Locality
- Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales
- Voluntary Organisations Disability Group
- NAVCA
- Small Charities Coalition
- Equally Ours
- LGBT+ Consortium
- Clinks
- Disability Rights UK
- Association of Charitable Organisations
- Charities Aid Foundation
- Wales Council for Voluntary Action
- Women’s Resource Centre
For more information, contact:
Richard Sagar, Head of Policy, Charity Finance Group
Emma Abbott, Communications Manager, Charity Finance Group
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