Voluntary Groups Like Businesses Are Feeling The Cost Of Living Pain

19th January 2023

Two stories featuring on BBC News Scotland show that voluntary groups like businesses are feeling the cost of living pain.

Caithness voluntary groups and charities that have staff and premises have seen their costs rise. Effectively many voluntary groups run like small businesses with paid staff leading but bolstered by many volunteers to run their services. Some have unpaid boards of volunteer directors to give direction to organisations.

Funding comes from a variety of sources - health service, councils, charitable trusts, sales, local events and donations. Like businesses voluntary groups may have seen their costs dramatically rise in the past year or two.

Examples of groups in Caithness covering a wide range of services with staff and/or premises are Laurandy Day Care in Wick and Thurso Development Trust. There are several and between them all they employ differing numbers of staff.

Read the two stories featuring on the BBC web site and thin about how the same problems highlighted may be affecting voluntary groups and charities you know of in Caithness.

Perfect storm could see voluntary groups shut
There are about 45,000 charitable organisations in Scotland and the SCVO warned a "conservative estimate" was that 1,300 would be unable to open their doors in a year's time.

[url=http://www.kelvinprobe.info]Kelvin Probe Information Site[/url]
Dramatic increases in the price of electricity have blown apart the budgets at Govanhill Baths Community Trust.

Giving and donations report
For charities, the 2022 Giving Report provides some useful information about the changes in giving behaviour in the UK. The Report focuses on the period 2019 to early 2022. Total UK donations reduced from £11.3 billion in 2020 to £10.7 billion in 2021, a decline of just over 5%.

Charities Aid Foundation UK Giving Report 2022
THE BRITISH PEOPLE DONATED £10.7 BILLION TO CHARITIES IN 2021.
We estimate that the total amount given in the UK in 2021 was £10.7 billion. This is a substantial decrease from the £11.3 billion
that was given in 2020 and represents a return to pre-pandemic levels of giving. Although at face value this may not appear too concerning, inflationary pressures point to the likelihood that in real terms, the result will be fewer financial resources available for charities.