CONCERN has been raised local charities are missing out on much-needed cash.
Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (CAVA) highlighted the issue in its second State of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector Report, which brings together feedback and data from voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations operating across the county.
A spokesman said: “When looking at annual income alone, we were very concerned to note that over 90 per cent of all charitable income in Warwickshire is only coming in to eight per cent of charities, and these operate at a national or international level.
“Only three per cent of charitable income actually goes to locally focussed charities i.e. operating at district or ward level.”
More positively the report noted nearly 60 per cent of organisations, from large to small, did see their annual income increase.
The Charity Commission lists 2,234 registered charities operating in Warwickshire, but the county’s VCSE sector in the county is much larger with around 10,000 organisations.
The report also noted 64 per cent of organisations had seen an increase in demand for their services, and nearly a third had seen running costs rise due to the increase, together with reductions in funding.
There are an estimated 191,000 adults aged 16 and over who regularly volunteer in Warwickshire, giving nearly 91,000 hours each week. The economic value of volunteers in the county is estimated at £80.2million.
Warwickshire CAVA chief executive Paul Tolley said: “The report really shows the diversity and incredible amount of hard work, energy and passion there is within our sector.
“Our second report helps us to predict the areas of increasing need and demand that our members will face over the coming years – with effective support from all quarters, our sector will cope and thrive in these challenging and uncertain times.”
Visit www.wcava.org.uk for further details.
