A LEADING children’s charity has revealed it is losing £1million a month during the coronavirus lockdown.
Mark Russell, Chief Executive of the Children’s Society said the charity sector is in “serious peril” and many will go under without government intervention.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering various options, but charities are unlikely to be bailed out in the same way that businesses or the self-employed have been in recent weeks.
Mr Russell, writing for The Sun said they had closed 106 shops and the financial hit also came from a lack of donations after events like the London Marathon were cancelled.
He urged Sun readers to donate to charities during the unprecedented times and said: “The Chancellor has shown incredible leadership in stepping up for business and now we need him to step up for charities.
“I know readers of The Sun are generous and compassionate, so please consider making a donation to a charity – you really will make a massive difference if you do.”
£4BN FUNDING HOLE
Charity bosses and representatives piled pressure on the Government at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Speaking at the committee, Karl Wilding, CEO of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said on Tuesday that the UK charitable sector was facing a £4billion funding hole during the crisis.
He was calling for a ‘stabilisation fund’ from the Government worth £400million – ten times more than was required during the financial crash of 2008.
Mr Wilding told the committee: “Lots of charity fundraising requires people to come together, you will know the London Marathon but there are many smaller community events, which because of social distancing, have stopped.
“Level of need that many organisations are facing is increasing, but the income of these organisations… has stopped.”
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – STAY IN THE KNOW
Don’t miss the latest news and figures – and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun’s Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply ‘Like’ our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain’s best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day – find out more.
“The worse possible thing to do as charities is to stop mobilising people, whether that is giving time but also in terms of giving money.
“We don’t want the public’s tremendous generosity to stop.”
On Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Chancellor has said we are very alive to the issues faced by charities and it is something we are looking at.”
