In the survey conducted during December 2022, Cranfield Trust heard directly from over 70 charity leaders in Scotland about the impact the cost of living crisis is having on them, their charities and their beneficiaries. The survey insights reinforce what other organisations across the sector have reported but highlight the stark position of many frontline charities, which includes:

existing challenges of running and managing organisations in the voluntary sector being amplified - from overstretched staff to capacity and capability issues in charities’ governance and leadership

an increasingly competitive context for fundraising as well as funding processes placing additional pressure on stretched charities, and the negative impact of this on innovation and strategic planning

the need for more effective collaboration between the charity sector, local and national government and the commercial sectors.

We heard that while charity leaders are determined to keep going, they are fearful for their future and that of their beneficiaries. They are finding the increased demands on their services and burdensome funding and commissioning requirements overwhelming, and are asking funders and commissioners to reconsider their funding models. 

Free support available

Cranfield have a range of free, practical resources and guidance to support with cost of living critical issues. They can help and support you with pro bono management consultancy in the longer term.

Please get in touchto find out about the many other ways in which they can provide support or sign up to alerts to be kept up to date on latest free webinars and new resources.