Recommendation 3

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Business Interruption Loan Schemes promptly addressed an urgent need across the economy; however, with the Government consistently referring to them as a solution for charities in financial hardship, there is a clear need to ensure such measures are suited to the particular needs of the charity and voluntary sector. To that end, we welcome the exemption for charities from the 50% trading requirement under the Business Interruption Loan Scheme. This approach indicates a willingness to flex the schemes to ensure charities can benefit; however, in the longer term, charities, like many other sectors, also need clarity about the Government’s intentions for the support schemes. We recommend that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport works with the charity sector and HM Treasury immediately to review the measures in place to support businesses, and to ensure they fully meet the needs of the charity and voluntary sector. In particular, the Government should introduce a separate Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for charities within four weeks. The scheme should enable furloughed employees of charities to volunteer for their organisations providing appropriate safeguards are met. We also ask the Government to guarantee that six weeks’ notice will be given of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ending so that charities can plan accordingly, and to phase the ending of the scheme to support any charities that are unable to return immediately to full capacity.