Recommendation 5

Some two weeks after HM Treasury outlined £750 million of support for charities, the Secretary of State was still unable to provide sufficient detail or clarity about the eligibility criteria for allocating that funding. An announcement of support is of limited benefit if charities facing imminent closure and workforce pressures are unclear whether they are eligible or how to apply. While we recognise that the Government is working under considerable pressures to deliver support to charities at speed, we are concerned that £360 million is being allocated through conversations between Departments, rather than clear engagement with the sector. The onus should not be on individual charities to make their needs known to Departments, and there remains a lack of clarity at sector-level about how the Government is determining which charities should receive support. It seems inevitable that this lack of transparency means deserving charities will miss out on much-needed support. We urge the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the National Lottery Community Fund to publish clear and comprehensive guidance about the criteria that will be used when allocating support, and how organisations can apply for it, without delay. Going forward, such guidance should be published to coincide with the announcement of public funding to minimise uncertainty within the sector.