(Title Image: Welsh Government, Crown Copyright)
Communities Committee
Impact of Covid-19 on the voluntary sector (pdf)
Published: 2nd February 2021
- Committee recommends the role of the Third Sector should be reviewed ahead of future national emergencies.
- Support for a formal programme to sustain community mutual aid groups after the pandemic.
- “Silo mentalities” broke down as voluntary organisations stepped in to help public services.
The Third Sector in Wales – made up of around 32,000 voluntary organisation – is predominantly (53%) made up of “micro-charities” with incomes of under £10,000 a year. Wales has the highest proportion of micro-charities in the UK, with a further 32% of organisations being considered “small charities” with incomes of under £100,000 a year.
In the early days of the pandemic, the response by these smaller, locally-rooted charities and mutual aid groups organising via social media was said to be crucial to support vulnerable groups.
Despite their efforts, many volunteers and organisers found themselves quickly burned out. Somewhat paradoxically, in some cases, there was an issue where the number of volunteers outstripped available voluntary work.
The Third Sector was already under pressure before the pandemic and some witnesses said the pandemic has been used as an excuse for the larger corporate charities headquartered outside Wales to reduce their presence and activities in Wales.
For those charities reliant on retail and fundraising, the pandemic presented significant challenges. Business rate relief was welcomed, but larger charity retailers – like the British Heart Foundation – have found it difficult to access the same levels of support as commercial retailers.
In terms of access to Welsh Government-administered funding, the Committee said particular attention needed to be paid to barriers facing organisations that work with BAME communities – which are often run on smaller budgets than mainstream charities. This has become more important given the impact Covid-19 has had on people of colour and the emergence of Black Lives Matter.
One of the more positive consequences of the pandemic is a break down of the “silo mentality” which existed between different third sector organisations and public bodies.
Organisations like St John Ambulance worked with the NHS and Welsh Government to deliver prescriptions to self-isolating residents, while across the north a new regional resilience group brought together the police, Public Health Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr health board and local voluntary councils.
Several witnesses believed the Third Sector should have been involved in formal emergency planning structures from the start – and this was backed by Powys Health Board.
The Committee recommended the Welsh Government establishes a formal programme – and considers legislation – to help the mutual aid and community networks which were set up during the pandemic to continue once the pandemic has passed in order to promote community-based action.
