For Small Charity Week, write to your MP.

24th June 2024

A small charity is a voluntary organisation with a social or charitable purpose, and an annual income of less than £1 million.

Small charities are embedded in their communities and a trusted source of support. Being smaller means they are agile and can pivot to respond quickly to new and emerging needs. But, it can also leave them more exposed to challenges.

Cost of living pressures, the lasting effects of the pandemic, and ten years of austerity means that inequalities in communities are widening. At the same time, there is increasing demand on small charities services. In parallel, costs of delivering services are going up, raising funding is more challenging, there is increased competition and support services are being defunded.

The focus of Small Charity Week is to tell the story of small charities, ensuring their experiences, challenges and achievements are seen, heard and included. This includes empowering and enabling them to raise their voices and get the support they need.

One way that Community Action Bradford & District are doing this is by providing a template for you to write to your MP to ask for support for small charities.

Why is this needed in Bradford?

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council are no longer funding infrastructure support to many grassroots and small charities. This funding previously covered operational and development support on topics such as governance, safeguarding, funding, legal structures and more. Without this support, small charities will struggle to access the expert advice that enables them to run effectively and efficiently.

We need YOU to advocate for small charities by using our template letter to write to your MP. Ask them to work with Bradford Council, central government, and local/national funders to prioritise investment in the small charity sector. You can find your MP and their contact details here.

This isn’t just about funding, this is about the future of our sector. This is about keeping small charities alive. This is about supporting communities. Have your voice heard this week.

#SmallCharityWeek