Volunteers’ hesitancy, inability to plan events ahead and lower demand for places likely to hit charities’ finances
Charities are facing a fundraising black hole even after lockdown fully lifts, with vital cash-generating events such as sponsored hikes, tea parties and bucket collections not expected to rebound for months.
Marie Curie, the terminal illness charity, said volunteers’ hesitancy and the inability to plan events ahead could result in a worse impact on its balance sheet than in 2020 when emergency measures such as furlough helped. Macmillan, the cancer charity, is forecasting a £38m shortfall in donations, largely driven by the continuing lack of in-person events.