The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP shares support for the voluntary sector in the wake of riots and unrest across England.
Dear All,
As civil society and youth organisations, I know you are doing everything in your power to bring people together and provide light in a time of darkness for many.
Those of you who joined a roundtable with No 10 colleagues yesterday spoke movingly, on behalf of your colleagues, of the struggles you are facing in delivering for your communities against this backdrop.
But your continued efforts, at both a national and local level, are so crucial, particularly where people who are already vulnerable are put at even greater risk. So I wanted to thank each and every one of you, and the teams that stand behind you, for your continued commitment to work in and support your communities through this difficult time.
Trying to heal divisions while keeping your staff, volunteers and premises safe is a challenge none of you should have to face and I recognise various organisations are having to make tough decisions daily. If you do have questions or would like extra guidance, the Charity Commission offer some clear guidance alongside a helpline.
The work you do offers hope in these most challenging times. Many of you are already using your influence to call for peace and unity, offering priceless comfort and reassurance to those who are scared and worried about the future.
I also understand the serious risks that can be posed to you as carriers for these messages. Your ability to communicate as authentic partners, embedded in your communities, is unmatched.
As such, I would urge you to continue to step up and use your unique place within local networks, and identify others who can help amplify those messages.
For my part, my Ministers, officials and I will continue to support the work you do. You have an indispensable role in fostering cohesion and countering hatred, and we are committed to creating the space to listen to how we can work most effectively together, in both the short and long term, to bring communities back together and heal divisions.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
