New Year message from NCVO's chief executive

2022 was a turbulent year. Societal needs deepened and inequalities widened. This meant a growing reliance on charities to underpin weakened community infrastructures and fill gaps due to public sector cuts.

This was at the same time as we tried to recover from the pandemic and grappled with political turmoil both at home and abroad.

The bringing in of the new year has therefore been met with some trepidation – how will charities continue to survive when we lurch from crisis to crisis? We're already in a cost of living crisis and every day we hear the escalating problems faced by the NHS and social care sector.

Below you'll find some advice on how to prepare for the challenges the sector is facing in 2023.

We exist to help you meet these challenges, as your challenges are our challenges, and we must work alongside charities to find solutions.

This means constantly horizon scanning, having an ear to Westminister, and pivoting and responding with practical support. This is so that voluntary organisations have everything they need to be the best they can be.

That’s why our New Year message isn’t about congratulating ourselves for a wonderful year completed by NCVO. Yes, we're proud. We’ve been really busy. But we’re proud because of the achievements of our 17,000-plus member organisations which are made up of millions of people working tirelessly for the people and communities they serve.

It’s because of these talented people that we come to look to 2023 with hope, and we saw a glimmer of hope and what can be achieved collectively at the very end of last year. After lobbying the government to provide an extension to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, we rallied the sector to get involved.

Thanks to our members contacting MPs, the Chancellor acknowledged in parliament our key messages around the specific challenges faced by charities with soaring energy bills. We wait with bated breath to see if we'll get further subsidisation for charity energy bills.

It’s our job to do all we can to support you to run your organisations, so you can focus on delivering for people and communities. We know the need for your work will be greater than ever before this year, and we will step up to meet the challenges alongside you.

Make sure you have robust financial management

Most of the challenges we face are linked to financial pressures. Start 2023 by making sure you have robust financial management in place. We have lots of guidance including planning and budgeting, developing a reserves policy and financial difficulty and insolvency.

Make the most of our free webinars

These free sessions provide a wealth of information.

Working effectively with funders during the cost of living crisis – 17 January 2023: Get advice on how to work effectively with grantmakers and foundations. Webinar with the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) on working effectively with funders during the cost of living crisis.

Find out more about our webinar on working with funders during the cost of living crisis

Managing your charity’s finances through the cost of living crisis – 7 February 2023: Kickstart your financial management review by joining this webinar with the Charity Finance Group (CFG).

Find out more about our webinar on managing your finances during the cost of living crisis

How to manage rising energy costs - what next for charities? – 9 February 2023: Need help managing energy costs? We have a webinar on how to manage rising energy costs

Find out more about our webinar on rising energy costs

Support for small charities

Did you know we answered around 500 enquiries a month last year on our small charity helpdesk. If you need help, have a question or want advice, we are here.

Our consultancy offer

The new year is a good time to get deeper under the skin of issues but maybe you don’t know where to start? Our consultancy service will take on your challenges for you.

Whether it’s embedding a stabilised volunteering model or demonstrating the impact you make to funders - we can provide you with bespoke solutions. Find out more about our consultancy service here.

Look out for The Road Ahead

Don’t miss our series of blogs called The Road Ahead which will be published in a few weeks focusing on:

• the cost of living and economic crisis
• the impact on people
• charity workforce and volunteers
• equity and inclusion
• political change
• election, and campaigning
• regulatory changes and duties.

Join the Road Ahead 2023 launch event on 25 January