Much of the news at the moment seems to be filled with negativity, with stories about violence, anger and unrest often taking the front page or the top story. As a large part of the media we consume feels like a dark cloud hanging over us, it’s easy to forget that there is also so much good happening in our world too. Charities are a consistent source of kindness and compassion, but their amazing work is rarely recognised often enough on a wider scale.
We’ve had the chance to work with numerous inspirational organisations over our 35 years in business, with life-changing work being done in the sector on a daily basis. That’s why we must ensure that the charity sector is kept as strong as possible.
Why do charities matter?
If you think of any issue or problem in the world, there’s almost always a charity dedicated to trying to lessen its negative impacts, or prevent it entirely, with every team member playing a vital role in turning its mission into reality.
In fact, charities have an impact on every aspect of our lives. Providing food banks, medical care, and sheltered accommodation are some of the most obvious examples of this, and have no doubt been a help to billions of people in need throughout the world. Likewise, funding research for potentially life-saving treatments, and supporting individuals with issues such as homelessness, mental health and social isolation are also provided by charities free of charge, with the simple aim of helping those that need it most.
Perhaps a lesser known role that charities play is working alongside governments and organisations to create change on a wider scale. Charities are often busy behind the scenes, acting on our behalf to help sculpt laws, policies, and funding decisions, while also shifting public attitudes through targeted campaigns, with the aim of solving issues at their source and creating sustainable, positive long-term impacts. When government support is unavailable, charities regularly compensate for the shortcomings by contributing to vital public services in its place.
With the many incredible charities across the world comes a range of jobs and responsibilities to keep them operating smoothly, boosting the economy and creating exciting opportunities. And, even on the grandest scale imaginable, our shared planet also benefits from the work of charities, with their tireless work on wildlife protection and conservation, waste reduction and sustainability.
Through the work of our clients, we’ve seen the incredible impacts that these organisations make every day. Young Lives vs Cancer, for example, supports individuals and families affected by cancer, offering invaluable financial help, accommodation and extensive day-to-day support across the entirety of the UK. Another of our clients, AdviceUK, enables organisations who specialise in giving advice, to offer the best possible service for those who need it. Their work helps to provide advice to over 1.7 million people on a wide range of issues such as debt, housing, immigration and benefits, as well as specific communities such as those with disabilities and people experiencing domestic violence.
This is why Charity People do what we do. We truly believe that the charity sector is the best sector to work in, and we want to see it thriving. It deserves the most talented and driven individuals, who have the chance to progress their careers working on causes that they genuinely care about.
The challenges
Despite all of this though, the sector has many challenges to navigate. Costs of living are affecting us all, and undoubtedly impactthe cost of running organisations too, while the same increases are hitting donors and potential sources of investment. This means that some charities could be seeing less money coming in, while needing to be extra savvy with the cash that does arrive. Similarly, there are more charities looking for those grants and investments, meaning competition to get them in the first place is fierce. Donors want assurances that their money is being spent in the right places, and with complete accountability and transparency on how it’s used, so any uncertainty around this could put them off entirely.
There is also stiff competition from other sectors to find the best talent, with charity sector employees prone to being tempted away by the promise of higher wages elsewhere. This is particularly common in areas like fundraising, digital innovation, and senior leadership—roles that are essential for long-term impact but are in high demand across multiple industries. Without guaranteed financial backing, some organisations simply can’t match what’s been put on the table and are reliant on the loyalty of their staff, something that’s extremely difficult to combat when times are tight.
Charities are often unsung heroes of our society, consistently working to better our lives. It’s easy to take their extensive work for granted, only truly recognising their impact when we need them most. Set among the backdrop of conflicts, poverty and increasing climate issues, we need them now more than ever. Maintaining a thriving charity sector goes far further than benefitting our work here at Charity People. A thriving charity sector benefits the whole world, and we all have a role to play in keeping it strong.
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