Individual supporters

Voices from individual supporters backing the campaign:

Abigail Pound:

“It’s easy to forget when times are tough that we get a lot of joy from giving and supporting charities. It is our charities that will work hard to ensure that the least fortunate in our society have hope in the face of such deep cuts.”

Alan Fletcher:

“We need charities now more than ever before.”

Alison Sayer:

“We all need to give whatever we can to help the less fortunate. Times are hard for a lot of people at the moment but even the smallest donation to charity will help, it all adds up.”

Amelia Quinlan:

“The work that charities do is vital and if they stopped the infrastructure of the country would grind to a halt.”

Anne Beck:

“In a time of economic crisis, such as at present, so many more folk are needing help, support and encouragement. How can this be satisfied when funds dry up?

Many people could give a little more and need to be encouraged in their turn.”

Ann Dymyd:

“Let us not lose the unique contribution that charities make to the fabric and success of our country.”

Anne Lambert:

“It’s going to be a tough time for charities as people cut back. So let’s make the most of the opportunities. Yes, encourage regular giving. But Government needs to help by doing more to make Gift Aid easier and more attractive. Companies should promote payroll giving more actively – in some you have to really search it out.”

Annemarie:

“I support the campaign as I am aware that charities are closing down every day due to inability to raise sufficient funds to continue their vital work.”

Barry Clarke:

“A thriving voluntary sector is essential for our country and its people. It needs all the help it can get.”

Bridged Hall:

“When government withdraws vital services it is Charities that provide the safety net to make sure that people still get the help they need.  When Charities stop providing services due to lack of funds there is no safety net and then that’s it, you’re on your own!”

Brigitte Trust:

“The impact of the economic climate is impacting disproportionately on small local charities.

The extent to which large appeals and new media also favours larger charities, combining with the policies of successive governments favouring larger charities, social enterprises, etc means that smaller charities are increasingly under severe pressure.”

Caroline Taylor:

“Now’s the time for charities to really begin to demonstrate the power of good that they do to encourage more giving.”

Chris Clarke:

“With cutbacks in the public sector, volunteering and helping your favourite local charities are more important than ever before.”

Claire Denney:

“I currently work on Payroll Giving and it’s a nightmare! For the donor, it’s such an easy way of giving money, but from an organisational point of view it is so time consuming and the organisations involved make processes so complicated that I wonder if it ever breaks even. Sort it out!”

Colin Gray:

“Charities save government organisations millions every year.  It is incumbent on government to fully recognise this.”

David Chater:

“If the charities are not there who & what else is there?”

Dave Kirsopp:

“Giving is a joy!

As the founder and coordinator of a small charity (Thumbprint) I know very much the difficulties of raising funds - but also the positive effect upon those that give. I have yet to see an unhappy donor! People love to give to a cause that they can relate to. It is such a positive act.

I would like to try to communicate to people just how positive the act of giving is to the donor. Giving helps good causes - but it also enriches the life of the donor. I think we should remember that.”

Dinah Dunkerley:

“This drop in funding presumably includes funding from Councils as well as individual donations. This demonstrates the ‘double whammy’ from cuts to Councils and the impact of many families and individuals just feeling poorer.”

Dora Kostiuk:

“I think this is a valuable campaign which all parties should contribute to.  Unfortunately, the voluntary sector is being forced into the “Big Society” which means offering our valuable services with no or little financial support.  This will lead to the demise of the voluntary sector unless we do something to curb it before it is too late.”

Edward Mason:

“If Government is going to be smaller (as seems inevitable for the foreseeable future) charities need to grow, financially and influentially. Increasing NGO charitable influence is needed even if Government stays big.”

Emma Insley:

“I’d like charities to tell us the impact of the cuts & fewer donations - not in terms of redundancies or mergers, but in terms of reduced services and diminished outcomes for beneficiaries.

I still see evidence of a lack of knowledge - particularly amongst small charities - on how to reduce costs, earn money and be more effective on a reduced budget. More affordable / free training and resources - particularly aimed at trustees - would help in this regard. Although I understand this is also a funding issue.”

Francesca Quint:

“Charities and their supporters need to redouble their efforts to overcome the disparity between the extra demands on charities and the constraints on donors generally at a time of economic stringency. This means not only trying to raise more funds but also trying to ensure that funds are used more effectively. As an individual donor I am more likely to give where I see charities co-operating rather than competing, and where I can see a tangible result.”

Hazel Wright:

“Like many small charities, Graft is struggling to sustain itself. As other charities have fallen, demand for our services has grown significantly. We have a waiting list that will take us best part of a year to support and funding that may run out before then. It would make a massive difference to us if government and local authority contracts were more accessible to us. We are unable to build a robust balance sheet whilst we are primarily grant funded - this then precludes from contracts that pay on results as we unable to fund staff and overheads during the contract delivery period - until results are achieved.”

Ian Jones:

“Charities and volunteers are the heartbeat of our communities, they need support!”

Jill Scott:

“Charities are the ‘human face’ of help and support in our community.”

Jennifer Orr:

“Under this government, charitable organisations are under increasing pressure to fill the gap left by small Government and to provide the services that our taxes once contributed to.  No matter how much faith one has in the public, people cannot be coerced into charitable giving and tend to support causes close their hearts, making it very difficult for some organisations to plug the funding gap. Charities should not be penalised in any way and need to be fully supported by Government, business and the individuals.”

John A:

“Charities… the unsung and often un-acknowledged force that keep the UK going.. without the numerous charities that we have then all of us would have to contribute a lot more just to have a life somewhere near a minimum existence level.”

John McMenamy:

“Charities reach the parts of society that other organisations cannot reach.”

Jules Mason:

“Charities do amazing work in the UK and overseas, anything we can do to encourage the general British public to support charities has to be welcomed especially at a time when the sector as a whole is experiencing difficult financial times.”

Katherine Horsham:

“In a time of economic uncertainty and owing to the reduced ability of government and conventional funders to invest in positive projects, we as individuals need to fight for and donate to the charities we wouldn’t want to live without.”

Kathy Smyth:

“Charities really still need our help and the Gift Aid part of the giving is all important if one is a tax payer. Please do not stop this important giving.”

Karen Gibsey:

“I think the work of charities and Third Sector Organisations are a godsend to communities and beyond. We all should play our part (no matter how small) in supporting the valuable work these organisations carry out for the greater good of their recipients. Recipients are the people, be it individuals or families, communities, cities, regions, other businesses/organisations and beyond; the positive work and results are endless.”

Kris Murali:

“Charities are facing major challenges and NCVO’s campaign is very timely.”

Liz Davies:

“I give through payroll and so it feels like I never had the money!”

Lyn Pullen:

“Charities are suffering from less money but more demand, we need to ensure they are treated fairly.”

Malcolm Bush:

“We seem to be seeing charities playing an ever greater role; but financially struggling more.”

Maria Johnson:

“This is important. Everyone has a cause they feel strongly about. Say so, and make sure everyone hears the message.”

Mary Smith:

“As other funding is drying up , it is vital to support our charities, as nobody else will take on their role.”

Michael Hodges:

“As a nation of volunteers and givers the Government will find little protest from British voters wishing to see the third sector supported by innovative measures to improve the efficiency of Gift Aid.”

Michael Osborne:

“I work as a volunteer with two charities and I’m very aware of all the charities that operate locally and I wish that I could support them all. I am constantly thinking of ways to find funding but the results are very disappointing. I am backing the Back Britain’s Charities Campaign to boost giving and to improve the culture of helping others.”

Michael Walton:

“The immeasurable contribution that the charity sector makes to life in Britain, particularly in supporting the weak and underprivileged should be valued and sustained by government and society as a whole. The Big Society does not need reinventing it needs sustaining.”

Mike Beazley:

“Now is the time for people of goodwill to show that they care about their neighbours in this country and abroad, and are prepared to use their resources to help those who have less of all the things that we take for granted.”

Mike Whitlam:

“As a sector that has, for centuries, undertaken challenges that others cannot do, we are crucial to ensuring the delivery and development of an enormous range of services and advocacy for beneficiaries. The Backing Charity campaign is crucial. If charities suffer, people will suffer.”

Nick Maurice:

“I fully support this campaign to “Back British Charities”. It is vital that Government understand and supports the crucial role that charities play in every aspect of UK life and that any reduction in support will have and indeed is already having a devastating impact on society. There should also be greater support for and encouragement of philanthropy.”

Paul Parrish:

“Supporting a cause you believe in will give you more personal satisfaction than most things you will ever buy.  Try and be a part of something you believe in and see how it changes not just society, but you!”

Peter Day:

“Smaller local charities must be seen as at least as important as the large national ones and given more support.  It is all too easy for Government and Commerce to support national names, but whilst they do much good work, it is local ones who are often most effective - using their local knowledge to target support.  Large charities can spend large sums on fund-raising (whether that is right or not is another issue) but smaller, local ones cannot.”

Phil McGrath:

“British Charities are facing a future of greater demands and reduced resources - they need our backing!”

Rachel Dring:

“I am backing all of Britain’s charities and have seen first hand the generosity of the British public. Long may it continue.”

Richard Palmer:

“Without the work done by charities and those individuals who work so hard for our community it would be so much harder for everybody. Living alone with a chronic disability I value just what everybody does and any support that can be given is just another positive to brighten what can be a very negative world!”

Ruth Carr:

“It is essential the government (that keeps making cuts) makes it easier and more tax efficient for individuals to give to charity.”

Ruth Sharpe:

“Charities across the board do amazing work, but often in the background and without a high profile. However, it is not necessarily the role of government to directly fund charities, but it could do more for through the tax system. Charities work best when people have personal experience - particularly through family members - and then pass the word on, whether by word of mouth or social media.”

Sarah Hopkins:

“Its rare to miss what you give away.”

Sarah Rudston:

“As a charity worker and volunteer, I am really passionate about getting more people involved in charities. People should be encouraged to support each other.”

Sharon Southerton:

“I would just like to say this is a fantastic initiative and good luck.”

Shirley Wilson-Chalon:

“In these times of recession and cuts backs, help from charitable organisations are needed more than ever. It is short sighted to cut support to such organisations who often give their time for free and own money.”

Shoaban Nair:

“Charities do the most important work there is: for the benefit of many; not  for the benefit of the self or the few.”

Simon Lake:

“When times are tough and money is in short supply, it is too easy to stop giving to charity but please try to remember that your local/favourite charity is facing the same cutbacks from funders and need your support even more at this time. If you have no money to give, please consider offering a little of your free time in a volunteering role as many charities cannot survive without the life-blood of the Third Sector, the volunteer.”

Stephanie Cole:

“I’m really worried to hear the results of the research, which comes at a time when central and local government funding is falling, trust and foundation funding is becoming more competitive and harder to get, and demand for voluntary and community sector services is going through the roof. I’m really worried because gifts from individuals and corporations and larger scale philanthropy is being held up as the solution to all our problems. This research shows that it is not to be our saviour after all (not that many of us believed it would be). I’m worried about the future of our diverse, wonderful and much-needed voluntary and community sector.”

Steve Plant:

“Anything that can be done to increase the money raised by fundraisers must surely help.”

Steve Whitbread:

“There is a need to making giving easier, particularly through Gift Aid and to address the pressures resulting from cuts in all form of public services, both directly and indirectly.”

Sue Tyson:

“I am the Centre Administrator at our Lancaster branch and have been at CancerCare for 21 years and the organisation is as devoted to cancer patients and their families as it was 21 years ago and we rely heavily on the public for our funds as all our services are given free of charge.”

Tiffany Vale:

“Thank you for helping charities to help others. Such a valuable and vital thing to do!”

Tony Lynes:

“Charities have never been so important - or so vulnerable.”

Torie:

“I have benefited from having a guide dog, and they don’t get any government funding. I among others would be devastated if this charity was to go.”



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