Shelter sheds 43 jobs 1

Finance | Gareth Jones | 22 Oct 2008

Homelessness charity Shelter is to cut 43 jobs in response, it says, to a “sharp decline in fundraising income” caused by the economic downturn.

However, staff sources told Charity News Alert that they were made aware earlier this year that a second wave of restructuring focusing on non-service staff was to come in the wake of the controversial pay and hours amendments for service staff.

The cuts represent 5 per cent of Shelter’s 840 posts.

In an email to staff, chief executive Adam Sampson said that the current situation was “very serious”, with £2m needing to be trimmed from the annual budget.

Sampson explained in the email that the charity’s reserves had fallen below the level recommended by the Charity Commission for an organisation of its size, adding: “We need to rebuild them to give us the security we require”.

Around 33 staff are likely to face redundancy by the end of the year while a further 10 who are already leaving will not be replaced.

Shelter is also looking at renting out the top two floors of its London head office.

Legal Services Commission bid

Much will depend on the charity’s success in a bid for £2.1m extra funding from the Legal Services Commission, having already recently secured a £1.6m grant award.

Responding to the leaked email, Sampson issued a brief public statement, which said: “In common with many other charities and voluntary organisations, Shelter is being affected by the downturn of the economy.”

Under review are its fundraising, resources, communications, policy and campaigns and Scotland departments.

Directory: Shelter
Who's Who: Gareth Jones

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Tom Wood
14 Jan 2009

For a organisation to rent its Head Office building must mean it is in a serious financial situation. i wonder if its staff are informed of any further job cuts.

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