Peter Kyle, Labour MP and former deputy chief executive of Acevo, has said that the current pressures on charities are harder and more complex than in the years that immediately followed the financial crash of 2008.

He was speaking at an Acevo Parliamentary reception last night that followed the membership body’s annual general meeting, when he said that reflecting on the challenges the sector faced in terms of funding cuts following the financial crisis “it feels almost quaint” compared to now.  

“Now when I look back at that part we were actually very focused,” he said. “It was very easy to understand because it was purely financial.”

Kyle said that now the sector faces challenges “from all sides” in terms of funding and its relationships and gave the example of the collapse of Kids Company as “very specific issue about the failure in one charity’s governance” that is being used to discredit the sector.

He added that it was “quite frustrating that the Charity Commission is not sticking up for you” at a time “when laws have been passed that inhibit your ability to speak out”.

Lord Blunkett, who also spoke at the reception, said that charities were in a difficult position.

He said there was a “difficult balance” between working with government and other agencies to help people and speaking out on issues that they disagree with.

“Be as encouraging as possible through gritted teeth,” he advised.