Charities’ employees, volunteers and beneficiaries are feeling “increasingly unsafe” against a backdrop of growing hostility, fear and operational disruption linked to growing social and political division around the UK, a new report has warned.
The report, published today by sector umbrella body NCVO, draws from five listening sessions held in October with representatives from 46 voluntary organisations.
Across the sessions, four major areas of concern were identified: “a pervasive climate of fear”, “operational disruption and forced invisibility”, “direct targeting and abuse” and “increasing internal tensions within organisations”.
Many charities reported that their staff and volunteers, particularly those from global majority backgrounds, felt fearful doing their jobs every day.
Some reported having to cancel community events and reduce their online visibility due to direct threats or security concerns, and that they had also received intimidating emails.
Charities said they had been forced to remove trustee names from their websites due to threats and harassment online and in person.
Many organisations also said they were grappling with conflicting views among staff, trustees and volunteers, as well as racist or abusive interactions with service users.
The report’s findings were referred to by Charity Commission interim chair Mark Simms earlier this week, as he condemned the “growing hostility” towards charity staff and the regulator published guidance for charities on how best to respond to the “hostile environment”.
More solidarity from across sector needed urged
NCVO’s report details how participants in the listening sessions had identified both immediate support needs as well as longer-term systematic changes to help protect charities and enable them to do their work effectively.
Recommendations include offering expert-led advice that supports greater situational awareness and online safety; access to trauma-informed support frameworks, and practical guidance on conducting risk assessments and safety planning for events and public facing activities.
Participants also called for greater sector solidarity and a unified sector voice, as well as addressing root causes, with the report noting that charities emphasised a long-term response that “must go beyond reacting to acute incidents”.
Kate Lee, chief executive of NCVO, said: “By convening members, large and small, from across the sector, we’ve been able to build a clearer picture of the impact increasing intimidation, hate and division is having.
“Using the findings from this report, we need to ensure the sector, its partners and friends, come together to support organisations that are simply trying to deliver their vital work.
“By uniting and offering hope where others spread hate, we can protect the space civil society occupies and ensure charities can continue to strengthen our communities. NCVO will be here to help the sector do exactly that.”
