Heads at international charities have published a letter warning of the impact of an exit from the European Union, while figures released from the official Remain campaign claim a Brexit could cost UK charities over £200m a year.

The letter, which has been signed by both current and former chairs and chief executives of some of the biggest international charities, appeared in the Guardian yesterday. The letter was signed in a personal capacity by its signatories.

Writing ahead of June’s EU referendum, the leaders said that in their view, the EU is a “practical way to extend our reach and multiply our influence”.

Signatories of the letter include Jasmine Whitbread, former chief executive of Save the Children; Rob Williams, chief executive of War Child; Andrew Cahn, chair of WWF; Tanya Barron, chief executive of Plan International, and Michael Anderson, chief executive of Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.

The letter said: “Every pound of aid the UK spends through EU institutions is matched by £6 from other member states. This larger pool delivers better lives for the poorest people. It also helps tackle problems in areas where the UK has no large presence, for example in the Sahel and parts of west Africa.”

It went on to say: “Cooperation within the EU will be essential to tackling the humanitarian emergency in Syria, the migration crisis, and the wider issues of peace, security and development in the Middle East and north Africa.”

It added that these benefits stretch beyond aid, with the partnership with the EU helping the UK achieve an “ambitious outcome at the climate talks in Paris; and provides a platform for further work on trade, financial flows, corruption and human rights”.

It concluded: “Withdrawing from the EU would diminish the UK’s role in the world and set back our efforts to end global poverty.”

Cost to charities of Brexit

Elsewhere, the official campaign to remain in the EU, Britain Stronger in Europe, has revealed that charities could lose £200m a year if there is a vote to leave in the EU referendum.

This follows an analysis of EU grants made in 2014. The campaign found that 249 UK third sector organisations received funding from the EU in 2014. It said that if the UK were to leave the EU this funding would be put at risk.

However EU funding comes from money the UK and other members have contributed to the EU.

This year it is expected Britain will contribute £10.4bn to the EU budget. In the event of an exit, the UK would have these funds to invest elsewhere.

The campaign’s analysis showed that Oxfam GB was the charity to receive the biggest EU grant in 2014, receiving just under £40m. The International Rescue Committee UK received just under £23m.

The group collected funding data from the European Commission’s Financial Transparency System.

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