North East VCSE Covid19 Impact survey May 2020

North East VCSE Covid-19 Impact survey May 2020 Carol Botten, CEO VONNE

Survey overview • Open from 22 nd April 4 th May 2020 • 461 responses • Initial data cleanse • 404 responses to analyse • Data available at NE region, LEP level, Combined Authority & Local Authority level • Range of organisations adequately reflects NE sector by size of organisation and geographical delivery

Income losses A third of organisations expect to lose more than 50% of their income in the quarter April-June 2020 What percentage of your income do you envisage losing due to COVID-19 between April- June 2020? 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 0% 0 -10% 10 -25% 25 -50% 50 -75% Over 75%

Income losses by size Expected income losses by organisation income level Over £ 5 M Over £ 1 M £ 500 K-£ 1 M £ 250 -500 K £ 100 -250 K £ 50 -100 K Under £ 50 K 0% 10% 20% 0% 1 -10% 30% 40% 11 -25% 50% 26 -50% 60% 51 -75% 70% 80% 76 -100% 90% 100%

Organisational capacity Sector organisations have reduced staffing and volunteering capacity currently. Staffing • 25% of staff unable to work due to direct impacts of Covid-19 • 57% of organisations have furloughed staff • 53% of paid workforce not operational Volunteers • Almost half of respondents have 75% of their volunteers currently unavailable

Future staffing Redundancies 13% of organisation expect they are likely or very likely to close in the next 6 -12 months which would equate to 6, 523 redundancies (based on average staffing levels at scale of organisation. ) In addition organisations not expecting to close are expecting an average 41% reduction in staffing levels, a further 14, 850 redundancies TOTAL: 21, 373

Impact on beneficiaries 269 of the organisations surveyed told us their average annual beneficiary count and the percentage of beneficiaries they weren’t able to support currently. We then calculated the number of likely beneficiaries not receiving support between March- May 269 organisations Over 400, 000 beneficiaries 7, 200 organisations across the NE How many people? ? ? Specific groups - Children & young people - Older people - People with disabilities inc. learning disabilities

Reserves How many months of core running costs do you hold in reserves? 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% No reserves 0 -3 months 3 -6 months 6 -9 months 9 -12 months Over 12 months Don't know

Reserves by size Level of reserves by income level of organisation Over £ 5 M Over £ 1 M £ 500, 000 -£ 1 M £ 250, 000 -£ 500, 000 £ 100, 000 -£ 250, 000 £ 50, 000 -£ 100, 000 Under £ 50, 000 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% No reserves 0 -3 months 3 -6 months 6 -9 months 9 -12 months Over 12 months Don't know

Risk of closure How likely do you feel it is that your organisation may close as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Very likely Likely Neither likely nor unlikely Unlikely Very unlikely

Risk of closure – by size Likelihood of closure by organisation income level Over £ 5 M Over £ 1 M £ 500, 000 -£ 1 M £ 250, 000 -£ 500, 000 £ 100, 000 -£ 250, 000 £ 50, 000 -£ 100, 000 Under £ 50, 000 0% Very likely 10% 20% Likely 30% 40% 50% Neither likely nor unlikely 60% 70% Unlikely 80% 90% Very unlikely 100%

Organisational priorities (2 -3 months) Staff & Volunteers Supporting volunteers & staff – health & wellbeing and morale Coping with reduced volunteer & staff capacity Safeguarding staff, volunteers and beneficiaries including availability of PPE, homeworking & using digital Services & Beneficiaries Redesigning the delivery of your services – using digital and in other ways Communications & marketing Software/ digital/ tech support for beneficiaries Funding & income Developing new income streams Liaising with funders & commissioners Funding advice & applying for grants Homeworking and remote delivery IT/ telephone kit for staff & volunteers Software, digital and communication tools Software/ digital/ tech support for beneficiaries Organisational support and development Strategic planning in short, medium & longer term Financial planning and management – cash flow, reducing costs, new liabilities

Organisational priorities (longer-term) Supporting volunteers & staff – health & wellbeing and morale Safeguarding staff, volunteers and beneficiaries - homeworking & using digital Communications & marketing Redesigning the delivery of your services – using digital Developing new income streams Funding advice & applying for grants Fundraising advice & support Financial planning Strategic planning

Positive impacts Outcome % of responses Partnerships and relationships 52% Stronger networks 25% New volunteers 21% Working remotely using digital technology 21% Other – included focus on new projects, 20% raised profile and stronger communications

Key recommendations • Long term thinking is required • Reflect and build upon learning - innovations in service delivery and organisations’ working practices • Need to address digital exclusion and the digital divide – both for organisations and individuals • For funders and commissioners to continue trust & relationship based funding & commissioning • Need to amplify voices and address inequalities • Ensure a ‘seat at the table’ for VCSE organisations in local authority, health, LEP, Combined Authority recovery structures.

Thank you carol. botten@vonne. org. uk Full survey report can be found www. vonne. org. uk/news Join Membership+ to receive: • Funding information • Exclusive events • Free and discounted job adverts