Posted 9th April 2020
Social Value UK are proud to be supporting the response of Social Enterprise UK to the Chancellor’s announcement on civil society funding. As a membership organisation, Social Value UK represents many civil society organisations and will always place their interests at the core of our activities.
Peter Holbook CBE, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise UK commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement said:
“The Government has announced a package of support for charities and we understand that this will also cover some social enterprises, although some may be excluded due to restrictions on eligibility.”
“We welcome this £750m fund as a significant measure but when compared with the size of the charity and social enterprise sectors, it will only cover at best a small minority. It also does not give social enterprises parity with other parts of the economy which have received large amounts of support. Social enterprises should not be penalised because of the tough environments they work in and the challenges they face in trading for purpose.”
“We remain concerned that thousands of social enterprises delivering key services in local communities, employing and working with vulnerable people and operating in the most deprived areas will go without support. Many good businesses will close unless the government takes a broader approach.”
“We will be looking through the proposals in detail, but this must be the first in a series of measures to help social enterprises, if the Chancellor is to stay true to his word to do “whatever it takes” to help people and businesses through this crisis.”
Read the statement on Social Enterprise UK’s website here.