The thinktank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) calls for a rebalancing of public funding and philanthropy to rebuild civil society – broadly defined as local charities, clubs and community and voluntary groups – in the “left behind” areas of the north and Midlands.
It said that government promises to boost funding in the physical infrastructure of northern and Midland towns must be accompanied by investment in their voluntary sector and local authorities to help renew communities after years of austerity-driven cuts.
The north-south charity deficit was highlighted by figures showing that the affluent Cotswolds had nine times as many charities per 1,000 population as Blackpool – England’s most deprived local authority – which had just 0.6 charities per 1,000 population.
Other deprived local authority areas with relatively low levels of charities included Stoke-on-Trent (0.8 per 1,000 population), and Middlesborough (1.1). These compared with leafy South Northamptonshire – the sixth least deprived council in England – which had 3.2 charities per 1,000 population. The English average was 1.8.
Similarly, volunteering was less prevalent in deprived neighbourhoods, where just 15% of residents volunteered formally once a month compared to 29% in the wealthiest areas. Data showed that major philanthropic funders did not direct as many grants to areas of high social need as might be expected, the report said.
Proportionately fewer charities were established in poorer areas, where they were also less likely to survive beyond the short term. A third of charities in deprived areas went bust 10 years after being established, compared to 18% in the least deprived local authorities.
To read more on this article click here; https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/jan/17/charity-gap-highlights-need-to-rebuilt-society-says-thinktank?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
By: airpix
