Outbreak Management Advisory Board - 29 September 2021

Alison Semmence, Chief Executive

In May 21, York CVS carried out the third in a series of surveys to understand the impact of Covid-19 on the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector in York. Earlier surveys had been undertaken in April and October 2020.

York CVS joined with other VCSE infrastructure support partners across Yorkshire and Humberside to produce and circulate this shared survey which was analysed by the Mobilising Volunteers Effectively (MoVE) project: a partnership between the Universities of Sheffield, Hull and Leeds.

The report focuses on the responses from VCSE sector organisations who are operating in York and consists of responses from 40 organisations. 

The key findings are indicative of the impact the pandemic is having on the sector but they are not definitive. 

Although there have been some improvement in the expected financial sustainability within the VCSE sector in York over the past 12 months, the full extent of the impact the pandemic has had on the sector is yet to be seen.  We are now starting to see closures of York based charities with two closing in recent weeks; several have downsized, sold property and reduced their capacity.

This is at a time when demand and complexity is increasing significantly across the whole system, and including the VCSE.

Another worrying factor is the increased use of reserves which can be a slippery slope.

Members of the Board are asked to consider how they can invest in the VCSE in the short, medium and long-term to ensure we retain a dynamic, agile and robust VCSE in York.