CHARITIES grappling with the spiralling cost of living have called on the government to do more to help the sector as they anticipate that financial pressures will lead to increased demands for their services and a drop in fundraising revenue.
A survey conducted by the Association of Jersey Charities has revealed that almost all of its members (95%) were concerned about the impact of the rising cost of living on charities and their causes.
The survey showed that:
- 88% expected to see a reduction in fundraising income due to the impact of higher costs on Islanders.
- l66% expected an increased demand for their services as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
- l55% would like to see the government do more to support the charitable sector.
Association chair Kevin Keen said that while the results were ‘unlikely to surprise our community, they were very important nevertheless’.
The cost of living in Jersey rose by 12.7% last year, the biggest increase in inflation since the early 1980s.
In December, charities providing food banks said they had experienced their busiest ever Christmas with ‘unprecedented’ demand for services and a drop in donations amid the cost-of-living crisis.
One of those charities, The Salvation Army, said that it was also seeing an increase in pensioners coming to its food bank, as well as people in full-time employment coming in ‘every day’.
Charity officer Richard Nunn said many older Islanders had told him their pensions were not keeping up with the cost of living.
Mr Nunn also said many people ‘who would never expect or want to come to a food bank’, were visiting their charity, a situation he described as ‘quite hard to watch’.
Meanwhile, Vini Jones from Grace Trust Jersey – which also runs a food bank – said the charity had given out 276 bags of food during January, compared to 228 in the same time last year.
He said: ‘It’s not easy to use a food bank. My job is to make it as seamless as possible for those who need it. It’s not easy to walk down the street and ask for help.’
Mr Keen said: ‘Although we would clearly like to see government do more to support this sector, there are things we can all do to support the important work of these organisations.’
He said many activities cost ‘very little and could actually save Islanders money’, and suggested:
- Offering to volunteer some of your time to an Island charity.
- Donating good-quality merchandise to the many charity shops in the Island.
- Donating an extra tin from your weekly shop to collections for local foodbanks.
- Shopping for clothing and other items at Island charity shops, which he said not only have people some ‘great bargains’ but also ‘helped the planet’.
- Encouraging employers to adopt a charity in Jersey.
Mr Keen added: ‘Of course, donations are also important and just donating the price of a cup of coffee every week will add up if we all do it.
‘There is a further incentive to make a cash donation because, if you are a taxpayer, the government will add a further 25% to your donation if it exceeds £50 in a year.’
In the coming months, the AJC will be featuring different member charities on its social-media channels, providing a reminder of their work and how they are dealing with the current crisis.
