JERSEY charities spent around £100 million more last year than they did in 2022, according to the latest report from the Island’s charity commissioner.
In his annual update, John Mills said that the estimated spending of Jersey-registered charities in 2023 was in the region of £284 million, compared to £179 million the previous year.
This includes spending by charities which give to other charities.
It also placed the average spend for each charitable organisation at about £600,000, up from £390,000 in 2022.
Writing in the report, Mr Mills cited the “acute financial pressures facing a number of charities”.
He continued: “Those pressures are clearly very real although not universal across the whole, large, cohort of charities now on our public register.”
He also praised the “effort, hard work and sheer hustle” of those involved with charitable organisations, adding: “While problems and challenges must be noted and tackled, my starting-point is a big clap for Jersey-registered charities, whose people strive to do many very good things.”
In December, the Salvation Army revealed it had seen demand for its services double in 2023 and that it was also contending with price rises on the goods it buys to provide that support, having spent just over £60,000 on food – around £26,000 more than in 2022.
Commenting on the spending figures in the commissioner’s report, Salvation Army officer Richard Nunn said: “We are seeing that the cost of a lot of the stuff we are doing has gone up. The cost of staffing has gone up – we care about paying our staff a good, fair wage so we tie in with the living wage in Jersey as much as we can.”
He continued: “You’ve also got the cost of electricity, which is well documented, the cost of the food that we serve, all of that has gone up. So the cost of living increases – we are not insulated from that – it impacts us just as much.”
But Mr Nunn added that the Island’s “community spirit” was “something special”.
He said: “We see it as well with people we might offer support to [who] very often will find ways to give back.”
Tim Ringsdore, chair of the Sanctuary Trust homelessness charity, said: “All of our running costs went up last year – [including] maintenance and utilities – which combined with a general drop in donations due to the cost of living has created challenges for charities across the Island.”
However, he added that the new government “does recognise the good job being done by charities” and was working “very closely” with the trust.
