DSC policy update - week commencing 18 January 2021

Here’s your snippet of the policy news for this week:

Leading charities make joint Budget submission to the Treasury

The #NeverMoreNeeded leaders have written to Rishi Sunak on behalf of the sector and ahead of the budget to reiterate the need to implement the Five Point Plan. The plan details how the government could provide additional emergency support to charities through the pandemic by: supporting local voluntary organisations; introducing the Gift Aid Emergency Relief Package; repurposing and accessing stranded funds to support charity services; ensuring the effective and efficient distribution of the Shared Prosperity Fund; and strengthening long-term financial sustainability of local authorities by increasing core government funding. You can read the full submission here with further details on each point.

Charity Commission updates

After a ‘listening exercise’ last year, the Charity Commission is to consult on updated and simplified guidance about responsible investment. The regulator plans to publish draft guidance in Spring for a public consultation with the final updated version expected in summer.

Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s annual survey

The Shelia McKechnie Foundation’s annual survey has found that almost two thirds of UK campaigners and activists from charities and voluntary groups thought that politicians were becoming increasingly negative towards campaigning in 2020. Examples cited include the criticism of the National Trust by Tory MP’s and Unicef being accused of pulling a political stunt by Rees-Mogg after it funded food support for UK children. Read a write up from the Guardian here.