HOW CAN CHARITIES COPE WITH A RISE IN DEMAND?
Released On 27th Jun 2022
As the cost of living crisis impacts people all across the UK, food charities are seeing a significant rise in demand for their services.
In fact, food charities across Bristol have seen a 30 per cent increase in demand, as families struggle to handle rising food and fuel prices.
Whilst people are in need, charities are also feeling the pinch of inflation, with donations decreasing as people seek to save money where possible.
How can charities sustain their work?
Charities aim to help people, so it can be very difficult to decide to turn people away. However, as mentioned, charities may be facing a scarcity themselves.
To sustain the good work that they are doing, charities may need to bring restrictions on the support they provide.
For foodbanks, this could include decreasing the number of items that each person receives so that more people can get help. Or, limiting the number of people that receive parcels by opting for a ‘first come, first serve’ strategy.
Of course, there is a moral dilemma that accompanies this; so, the approach the charity takes will be dependent on the aims and values of the individual charity.
Are there other ways to meet demand?
Aside from relying on donations of either money or goods, charities can get creative with the way that they expand their services.
For example, charities could focus on social media strategies to raise awareness about the support that they need.
This could be achieved through hiring more volunteers to solely focus on this marketing technique.
There may be funding available from local authorities, or even from the National Lottery Fund.
Further information on the National Lottery Fund’s support for foodbanks can be found here.
Need advice on related matters? Contact our charity team today.
