Pro Bono Economics (PBE) has published a new report that explores the VCSE sector’s contribution to the UK’s economy.

The government has published further information on how its £750 million package of support will be divided amongst the charity sector.

The funding was announced last month and includes and allocation of £360 million that will be distributed to charities directly by government departments.

A further £370 million will be distributed to small charities and in England this will be managed by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Charity Tax Group (CTG) has led a group of VCSE sector organisations in calling on the government to divert surplus council coronavirus funding to small charities, reports Civil Society.

Registered charities are now exempt from the rule which stipulates that half of their income comes from trading in order to be eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme.

The British Business Bank, which is the body overseeing the scheme, has changed the wording of the scheme’s conditions to say:

The government has refused opposition demands for additional funding for charities.

In parliament yesterday, Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport was asked by shadow DCMS minister, Jo Stevenson MP to commit further funding for the sector.

He said that the government would “do everything that it can to support charities”, but would not commit to additional funding.

The Fundraising Regulator has published new guidance on setting up a fundraising appeal.

The guidance has been developed in response to the large number of members of the public seeking to raise funds in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

We are cautiously optimistic following the UK government’s announcement of £750m worth of aid to charities as part of its response to coronavirus, including £370m allocated to small and medium-sized charities.

Whilst it is unclear how the money will be distributed, this is hopefully the first stage of government relief efforts to support the VCSE sector.

Here’s what we know so far: