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Standing Up for Our Local Charities

Updated: Jan 15

This week, I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate to highlight the Government’s failure to properly assess the impact of its decisions on the charity sector. Far from being “unintended consequences,” these challenges are the result of a lack of due diligence and a dereliction of duty.


In Newbury, we have extraordinary charities doing invaluable work. But as I’ve heard firsthand, they are now facing rising costs that threaten their ability to serve our community.

I recently visited West Berkshire Mencap, where I learned that they will need to find an additional £163,000 just to cover rising national insurance contributions. On top of that, agency costs are set to increase by 12%, putting immense pressure on their resources.

I also met with Rachel Peters, Chief Executive of Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, which supports hundreds of local people into volunteering roles. Rachel shared that staffing costs for charities in our area are expected to rise by 18% next year. Combined, these organisations will need to find an additional £387,000 in the coming financial year.


These are not small numbers, and these are not small problems. Our charities are the backbone of our communities, stepping in where other services fall short. To burden them with such unsustainable financial pressures without providing support or time to adapt is deeply unfair.


I will continue to hold the Government to account and push for better funding, planning, and recognition for the vital work our charities do. These organisations deserve to be partners in policy-making, not afterthoughts in a poorly assessed process.




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