CharitEpulse: Charities under pressure – policy, governance and commissioning challenges
In this episode of CharitEpulse, our chatters James Saunders, Charles Mesquita and Catherine Rustomji explore some of the growing pressures facing charities, including shifting policy landscapes, mounting governance challenges and the complexities of commissioning in an increasingly constrained environment.
The trio discuss:
- Policy and sector support: recent government announcements offered limited detail for the charity sector, with little clarity on social care funding or cost-of-living support, highlighting ongoing questions around sector advocacy.
- Conflicts of interest in focus: updated Charity Commission (CC29) guidance reinforces the importance of robust governance, including clear declaration of interests, appropriate management of conflicts, and awareness of reputational considerations.
- Challenges for small charities: research from the Charity Excellence Framework highlights the pressures facing smaller organisations, alongside the need to recognise their value and explore opportunities to strengthen capacity and resilience.
- Public sector commissioning: concerns remain around complex and resource-intensive bidding processes, short contract cycles, and funding constraints, raising questions about how commissioning can better support sustainable partnerships.
The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube.
If you have any questions or feedback for the panel, please contact James directly.
