The Power of Small project report from NCVO

The Power of Small project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund reported last month on their project finding. Their conclusions are that small voluntary organisations don’t need fixing, but the systems around them do.

• Funding systems don’t work for Smalls (this is how the project describe their target group – small voluntary organisations, including small charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and social enterprises). Many struggle to access core, unrestricted or multi-year funding. Applications are time-consuming, and reporting requirements are often disproportionate. Some said they felt pressure to reshape their work to fit funder expectations, rather than responding to what their communities need.
• Power and influence sit elsewhere – almost 80% of survey respondents said they didn’t feel represented in national policy or funding spaces. Many felt excluded from key decisions and conversations. This lack of voice added to a wider sense of exhaustion. Leaders spoke about the emotional cost of having to constantly prove their value.
• Support exists but doesn’t always work- while a lot of support is available in theory, small charities said it was hard to find, hard to assess, or too time-consuming to engage with. They asked for clearer signposting, more tailored offers and peer support rooted in shared experience.
• Leading takes a toll – mental health came up consistently. Many described the personal strain of working under pressure, often alone, with no margin for rest.

Read the report here

Voluntary Action Leeds