The results of the 3^rd in series of surveys looking at the experiences of Third Sector in Leeds and West Yorkshire during Covid have recently been released.

The series of surveys have been co-ordinated by Voluntary Action Leeds working in partnership with a number of universities involved in the MoVE (Mobilising Volunteers Effectively) project. The surveys received financial support from Harnessing Power of Change, administered by Forum Central.

Third Sector Leeds received a briefing on the survey’s findings at its 20 September meeting and we thought we should share some of the key points.

• Third sector organisations continue to demonstrate their flexibility and the crucial role they play

The vast majority of organisations report that demand for their services has increased, but that they continue to meet the challenge of adapting their approach to new circumstances.

In Leeds, three quarters of organisations have found positives in the way they have adapted, often pointing to new flexibilities for staff and hybrid home/office working.

TSL remains keen to hear about the difference that you have made through Covid. If you wish to share your story with us we will ensure that we promote it to our members and to decision makers.

• Third sector organisations in Leeds seem to have more secure finances; for now.

The Spring 2021 edition of the survey showed that 40% of organisations expected to remain financial sustainable for 6 months or less. In September 2021 this figure had reduced to 16% with all other organisations expecting to remain sustainable for at least a year.

However, Covid has taken a toll on organisation’s long-term stability with 60% of organisations saying that they have reduced their reserves, or expect to before the end of 2021.

At TSL, we are not sure why organisations feel more financially secure than they did, but we remain concerned that as funding for Covid related activities work its way out of the system and other funding streams remain under pressure we must stay vigilant to ensure that the sector continues to be able to deliver much needed services.

• Larger organisations may have been better placed to grow

On average organisations have around 24 less paid staff hours (a median reduction from 4.2 to 3.5 FTE staff). However, organisations with a turnover of more than £1 million are more likely to have increased the number of FTE employees they have.

It is a positive that parts of the sector are growing, but this finding does reinforce the need for larger organisations to offer mutual to aid to smaller organisations where they can, and for the sector to pull together to ensure that we retain our diversity for the future.

At TSL we have been looking at ways that the social value commitments made by organisations bidding for contracts could help to support with mutual aid – for instance by offering the time of staff with specialists skills to smaller organisations.

• Organisations working with children and families may be under pressure

The detailed analysis of the number of staff employed by organisations that work with Children and Families indicates a reduction of paid hours.  This may indicate an overall reduction of income and or other issues (e.g. a struggle to recruit)

TSL and Young Lives Leeds are very concerned that this critical part of our city’s provision for young people appears to be shrinking.

Young Lives Leeds is working closely with its partners in developing work to understand the situation better, and where the  gaps in support services for young people are.  This will directly inform future work that will support organisations to bring in new funding to meet these needs.

• The volunteers that left the sector haven’t yet returned

The number of organisations that say that they have lost regular volunteers has stubbornly remained around the 70% mark across the last two surveys. In a lot of cases, organisations are reporting that it is the more specialised skills offered by volunteers (things like event planning or coaching/mentoring) that they have lost.

This finding continues to be a real concern. Voluntary Action Leeds has received funding from Harnessing Power of Change to focus on supporting smaller organisations to access the city’s online volunteering platform and TSL expects that this will help organisations to reach out to returning volunteers, and new ones.

 

You can review the key findings as reported to TSL here Sector resilience survey – Autumn 21 – Key findings

You can see the full survey results here.

If you want to share your story, discuss these issues or find out more about the work of Third Sector Leeds please contact Richard.warrington@val.org.uk

 

Third Sector Leeds