The end of the year provides an opportunity for reflection – a time to look back at the past 12 months and to look forward to what the new year may hold.
However, as we come to the end of this tumultuous year, there is a sense of déjà vu in these reflections.
At this time last year, a common theme in conversations was how terrible the past two years had been and a hope that 2022 would be a better year with a chance to recover.
Thankfully, 2022 was much better on the coronavirus front, but the year presented its own far-reaching and deeply worrying crises. There was the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis.
While making predictions is always a dangerous game, I think it is safe to say that most people expect that both of these issues will continue well into 2023.
To take the Ukraine war first, there may have been a number of Russian withdrawals and retreats of late, but the Kremlin’s rhetoric remains the same and it shows no sign of moving towards the end of hostilities.
On the cost-of-living crisis, even if inflation does tail away in 2023, things will remain financially hard for many people. Costs will continue to rise, albeit more slowly but from an already high position, while for the majority wage increases will take a considerable time to catch up. To add to the problem, predictions of a recession in the UK continue to grow.
For charities, this means tough financial times will remain too, as demand and costs increase, while income decreases.
But that doesn’t mean we should be too downcast as we enter the new year. There will be difficulties to overcome and people that desperately need support. But if the events of the past few years have shown us anything, it is that charities are resilient, adaptable and always step up in a crisis. They are a crucial and powerful element of our society.
By working together, sharing best practice and speaking with one voice on the issues that affect them, charities can survive these difficult times and position themselves for the future.
It can be difficult to take a step off the non-stop treadmill of daily life to think about the opportunities to do this, but over the Christmas and new year period, I hope all readers get a chance to take a break, look back at the amazing recent successes of the sector and get ready for another year of positive impact in 2023.
Tristan Blythe is the editor of Charity Finance
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