More than two-thirds of charities working with criminal offenders have their staff on redundancy notice or expect to do so, according to research released today.

The staffing situation is perhaps not surprising as, according to the online survey commissioned by Clinks and released today, three-quarters of these charities have seen a fall in grant income, nearly half (46 per cent) have witnessed a drop in earned income and a third have are facing reduced voluntary income. Clinks have warned that this represents an existential threat to a number of services.

With such across-the-board falls in income, seven out of ten of the 99 charities surveyed said they had already had to draw on their reserves, and 90 per cent expect to do so in this current financial year.

Fundraising is being seen as a possible route to salvation for these charities. Although just a quarter estimated they were eligible for the government’s transition fund, nearly all (96 per cent) are spending more energy on fundraising to make up for the shortfalls.

Clive Martin, director of Clinks, said the sector was keen to work with government on reducing reoffending rates, but that it was being bound by economic constraints. “The sector is simultaneously facing cuts and severe challenges, and expects this to get worse. The  new agenda presents opportunities but it is not yet clear what funding will be available and from where,” he said.

“The danger is that by the time the dust settles, we will have lost many valuable services.”