Recently-appointed minister for civil society, Stuart Andrew, has told charities that he is “committed to listening” to their views and will monitor their rising costs in his maiden speech to the sector.
Speaking at the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) Conference yesterday, Andrew said he was aware that trusts and foundations “are seeing increased demand, and organisations – from small to large – are facing higher energy prices”.
He vowed to “continue to engage constructively across the civil society sector to monitor the impact of rising costs and pressures”.
“In order to be resilient, to be truly resilient in a way that allows us to ‘spring back’, we also need strong foundations to ensure our impact is sustainable,” he said.
Last month, the government ran a consultation with charities and other sectors on potential support for energy bills after the Energy Bill Relief Scheme ends on 31 March 2023.
The government has yet to conclude its review and on Monday, minister for state Graham Stuart refused to confirm that charities would receive any further government support for energy bills after the scheme finishes.
Andrew added in his speech yesterday: “I am committed to listening to your views, championing the fantastic achievements of civil society, and building a strong relationship together.
“I'm especially looking forward to working with you all over the months and the years ahead for a sector that is incredibly close to my heart.”
Experience in the sector
Appointed earlier this month, Andrew has experience working in the charity sector at the British Heart Foundation and two hospices.
Andrew commented his work in charities “some will say when I had a real job, it was in the charity sector”.
He feels his experience in the sector helped him to understand the generosity of the British public, and the importance of philanthropy, and of the challenges that come with drops in funding.
During his time working at Hope House Children’s Hospice, Andrew witnessed a 50% drop in funds for a period of six months.
“We had to come up with solutions at a fast pace, and I'm aware of how amid the current pressures, funders have had to react very quickly and adapt to a changing environment. Throughout my career in charities and in politics, I have witnessed the impact that valuable funders can have for those who need it most, from vital health services for children and their families to tackling homelessness, and levelling up parts of our country.”
Speaking to an audience of foundations and trusts, Andrew said: “I'd like to extend my thanks and appreciation to all of you the leaders of trusts and foundations for the resilience that you've shown over the past few challenging years and the determination you've displayed in tackling our current economic challenges. Your wealth of experience is a clear asset to be harnessed in promoting innovation in philanthropy, empowering the sector, and supporting trusts and foundations to thrive.”
‘Irony of talking about leadership to you’
The conference focused on the theme of courageous leadership, and Andrew mentioned “the irony is not lost on me that I'm now talking about leadership to you, given what we've been through the last couple of months”.
Andrew acknowledged the sector is facing “unprecedented times” and that it is “civil society organisations who are on the front line helping those individuals and families that need it most”.
He acknowledged that charities are facing an increase in demand. Therefore, he applauded the resilience of “great leaders and trustees, who are able to adapt, pivot and flex against these challenges”.
As well as becoming the minister for civil society and loneliness, Andrew is also taking on the briefs of sport, tourism, youth, ceremonials (including the Coronation), events including Eurovision and arts and heritage in the Commons.
Andrew said that because of this, “there are quite literally countless opportunities to connect across my portfolio and the intersections of this amazing sector”.
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