LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall has told staff it is restructuring following the US government’s decision to freeze aid spending, with up to half of its 114 employees at risk of redundancy.
After beginning his second term as US president last month, Donald Trump announced a pause of its foreign aid funding through the US State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Stonewall chief executive Simon Blake warned after the USAID announcement that some of the charity’s work was funded by USAID and that it was “working hard with our partners to mitigate the impact of the US government’s decision”.
The Times has now reported that workers at the LGBTQ+ charity were told last Thursday that restructuring would take place, and that only roles with dedicated funding would be safe.
According to the newspaper’s sources, up to half of the charity’s 114 employees could be made redundant in the move, the announcement of which has left them “shellshocked”.
‘Stonewall is adapting’
Stonewall has seen its income decline in the past three financial years from £11.6m in the year to March 2021 to £6.92m in 2023-24, according to its accounts.
It received £234,000 from the US government-backed Global Equality Fund in 2023-24, a similar amount to the year before, while fees including money from organisations that sign up to its diversity programmes declined by over £500,000 to £2.42m.
The charity made nine employees redundant in 2023-24, paying £57,800 in related costs.
Commenting on the restructure, a spokesperson for the charity said: “Hard won rights are being rolled back for marginalised communities across the world and we are seeing an unprecedented political backlash against the principles of inclusion.
“Stonewall is adapting to ensure that it is fit for purpose and able to meet the challenges of this new political era.
“Over the last 35+ years, Stonewall has often needed to be agile and adapt to a changing world, and now it is no different.
“We know that we must work differently to how we have previously, to be effective in the coming years - and we are future proofing with that in mind.
“The work to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality has never been more important and Stonewall is rising to meet the challenge.
“Many charities in the UK are facing tough choices for a range of reasons, including the economic environment. Stonewall is no different.”
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