NCVO

Small charities are the backbone of civil society. They make up the vast majority of organisations in our membership and wider voluntary sector, powered by committed staff and volunteers who are often navigating complex challenges with limited time and resources. At NCVO, supporting you with practical advice, trusted guidance, and a real person to talk to is at the heart of what we do.

The proposals form part of the government’s wider asylum and immigration reforms, which would allow volunteering to be used as a condition to obtain, or shorten the route to, settlement in the UK. Drawing on engagement with 314 organisations, our findings show overwhelming concern across the voluntary sector. Respondents were in strong opposition to the proposed inclusion of volunteering to obtain or shorten the route to settlement for asylum seekers and refugees.

The home secretary has proposed linking civic participation to settlement status under a new contribution-based settlement model, aimed at reducing net migration. Instead of people gaining settlement automatically after a fixed period, the proposals would require them to show contribution to life in the UK. This could include volunteering in their local communities.

The charity sector has navigated a period of significant difficulty in recent months – feeling increasingly unsafe and under threat amid rising societal tensions. In October, we held a week of listening sessions with representatives from 46 voluntary organisations to hear more about the realities they face. Across the five sessions, participants described rising levels of fear, intimidation and online hate.

Ahead of each Budget, NCVO and others in the sector develop submissions which outline what's needed from the Treasury. Yesterday’s speech from the despatch box on the final fiscal plan laid out a mixed outlook for voluntary organisations. Scrapping the two-child benefit cap is a win for charities and campaigners. New investment in children’s social care will help support earlier intervention. Both will ease pressure on some frontline services.

The bill is moving through parliament but only a few changes are likely to come into force in 2025. The government has published an official implementation roadmap, outlining a phased timeline for when you’ll need to act. Both the bill and the roadmap are subject to change. For charities, where staff absences can have a big impact and HR support is often limited, the roadmap offers some relief. Major reforms, such as new unfair dismissal rights, have been delayed until at least 2027.

Good governance underpins every charity’s ability to deliver its mission. Each year, Trustees’ Week is a chance to reflect on what’s working well and where boards can improve. Our latest report brings together data and insights from hundreds of trustees and senior staff to show how governance is changing across the sector and what still needs attention. This year’s findings show steady improvement across all eight principles of the Charity Governance Code.

We know from speaking to our members about the increased need for sector support and solidarity in times of division and racial hatred. The reality is there is no ‘one-size fits all’ approach to address these concerns. The safety and security of staff, volunteers and beneficiaries will depend on the nature of your work, the physical set up of your organisation and where your charity operates.

Evaluation often becomes a separate process. It’s a report written at the end of a project, with limited use in day-to-day work. That can make it feel disconnected from delivery and harder to use when decisions need to be made. That’s why we’ve changed how we support it. Instead of handing over finished findings, we work alongside teams to co-design frameworks, support data collection and help make sense of the results. It’s a more collaborative, flexible approach that focuses on long-term learning.

The government is asking for feedback on its proposed changes to public procurement. NCVO is preparing a response and wants to reflect the views and experiences of organisations across the sector. Please complete this survey by 9am on 18 August 2025 if your organisation: delivers public services for public bodies adds social value for government suppliers.