Charity sector proved its value during the pandemic

• The Charity Commission has set out its key priorities for the coming year— helping charities deliver as we emerge from the pandemic; IT and data; regulation; and people.

There is much yet to learn about the impact of the pandemic on the charity sector—on charities’ finances, their ways of working, and on the wider economic and social context in which they operate. But the unequivocal lesson of the past year is that a resilient, vibrant voluntary sector is integral to the healthy functioning of our society. Indeed, Charity Commission research published in July, Public Trust in Charities 2021, suggests that a decade-long decline in people’s perception of charities’ importance in society is beginning to reverse, possibly because of what we have witnessed during the pandemic.

Commission achievements

I am proud that our Contact Centre was able to provide uninterrupted service throughout the pandemic, answering calls every working day throughout the crisis to help charities and trustees access