The recent campaign which prompted the government u-turn on the charity tax was a great example of the sector displaying solidarity. The campaign was led by NCVO and CAF, and supported by charities of all sizes. It showed what could be done when we work together.
There is another campaign to make sure government does not take money away from charities and those they serve. This campaign has been launched by the Directory of Social Change (DSC). 'Where's our Big Lottery refund' aims to ensure government returns the £425m it took from the Big Lottery Fund to pay for the Olympics as soon as possible; John Penrose, the minister for tourism and heritage, has said that problems selling the Olympic facilities means this money may not be returned until the mid 2020's.
The campaign took on a new significance this week, when Hugh Robertson, the minister for sport and the Olympics, said on Radio 4: "all being well we should be able to hand half a billion pounds back to the Treasury". Fortuitously, this is a very similar amount to that taken from the lottery that the government says it may take 15 years to find.
NAVCA is backing the campaign. We all want the London Olympics to be a great success. Many people understand, even if they disagreed at the time, why money from the lottery was given to the Games. But the then government promised that after the Games, money would be restored to good causes. That promise now seems to be subject to delay.
Cuts mean many charities are struggling and, more importantly, the communities they support need their help more than ever. Charity work in the most deprived communities has been hardest hit. The lottery fund money could help these communities and boost local economies. The money smaller charities generate tends to stay in the locality. Paying back the money now would be a great legacy of the Games.
Unfortunately, support for this campaign has not been as overwhelming as it should be. Could this be because this campaign will largely benefit small charities?
We know that the vast majority of charities (85%) have income under £10,000. The Big Lottery Fund, the biggest grant funder in the country, provides vital resources for many of these organisations, which do not get adequate media coverage.
Anyone who supports charities should support this campaign. I urge everyone who backed the Give it back George charity tax campaign to support this campaign. You can sign up on the website, get others to sign up and write to your MP. It can make a difference to local charities and those they exist to help.
Together we can get the £425m back.
Joe Irvin is the chief executive of NAVCA
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