Half of Scotland’s charities fear they will run out of money in the next six months, according to a new report.

Research by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) found one in ten are concerned they may have to close their doors for good.

Groups across Scotland are seeing membership, donations and funding “crash”, with more than a third only having enough cash to cover the next three to four months. 

The massive drop in income has impacted the ability to cover costs, with between 25% - 40% of staff being furloughed in the sector – as many as 43,000 people.

Yet frontline services are seeing “exponential” increases in demand while usual sources of funding dry up because of the virus.

“A particular concern for many is that crucial services may have to close doors just when lockdown ends and they are needed the most by the communities they serve,” the report notes.

Charitable organisations working in health and social care make up the single largest group applying for emergency funding, representing one in three requests.

However the SCVO briefing, compiled from a range of surveys and data, warns the “real crunch” will come in a few months’ time when government support initiatives such as the furlough scheme stop and normal operations resume.

Social care, health and older people’s charities are all under pressure.

Health organisations say they are in need of funding to help adapt services or provide new means of support and have warned of an imminent public health crisis.

Charities have previously warned of a rise in demand for cancer services after covid-19, with many patients missing out on major surgery, urgent checks and screening.

Social care providers and care homes have “found themselves on the frontline as never before”, but the SCVO paper says challenges over staffing, inadequate funding and a lack of PPE have “by and large” been overcome:

“Social care bodies now want to ensure that the current recognition of carers as highly skilled and essential workers is reflected in how they are paid and valued post-emergency, and that the flexibility and openness that has been shown by public sector funders and procurement staff is not lost.”

Meanwhile nearly a third – 30% – of disabled people say their support has stopped or been reduced because of the pandemic.

The report notes: “Disabled people’s organisations are concerned for the people they support.

“A major concern is that progress made in recent years is now being lost, with many individuals and their carers losing their support systems, their independence, and their confidence.”

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