Young Lives vs Cancer reacts to the government’s response to report on emergency funding allocation for charity sector

Helen Gravestock, Associate Director of Policy, Influencing and Voice at Young Lives vs Cancer says:

“We welcome the government’s response to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s report released in June this year, which outlined how emergency funds were offered to the voluntary sector during the early days of the pandemic. In particular, we welcome the government’s commitment to setting out the steps it will take to ensure transparency of future funding decisions, and for committing to evaluate the impact of funding given to the sector, including charities that did not receive any money from the scheme. We would welcome further and firmer detail on when these commitments will take place, if not within the three months suggested by the PAC report.

“The lack of transparency over the allocation of government funds, and how assessments were made for the level of funding, has been a real concern for Young Lives vs Cancer.

“The past year has been more difficult than ever for children and young people with cancer and their families, yet Young Lives vs Cancer did not receive any of the promised £750m relief fund for charities. Young people had to face cancer treatment alone, parents lost their jobs, children were isolated and Young Lives vs Cancer worked tirelessly to continue to be there for them, while facing a dramatic fall in income.

“In particular, we were shocked at the lack of information available about the application process and how to access funding, which meant we were unable to apply.

“We share the sentiment of the PAC report, which says the government should clearly set out the actions they will take to monitor and understand the financial health and resilience of the charity sector moving forward.

We know we are not alone in our concerns. We are keen to work together with other vital charities to show just how much the charity sector is needed in society. As the leading cancer charity for children and young people in the UK, our fight is far from over. We need to continue to reach and support everyone who needs us during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.”