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| Credit crunch hits charity giving | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| One in four charities that accepts donations has seen a fall in giving in the past year and one in 12 has had to make redundancies, a survey suggests. | |
| The Charity Commission poll of about 500 charities also showed one in five had experienced a rise in demand for their services. | |
| Charities providing health, care for the elderly and social services saw a 21% surge in calls for help, it said. | |
| The commission said many charities were being squeezed by the credit crunch. | |
| Increased costs | |
| The independent charity regulator said 38% of charities reported being hit by the economic downturn of the last year in some way. | The independent charity regulator said 38% of charities reported being hit by the economic downturn of the last year in some way. |
| More than half - 54% - were affected by increased costs for basics such as energy, food and travel. | More than half - 54% - were affected by increased costs for basics such as energy, food and travel. |
| Charity Commission chairman Dame Suzi Leather said charities were facing a great deal of uncertainty. | Charity Commission chairman Dame Suzi Leather said charities were facing a great deal of uncertainty. |
| "Even before last week's problems with Icelandic bank collapses, some charities were really being squeezed by higher costs and higher demands for vital services," she said. | |
| "They will wonder how they are going to survive the current crisis while trying to continue meeting people's needs." | "They will wonder how they are going to survive the current crisis while trying to continue meeting people's needs." |
| She also urged the public to carry on donating to charities during the current financial crisis. "They need our help more than ever," she said. | She also urged the public to carry on donating to charities during the current financial crisis. "They need our help more than ever," she said. |
| Repossession threat | |
| Housing and homelessness charity Shelter said it had seen an increase in demand for its services due to the problems being experienced in the current economic climate. | Housing and homelessness charity Shelter said it had seen an increase in demand for its services due to the problems being experienced in the current economic climate. |
| A spokesman said: "People are struggling with their mortgages and are facing repossessions so they are calling our helpline to ask for advice." | A spokesman said: "People are struggling with their mortgages and are facing repossessions so they are calling our helpline to ask for advice." |
| The central London branch of Samaritans said it experienced a 25% increase in calls during August and September, compared with the same months last year. | |
| Oxfam also said it had seen a recent increase in demand. | Oxfam also said it had seen a recent increase in demand. |
| The Charity Commission expressed concern that the the survey showed three-quarters of charities had not put any new measures in place to deal with the financial crisis, and had no plans to do so in future. | |