In response to the Chancellor's announcement on support for charities and civil society, here's a statement from me on behalf of @ncvo: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/2752-government-charity-support-ncvo-reaction

I would like to thank @RishiSunak @OliverDowden @dianabarran and their teams for working hard on this package. 1/

I hope that our statement is clear. Government has put together a package that will help many charities to deliver services at a time when demand in so many areas is increasing as a result of #coronavirus.

But the scale of the challenge facing Britain's charities is immense. 2/

It is critical that this has to be the start. Not because charities have a right to survive this crisis. Many will not, as many small businesses will not.

This is about protecting public services that charities deliver and ppl depend on. They're just not part of the state. 3/

We now need to deliver. @ncvo will work with government, @TNLComFund our partners in the infrastructure to get this support to the people and charities in the places where most needed. That has to include those already most marginalised, such as BAME communities. 4/

It is incumbent upon us to spend this money effectively, fairly and transparently. We also need to get the money moving quickly - #EveryDayCounts. Still.

My colleagues and I will do everything in our power to show @RishiSunak @OliverDowden that this was the right decision. 5/

I am conscious that people everywhere - staff, trustees, volunteers - have stepped up hugely in the last month. They are meeting unprecedented demand.

I want to thank you all. The umbrella bodies will do our best to support you to deliver through this crisis. 6/

Finally, it's never been more evident that civil society - charities, social enterprises, community groups and volunteers - is the social infrastructure of our country. Civil society will help to see us through this crisis, rebuilding and renewal.

Let's never forget that.