There is a perfect storm facing the charity sector. Rising running costs combined with falling donations, wage pressures, and stretched resources after two years in a global pandemic, means that many charities are worried about how they will meet rising service demand.

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is sector wide. But charities that provide vital services – such as food banks, support for carers, mental health services, financial aid, and families facing homelessness – are being hit harder than ever.

UK Fundraising reports, for example, that 9 out of 10 food bank charities fear they can’t meet rise in demand. Charity Times reports that some charities are now referring their own staff to food banks as well as beneficiaries. And the Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that 100,000 people will be pulled deeper into poverty amid rising inflation.

Times, for everyone, are tough. But charities tend to be resilient. In this article, we offer advice on how charities can meet rising service demand during the cost-of-living crisis.