The big impact of small charities

Is the large desktop computer on which I’m writing, with its processing power, big screen and organised filing system better than my compact smart phone with multiple apps and the ability to reach friends and family instantly? The same question can be applied to the third sector. Big charities can influence national policy, do major research and communicate with the masses. Whereas smaller charities can be flexible and responsive, free from bureaucracy and buoyed by their knowledge of local communities. As project officer for the Community Capacity and Resilience Fund I’ve been privileged to witness just how effective small charities can be. One of my favourite examples is the Fife Arabic Society. It developed a bespoke project to train new volunteers in providing both peer support and running a job club. The effects of their work has helped more people access employment and training opportunities, particularly among ethnic minority ethnic groups affected by higher than average unemployment rates. The volunteers supported Syrian refugees who came to Fife in December 2015. The service created such an impact that some refugees volunteered to join the programme, assisting future refugees and community members alike.

The charity reports that the impact is evidenced by the “community volunteers who were furthest from the labour market but now have the necessary confidence, self-belief, language and communication skills to engage with mainstream employment support agencies.” Combining feedback from disadvantaged people in the community with knowledge of the challenges faced by individuals leaving prison, The Libertie Project developed Better Off Bags, which included essential toiletries and laundry products as well as sleeping bags where needed. The bags were intended to prevent people from reaching crisis point and to provide valuable support to a range of individuals, including ex-offenders. The organisation notes that “in the first 2 weeks we helped 49 individuals from re-offending by providing bags of non-food essentials on liberation from prison that they would otherwise not be able to afford and might have shoplifted (re-offended) to secure. The bags were made up at an average cost of £2.50 with a social return on investment of £80,000 for each ex-offender who doesn’t re-offend.” That’s a small charity making a mighty impact by addressing needs with with a simple idea. Finally, we have Hope Kitchen. They recognised that the low level of adult literacy in the local Gypsy Traveller community was preventing some people from accessing support services, which are mainly promoted through printed material and the internet. After listening to feedback, the charity devised informal meal and information sharing events for the community, with speakers from support agencies. By being culturally aware Hope Kitchen developed relationships and provided an effective service, most importantly getting welfare and food poverty advice to a traditionally hard to reach group. Hope Kitchen say the project made an impact as “many of the male members of the Gypsy Traveller community attended our events and have since gone on to engage with more services than they previously had done.” Despite the lack of resources and the budget cuts experienced by almost all of us in the third sector, small charities are still using their specific local knowledge and expertise to create targeted projects, to respond quickly and to be entrepreneurs. Plus we know that it’s often the small charities who are on the frontline, providing immediate support to individuals and families in crisis. So during this year’s Small Charity Week and beyond, let’s celebrate the little guys and the big impact they make. The final CCRF report detailing the full impact of the projects will be available soon.