A HARD-hitting report has revealed the devastating extent to which the coronavirus crisis is affecting voluntary and community organisations in the district.

More than half of those which responded to a survey carried out by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership said that unless something changed, they didn’t expect to be “financially sustainable” beyond the end of this year.

Over 300 organisations from the voluntary and community sector (VCS), together employing in excess of 7,000 staff and thousands more volunteers, took part in the research.

They are from across the partnership’s area, which includes Bradford district and Craven.

In addition to the financial pressures they are facing, many also cited a lack of digital capacity as a barrier to their work – meaning they struggle to support some of the most at-risk communities which become isolated when services go online.

Positives highlighted in the report – Third Sector Resilience: Before and during Covid-19 – include the speed and flexibility of service commissioning and delivery between health bodies, local authorities and the VCS, so services working closely together can respond quickly.

Rob Webster, chief executive officer lead for the partnership, said support was being provided to the sector but that more needed to be done.

“Our voluntary community partners and charities are playing a crucial role in supporting those who are most in need – building on the strength and relationships they already have with local communities and neighbourhoods,” he said.

“We need to do all we can to support them and to address the future of the sector.

“Targeted funds, new support via webinars to share learning and good practice and working together have helped so far. But more needs to be done and we are exploring this further at our latest webinar.”

Backing provided so far during the pandemic has included the provision of funding to help organisations tackle the impact of the crisis on people’s health. From over 80 applications, 13 groups will receive cash aid – with further support being identified by the partnership to help those unsuccessful in the round of funding. And the partnership is continuing to work with the National Lottery in a bid to help ensure that nationally-allocated funds reach as many frontline organisations as possible.

A number of recommendations are made in the report, including that there should be long-term joined-up investment in the VCS and volunteering and in training. The report can be read in full at bit.ly/2ByzDhF.