CAF comments on the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021

28 October 2021

“Levelling up is about empowering communities, and no group is more embedded in local communities than the charitable organisations working on the ground. As well as offering employment and growth opportunities for the area, charities act as a precious voice for groups that are too often excluded from existing structures. Giving charities a seat at the table for localised decision making will be crucial if levelling up is to truly ensure that no one is left behind.

“We share the Government’s commitment to supporting areas that have not sufficiently benefited from the UK’s prosperity and today’s Budget contains several positive steps.  In particular, the commitment to support health research and development is good news, given the immense financial pressures on charities in the sector currently, as well as the announcement of the first projects from the Levelling Up Fund.  

“However, levelling up must address more than just economic imbalances, and whilst the focus on local infrastructure is understandable, social infrastructure is important for a successful recovery. We urge the Government to collaborate to give charities a greater voice, which will be key to addressing the health and social inequalities seen across the country.”

“The Chancellor’s pledge to return to the 0.7% foreign aid spending commitment by the end of this Parliament will not alleviate the drastic shortfalls facing charities working across the world today and we continue to encourage the Government to work with development charities to minimise the effect of the cuts in the interim period.”