A week ago ministers were love-bombing the voluntary sector at the launch of the civil society covenant, an agreement designed to cement the role of charities in the government’s economic growth plans and social renewal mission. At one level, it was a heady moment of optimism for a sector used to being patronised and ignored.
A few days later, news that the mental health charity Samaritans is to close about half of its 200 branches over the next few years was a reminder of the cold, hard economic reality gripping much of the sector. Samaritans is just the latest household name UK charity to take drastic action to stave off financial crisis.
