As one of many Social Care Charities, the Fircroft Trust is dedicated to supporting vulnerable people in their local communities. We are reaching out to other Charities and not for profit/NGO's in social care and other sectors, to support this cause, which is to ask the Government/Chancellor to make these types of organisations exempt from the upcoming planned rises in employer National Insurance Contributions. 

The recent announcement in the Chancellors budget has left us, and many of our counterparts, very deeply concerned. Our charity, like many others and not for profit/NGO's, operate on very small margins already, as well as partially or fully subsidising our existing services - all so that we can ensure essential services for people are available for those who most need them.

As well as commissioned contracts operating at very small margins, or deficits, we already rely on donations, fundraising, and grants - to help us remain solvent and sustainable year on year. Many Charities and not for profit/NGO's will be in a similar position where the increases to Employer National Insurance Contributions are at risk of making these types of organisations untenable to continue due to the increased cost impact. 

The implications of this rise will likely have a domino effect. Thinking wider across the UK, an increase in operational costs for Charities and not for profit/NGO's inevitably implies less ability to serve those in the most need, it will impact valued social welfare projects, and the outcome will be a shrunken and depleted capacity to support and maintain team members who work in these vital public service organisations, who are already stretched with the work that they do, and operating under increasingly tight financial conditions. 

According to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), UK charities already face a funding gap of about £6.3bn due to various financial pressures. This new rise will indeed give way to a fresh crisis straining our resources and capacity to provide valuable services.

Exempting charities and non-profit organisations will likely have less of an impact on the wider National Insurance Contributions framework considering the small proportional size of the sector, however, the difference it will make for us and the communities we serve, the vulnerable millions who rely on us, will be immense and be the difference for thousands of Charities and not for profit/NGO's between remaining operational, or going out of business, directly impacting the wellbeing of people across the UK who depend on our organisations, and also impacting the dedicated workforces who work within them. 

Charities like The Fircroft Trust, and counterpart organisations like not for profit/NGO's, provide services because we want to support others to improve their lives through the work we do.

By standing together in these testing times to secure the future of our Charities and not for profit/NGO's, or supporting them as a member of the public, would make such a difference to the lives of so many, simply by giving a exemption to organisations with such non profit making/charitable status.

It is essential that the government recognises the financial constraints faced by charities and not-for-profit organisations and exempts them from the new rises in employers' national insurance contributions to maintain vital services for the public, and reduce the already high financial burden which comes from operating charitable budgets with very little, if any, margins.

Your signature can help make this a reality. Please sign and share this petition today and lend a voice to charities and not for profit/NGO's impacted by these proposed employer NIC increases.