NO TIME TO REST

‘NO TIME TO REST IN SUPPORT OF THE YOUNG’

Life just got tougher but together we can still help those in need

WITH even a “new

normal” still seemingly far over the horizon and further local lockdowns likely, 2020 will go down as an incredibly challenging year for charities.

The coronavirus pandemic has created something of a perfect storm for those reliant on fundraising; forcing the cancellation of usually relied upon events and generating widespread economic unease that has made households cautious about any nonessential expenditure.

Even before the threat of a “second spike”, 77 per cent of small charities surveyed by the Institute of Fundraising in June reported that COVID-19 had affected their finances.

While this is a worrying statistic in itself, it is even more so given 72 per cent of those organisations also reported an increased demand for their services.

Wooden Spoon’s story is therefore a sadly familiar one. As a charity which usually boasts a comprehensive calendar of fundraising events, net income has been hit hard and is expected to be dramatically less than in previous years.

In turn, the vulnerable children and young people who rely on the children’s charity of rugby will not receive the same level of support. From the 1 January to 30 September, 39 projects had been approved compared with the 62 in the same timeframe in 2019.

The need for the transformative work of Wooden Spoon has far from diminished though. COVID-19 has caused havoc with the provision of services for children with disabilities in the UK and Ireland.

In England alone, fewer than 10 per cent of the 390,000 young people with complex disabilities and special needs received their usual care during lockdown and this figure fell to as low as 0.04 per cent.

In March, a survey of 4,000 families conducted by the Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP), a coalition of charities, found that for 76 per cent care and support had stopped completely.

Around 80 per cent of respondents said the mental health of their child – and their

“COVID-19 has caused havoc with the provision of services for children with disabilities in the UK and Ireland”

own – had deteriorated as a result, while half said their physical health had suffered.

The strain being put on these households is significant. Parents have had to juggle concerns for the wellbeing and behaviour of their socially-isolated children with managing home schooling and worries over household income.

Adding to the bleak picture is the news, as reported by the Children’s Society, that one in seven councils have closed the emergency funds usually available to help in the event of a crisis – a decision that leaves the vulnerable at risk.

A withdrawal of support can set in a motion a hard to reverse cycle of decline. Children exposed to disadvantage are more likely to suffer from poor physical and mental health, underachieve at school and face employment difficulties in later life.

These young people need our help more than ever, which is why Wooden Spoon is more grateful than ever for your support. Thank you for standing by us throughout the coronavirus crisis.

A NEW TEST OF OUR TEAMWORK

THE children’s charity of rugby has issued a rallying call to the sport’s community to bring extra muscle to efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable children across the UK and Ireland.

Sarah Webb, chief executive of Wooden Spoon, is championing further collaboration between rugby’s principal charities as they tackle the challenges presented by the coronavirus crisis and try to build brighter futures for young people facing disadvantage.

“As a charity we have always taken great pride in our sporting heritage and owe our core values of passion, integrity, teamwork and fun to our roots,” Sarah explained. “From our trustees to our fundraisers, teamwork has played a huge part in the charity’s success and there is no reason why we shouldn’t further follow rugby’s lead in this regard.

“On the pitch, opposing teams can show each other no quarter and yet – as soon as the final whistle blows – there is a shared respect.

“The same is true for the game’s supporters, who can be fiercely partisan one minute and toasting their opposite numbers the next.

“Off the pitch, rugby’s charities have never been rivals and more often than not share the same goals, but historically we may not have been the best teammates that we can be.”

Wooden Spoon’s chief executive said a greater demand for charities’ collective services demands a greater degree of cooperation.

“If there is a positive of COVID-19, it is that it has given us time to stop, think and really interrogate how best to serve those who need our support,” she told Spoonews. “Collaboration between charities is nothing new but, by considering respective strengths and weaknesses, it may be possible to deliver more effectively and efficiently for the benefit of children and young people.

“There may be more we can do to share best practice and to ensure that any gaps in provision are identified and resourced.”

For Wooden Spoon, such collaboration is nothing new.

The children’s charity of rugby has, for example, been a staunch supporter of the HITZ programme and previously partnered with the School of Hard Knocks to tackle unemployment, crime and poor health. And, as highlighted by the fledgling relationship with RugbyWorks (pages 14-15), Wooden Spoon has many old friends to call upon.

“The focus for everyone is helping children so if we can assist each other to play better then that has to be a sensible tactic to pursue,” concluded Sarah. “If a bigger squad means more lives changed then it’s got to be a good idea to talk.”

“If there is a positive of COVID-19, it is that it has given us time to stop, think and really interrogate how best to serve those who need our support.”