Research and analysis

DCMS Coronavirus Impacts Third Sector Survey - Results

Published 11 March 2021

Summary

  • The DCMS Coronavirus Impacts Third Sector Survey ran from 9th June to 18th June 2020.

  • The survey received 1008 responses through YouGov.

  • The YouGov sample consisted of middle managers and higher in third sector organisations. The survey was carried out online.

  • Some self-selection bias may be present. Therefore, responses are illustrative and they should be treated with caution; results reflect the characteristics of those who responded and not necessarily the wider business population.

  • Results do not necessarily sum to the total. This is caused by the exclusion of certain breakdowns from these results due to a small sample size.

  • Note: “-“ Designates where a value has been removed to protect the identity of respondents.

  • Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to discuss the results in more detail.

Table 1: Organisation Size

Approximately how many people are employed by your company/employer in the country you live in?

Organisation Size Number of Responses
1 (just me) 90
2 54
3 to 5 108
6 to 9 84
10 to 19 136
20 to 34 86
35 to 49 58
50 to 99 104
100 to 249 138
250 to 499 81
500 to 999 27
1,000 or more 43
Don’t know 0
Not applicable - I am not currently employed 0
Total 1008

Table 2: Sub-sector

Which ONE of the following industry sectors does your business mainly operate in?

Sub-sectors Number of Responses
Culture and recreation 124
Education and research 165
Health 110
Social services 91
Environment 39
Development and housing 35
Law, advocacy and politics 40
Philanthropic intermediaries and voluntarism promotion 33
International 21
Religion 75
Business and professional associations, unions 39
Other 231
Don’t know 4
Total 1008

Table 3: Organisation Type

Which ONE, if any, of the following BEST describes the type of organisation you work for?

Organisation type Number of Responses
Academic Institution 35
Charitable Organisation 529
Community Interest Company (CICs) 44
Guarantee Company -
Non-Profit Organisation 301
Other 75
Don’t know -
Total 1008

Table 4: Volunteering

For the following question, please think about how many volunteers supported your organisation in the months before the Coronavirus situation (i.e. before February 2020).

How many volunteers, if any, normally support your organisation in any way (e.g. working in shops, fundraising etc.)?

Volunteers Number of Responses
0 - none 269
1 to 10 224
11 to 50 196
51 to 100 93
Over 100 185
Don’t know 41
Total 1008

Table 5: Financial Resilience

For the following questions, please think about your organisation’s financial resilience in light of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Thinking about the next three months (i.e. from now until mid-September 2020)… Do you feel that your organisation’s ability to trade as a viable entity is under threat?

Industry Breakdown Yes, I do No, I do not Don’t know Total
Soletraders 43 37 10 90
Small (excl. soles) 207 278 39 525
Medium 87 144 11 242
Large 53 90 8 151
Overall Civil Society 391 549 68 1008

Table 6: Financial Resilience ; Continue to be a viable entity

For the following question, please include any actions that you can/ have taken to help your organisation, such as taking mitigating actions and drawing on any financial reserves and credit (including Government support packages).

Approximately, how long do you estimate that your organisation can continue to be a viable entity? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Industry Breakdown Up to 1 month More than 1 month, up to 3 months More than 3 months, up to 6 months More than 6 months Don’t know Not applicable - my organisation is no longer trading Total
Soletraders - 9 16 49 14 - 90
Small (excl. soles) - 36 114 325 46 - 525
Medium - - 38 172 24 0 242
Large - - 21 108 18 0 151
Overall Civil Society - 54 190 654 102 - 1008

Table 7: Impacts on Income

The next few questions aim to explore the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on your organisation.

Thinking about the 2019 calendar year… Approximately, what proportion of your organisation’s total annual revenue came from each of the following sources?

Revenue Stream 0% (N/A) 1-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-99% 100% Total
Government grants, contracts and National Lottery funding 534 184 109 75 82 24 1008
Donations (including endowments received) 521 336 73 30 27 22 1008
Legacies 798 182 19 6 - - 1008
Gifts and sponsorship 733 251 11 - - 5 1008
Trading activity (e.g. selling goods and services) 425 253 100 65 89 76 1008
Investment income 755 226 14 - 6 - 1008
Income from charity shops and fundraising activities 725 222 39 11 5 5 1008
Income from the private sector (e.g. philanthropy or partnerships) 688 240 53 13 7 8 1008
Membership fees 734 142 46 29 35 22 1008

Table 8: Impacts on Income; Change in revenue

For the following questions, please now think about the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on your organisation’s income sources.

Please think about your organisation’s expected monthly revenue for this time of the year compared to its actual revenue over the last month (i.e. since mid-May 2020).

Approximately, by how much has your organisation’s revenue decreased, increased or remained the same compared to what was expected over the last month? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Change in revenue Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Decreased by 100% or more 15 32 5 6 57    
Decreased by 75% - 99% 11 46 20 12 89    
Decreased by 50% - 74% 11 56 36 22 126    
Decreased by 25% - 49% 11 87 36 29 163    
Decreased by 1% - 24% 7 92 61 24 184    
Remained the same 23 106 35 22 187    
Increased by 1% - 24% - 32 9 4 -    
Increased by 25% - 49% - 9 - - 12    
Increased by 50% - 74% - 7 - 0 9    
Increased by 75% - 99% 0 - 0 0 -    
Increased by 100% or more 0 - 0 - 4    
Don’t know 9 54 37 29 129    

Table 9: Impacts on Income; Contributing factors

You mentioned that your organisation’s revenue has decreased compared to its expected monthly revenue for this time of the year.

Which, if any, of the following have contributed to this? (Please select all that apply)

Factors Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Reduction in donations (including legacies and endowments received) 8 101 47 31 187
Reduction in government grants - - 16 6 56
Reduction in National Lottery funding - 9 6 - 18
Reduction in gifts and sponsorship - 41 - 22 91
Reduction in orders or cancellation of contracts (i.e. organisations or consumers we supply have cancelled orders) 15 54 40 13 122
Reduction in trading activity (e.g. selling goods and services) 33 179 101 63 375
Reduction in investment income - 24 23 - 61
Reduction in income from charitable activities 10 98 69 37 214
Reduction in income from the private sector (e.g. philanthropy or partnerships) 9 63 32 16 119
Reduction in membership fees 11 41 30 15 97
Other 5 25 11 7 48
Don’t know - - - - 7

Table 10: Impacts on service delivery

The next few questions aim to explore the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on the demand for your organisation’s services and the supply of volunteers.

Please now think about the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on the demand for your organisation’s services…

Please think about your organisation’s expected monthly demand for its services this time of the year compared to the actual demand experienced over the last month (i.e. since mid-May 2020).

Approximately, by how much has demand for your organisation’s services decreased, increased or remained the same compared to what was expected over the last month? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Change In Demand For Services Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Decreased by 100% or more 16 42 10 7 76
Decreased by 75% - 99% 8 42 9 15 74
Decreased by 50% - 74% 8 43 12 7 70
Decreased by 25% - 49% 4 33 20 8 65
Decreased by 1% - 24% 9 48 31 12 99
Remained the same 24 105 55 37 221
Increased by 1% - 24% 4 64 38 19 126
Increased by 25% - 49% - 51 25 - 95
Increased by 50% - 74% 5 27 6 6 44
Increased by 75% - 99% - 4 4 - 11
Increased by 100% or more - 24 6 - 31
Don’t know 7 40 27 24 97

Table 11: Impacts on service delivery; Capacity to deliver services

Please now think about the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on your organisation’s capacity to deliver services over the last month (i.e. since mid-May 2020)…

To what extent, if at all, does your organisation have the capacity to deliver services to meet current levels of demand?

Capacity to deliver services Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
We are entirely able to meet current demands 34 128 59 52 273
We are mostly able to meet current demands 36 252 136 65 489
We are mostly unable to meet current demands 10 83 22 21 135
We are entirely unable to meet current demands - 48 14 - 74
Don’t know - 14 10 - 37

Table 12: Impacts on service delivery; Delivery constraints

You previously mentioned that your organisation does not have the capacity to entirely meet current levels of demand.

Which, if any, of the following have contributed to this? (Please select all that apply)

Delivery constraints Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Lack of income 23 100 58 23 205
Lack of volunteers 11 78 25 16 130
Unable to access goods - 22 6 - 35
Unable to access services 15 50 20 13 98
Unable to access expertise - 20 - - 28
Operations have closed down in accordance with social distancing guidelines (e.g. restrictions on gatherings/ live events, non-essential shop closures etc.) 29 269 120 65 483
Reduced productivity due to employees working from home 5 78 48 14 146
Reduced connectivity due to employees working from home 8 90 37 19 154
Employee sickness - 24 19 - 57
Employees requiring leave due to childcare - 61 39 - 119
Employees being unable to travel internationally 8 29 20 12 69
Other 8 65 16 13 101
Don’t know 0 10 - - 15

Table 13: Impacts on service delivery; Organisational needs

Other than financial support… Which, if any, of the following needs for your organisation have you been unable to meet using your existing support mechanisms during the COVID-19 outbreak?

(Please select all that apply. If your organisation has been able to meet all of your non-financial needs during the COVID-19 outbreak, please select the “Not applicable” option)

Organisational needs Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Accommodation 5 11 7 6 30
Cleaning products - 27 - 10 51
Clothing or toiletries - 7 6 - 14
Food - 7 8 - 18
Logistics 4 40 13 12 69
Organisational support 7 38 17 9 70
Stationery - 8 4 - 15
Technology (communications) - 27 10 - 44
Technology (digital) - 41 18 - 70
Technology (physical) - 26 14 - 47
Personal protective equipment - 48 26 - 92
Office space - 74 39 - 127
General volunteers (in person) 10 106 41 27 184
General volunteers (remote) - 40 - 12 67
Professional skills volunteers (in person) 7 71 22 18 117
Professional skills volunteers (remote) 0 32 9 7 47
Other equipment - 18 5 - 27
Other 7 21 6 6 39
Don’t know 7 39 30 24 100
Not applicable - my organisation has been able to meet all of our non-financial needs during the COVID-19 outbreak 52 222 104 63 440

Table 14: Impacts on service delivery; Working from home

Please now think about your organisation’s capacity to deliver its services remotely through working from home.

Approximately, what proportion of your organisation’s services can be delivered remotely?

Working from home 0% - i.e. none of our services can be delivered remotely 1% - 24% 25% - 49% 50% - 74% 75% - 100% Don’t know Total
Soletraders 10 14 12 17 32 5 90
Small (excl. soles) 68 97 83 121 144 12 525
Medium 18 49 26 66 73 10 242
Large 11 35 22 42 36 6 151
Overall Civil Society 107 195 142 246 286 33 1008

Table 15: Impacts on costs

Please now think about the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on your organisation’s costs.

For the following question, please think about your organisation’s expected monthly costs for this time of the year compared to its actual costs over the last month (i.e. since mid-May 2020).

In this estimation, please include any reduction in costs as a result of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment scheme, even if you are yet to receive these payments.

Approximately, by how much has your organisation’s costs decreased, increased or remained the same compared to what was expected over the last month? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Change In cost Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Decreased by 100% or more - - 0 0 -
Decreased by 75% - 99% 4 21 - - 29
Decreased by 50% - 74% 8 37 14 12 70
Decreased by 25% - 49% 10 62 36 16 124
Decreased by 1% - 24% 12 117 55 26 210
Remained the same 40 147 40 28 254
Increased by 1% - 24% - 50 26 - 87
Increased by 25% - 49% - 9 5 - 17
Increased by 50% - 74% 0 4 4 0 8
Increased by 75% - 99% 0 0 0 0 0
Increased by 100% or more 0 - - 0 -
Don’t know 12 73 59 56 200

Table 16: Impacts on costs; Fixed costs

For the following question, by “fixed costs”, we mean any operating costs that you would describe as fixed - i.e. meaning that these costs cannot be reduced easily.

This includes anything that will not normally vary in a 12 month period - e.g. rent, business rates, interest rate payments etc.

Please do not include staff costs as a fixed cost in this calculation.

Approximately, what proportion of your business’ operating costs would you describe as fixed costs? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Fixed Cost 0% - i.e. we have no fixed costs 1% - 24% 25% - 49% 50% - 74% 75% - 100% Don’t know Total
Soletraders 17 25 16 12 10 10 90
Small (excl. soles) 10 171 88 101 67 88 525
Medium - 57 38 40 - 76 242
Large - 25 20 24 - 63 151
Overall Civil Society 29 278 162 177 125 236 1008

Table 17: Mitigating Actions

The next few questions aim to explore the adjustments your organisation has made in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Which, if any, of the following types of mitigating actions is your organisation currently taking in order to maintain revenue or reduce costs in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak?

(Please select all that apply. If your business is not currently taking any mitigating actions, please select the “Not applicable” option)

Types of mitigating actions Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Changing services to assist with response to the Coronavirus outbreak 20 194 108 63 385
Accessing government support packages (including Coronavirus Job Retention scheme allowing organisations to furlough employees, granting temporary absences) 11 219 126 78 434
Seeking advice or other support from the private sector 8 38 18 6 69
Making insurance claims 0 11 19 10 40
Temporarily reducing services (e.g. reducing opening hours, reducing staff hours, etc.) 20 193 91 60 363
Temporarily halting service/ production 23 152 64 42 281
Terminating temporary employee contracts/ reducing zero-hours contracts (i.e. by reducing their hours to 0) - 50 29 - 107
Furloughing employees (granting temporary absence) 4 241 153 92 490
Making employees redundant 0 35 22 30 87
Employees working from home where possible 24 360 185 116 685
Adjusting working practices to follow social distancing guidelines 26 261 144 92 522
Accessing commercial loans 0 15 9 6 30
Adjusting supply chains / renegotiating contracts 5 58 41 28 131
Delaying payments to creditors - 26 10 - 49
Other - 30 6 - 40
Don’t know - 14 16 - 44
Not applicable - my business is not currently taking any mitigating actions to maintain revenue or reduce costs 26 52 8 7 93

Table 18: Mitigating Actions; Funding

Has your organisation applied for or accessed any new sources of funding in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak?

This could be funding from government grants, the National Lottery Community Fund, National Emergencies Trust, BBC Big Night In, or other sources.

Funding Yes, it has No, my organisation has not applied for or accessed any new funding sources Don’t know Total
Soletraders 13 72 5 90
Small (excl. soles) 198 269 58 525
Medium 66 113 63 242
Large 19 66 67 151
Overall Civil Society 295 520 193 1008

Table 19: Paid Employees Working From Home

Approximately, what proportion of your organisation’s paid employees are currently working from home?

(Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Paid Employee Working From Home 0% - i.e. no one is working from home 1% - 24% 25% - 49% 50% - 74% 75% - 100% Don’t know Total
Soletraders - 5 - - 61 - 90
Small (excl. soles) 48 60 34 43 331 9 525
Medium 6 42 21 20 143 10 242
Large - 18 - - 84 - 151
Overall Civil Society 74 125 71 82 619 37 1008

Table 20: Furloughed

You previously mentioned that your organisation has furloughed employees (granted temporary absence) and/ or accessed government support packages, which may include the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme that allows organisations to furlough employees.

Approximately, what proportion of your organisation’ employees have been furloughed (i.e. granted temporary absence as part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme)? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Furloughed 0% - i.e. no one has been furloughed 1% - 24% 25% - 49% 50% - 74% 75% - 100% Don’t know Total
Soletraders 8 - - 0 - - 14
Small (excl. soles) 17 83 52 70 - - 276
Medium 0 74 33 24 20 8 160
Large 0 - - 13 16 13 102
Overall Civil Society 25 196 107 107 92 25 552

Table 21: Redundancies

You previously mentioned that your organisation has made employees redundant.

Thinking about the total number of employees you had just before the Coronavirus outbreak (i.e. late February 2020)…

Approximately, what proportion of your organisation’s employees have been made redundant? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Redundancies 1% - 24% 25% - 49% 50% - 74% 75% - 100% Don’t know Total
Soletraders 0 0 0 0 0 0
Small (excl. soles) 23 7 - 0 - 35
Medium 16 - - 0 - 22
Large 19 - - 0 8 30
Overall Civil Society 58 13 5 0 12 87

Table 22: Terminating temporary employees/ zero hours contracts

You previously mentioned that your organisation has terminated temporary employee contracts/ reduced zero-hour contracts (i.e. by reducing their hours to 0).

Approximately, what proportion of your organisation’s temporary workers and workers on zero hours contracts have seen their employment terminated or hours reduced to 0? (Please select the option that best applies. If you are unsure, please give your best estimate)

Terminating temporary employees/ zero hours contracts 1% - 24% 25% - 49% 50% - 74% 75% - 100% Don’t know Total
Soletraders - 0 0 0 0 -
Small (excl. soles) 23 4 5 12 5 50
Medium 19 - - - 5 29
Large - - - - 7 -
Overall Civil Society 52 8 8 21 17 107

Table 23: SME

The following question shows support packages that have been announced by the Government that SMEs can apply for.

Which ONE, if any, of the following BEST describes how your organisation has engaged with each of the following support packages?

(Please select one option on each row. If your organisation is not eligible for any of these types of support, please select the “Not applicable” option)

SME Support Packages Received this support Application in process Have not applied, but are considering it Have not applied, and not considering it Don’t know Not applicable - not eligible Total
Statutory Sick Pay relief package for small and medium sized organisations (SMEs) 32 27 71 269 308 301 1008
Small organisation grant funding of £10,000 for all organisations in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief and tapered relief 91 26 36 175 250 430 1008
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank 11 6 35 335 258 363 1008
Bounce Back Loans scheme, which will provide loans of between £2,000 and £50,000, interest free for the first 12 months, with access to cash within days 18 13 36 354 260 327 1008

Table 24: Self Employeed

The following question shows support packages that have been announced by the Government which the self-employed can apply for.

If you/ your organisation is not eligible for any of these types of support (e.g. because you are not self-employed), please select the “Not applicable” option.

Which ONE, if any, of the following BEST describes how you/ your organisation has engaged with each of the following support packages? (Please select one option on each row)

Self Employeed Support Packages Received this support Application in process Have not applied, but are considering it Have not applied, and not considering it Don’t know Not applicable - not eligible Total
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme - which will provide grants worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month, to those who have profits of less than £50,000 47 - - 121 152 671 1008
Increased amounts of Universal Credit for self-employed 6 - - 128 167 691 1008

Table 25: Wider Government Support Packages

The following question shows other support packages that have been announced by the Government which organisations can apply for.

Which ONE, if any, of the following BEST describes how your organisation has engaged with each of the following support packages?

(Please select one option on each row. If your organisation is not eligible for any of these types of support, please select the “Not applicable” option)

Wider Government Support Packages Received this support Application in process Have not applied, but are considering it Have not applied, and not considering it Don’t know Not applicable - not eligible Total
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (all UK employers with a PAYE scheme that was created and started on or before 28 February 2020, will be able to access support) 332 42 21 162 222 228 1008
Deferring VAT and Income Tax payments 45 18 49 191 364 341 1008
12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery organisations in England 39 22 18 96 256 577 1008
Grant funding of £10,000 or £25,000 per property for retail, hospitality and leisure organisations with property with a rateable value less than £51,000 52 16 16 98 240 586 1008
The HMRC Time To Pay Scheme, where organisations and self-employed people in financial distress, and those with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs 5 5 41 211 339 407 1008
The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme enabling banks to loan up to £25 million to firms with an annual turnover of between £45 million and £500 million - - 11 144 262 585 1008
The Coronavirus Corporate Financing Facility, a new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans - - 13 194 296 500 1008
Other support package 27 23 17 120 492 330 1008

Table 26: Support Package Effectiveness for organisations to remain financially viable over the next 3 months

You mentioned that you have received support or applied for at least one of the types of supports mentioned in the previous questions.

Considering all of the Government support packages you have applied for, and their combined impact on your organisation…

How effective or ineffective do you think the available packages will be in supporting your organisation to remain financially viable over the next 3 months (i.e. from now until mid-September 2020)?

Overall Effectiveness Very effective Somewhat effective Neither effective or ineffective Somewhat ineffective Very ineffective Don’t know Total
Civil Society 107 269 61 31 12 28 508

Table 27: Additional Support

Which, if any, of the following types of support has your organisation considered seeking or obtained from businesses?

(Please select all that apply. If your organisation has not sought or considering seeking support from businesses, please select the “Not applicable” option)

Additional Support Soletraders Small (excl. soles) Medium Large Total
Charitable donations 16 183 89 36 324
Pro-bono professional services (e.g. financial, legal, human resources) 13 95 39 11 157
Logistics support 3 25 9 4 42
Digital training 12 53 24 9 98
Volunteers 13 101 42 17 173
Equipment - 58 27 - 97
Access to credit - 5 7 - 15
Other - 9 - - 13
Don’t know - 38 - 51 139
Not applicable - my organisation has not sought or considered seeking support from businesses 54 247 82 52 435