Civil society organisations in the UK play an increasingly critical role in tackling health and social inequalities in our society. They often act as a force for change and innovation and alongside effective advocacy, this third sector aims to improve the quality of life for many.

Team Wigan and Leigh, established in 2024 aims to do precisely this. It’s a collaborative group of private, public and third sector organisations that exists to raise money for charitable and social causes and to ensure that any donations have the greatest impact where it is most needed. Now in its second year of fundraising efforts, it’s making a difference - not least in the way people in the borough generously give of their time and money. In its first year, it raised £202,762.37.

As Joe Carby, CEO of Wigan and Leigh Hospice said at the recent launch of this year’s Charitable Challenge and Events calendar: “None of what we do at the hospice would be possible without the support of our local community and it strengthens our commitment to those who need us most.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Keely Dalfen, CEO of The Brick, a charity that provides support and services to people in crisis, financial hardship or homelessness. She said that through the generosity of others they are able to provide the wrap around support that gives their service users “a sense of belonging”.

For Greenmount Projects supporting the communities in which we operate is in our DNA. We

are not alone in such endeavours, of course, and many businesses across Wigan and Leigh are the same. The Federation of Small Businesses’ research suggests that 80% of its members contribute to local community organisations or charitable causes, not just with funding but also through the donation of time, skills, resources and mentoring. Small businesses lie at the heart of communities and are needed even more when times are hard.

And most businesses provide much to the communities they operate in by giving people jobs and further opportunity, while their activity boosts economic growth. Many also commit to delivering social value beyond the intrinsic socio-economic impacts of day-to-day business, which clearly helps to improve places and communities and contributes to the creation of prosperity.

Challenging times

Prosperity though appears to be in peril. The cost of living crisis has come about over the last few years through a combination of factors. Now according to experts, the government’s welfare overhaul could reduce income and support for many vulnerable people. Whatever the causes, the result has been that for many life has become more challenging. For those who were already struggling it’s become immeasurably worse.

It has also had an impact on those charitable, community and voluntary organisations which are supporting families in acute poverty and ill health while also battling with high inflation and rising energy costs.

According to the most recent research (2023) by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), demand is up significantly across the sector, while charity leaders say there is less money to go around amid increased competition for funding, with nearly a third reducing their workforce. In terms of corporate giving, CAF reports that donations in 2023, adjusted for inflation, declined by 8.3% and that 75% of UK businesses had not supported charities in that year.

Being part of civil society is about how we look after each other and how we respect others. It’s incumbent on us all to use our expertise and collective financial clout to make that difference. It’s why Team Wigan and Leigh came to be.

Strategic partnerships between charity, business and public sectors are collaborative and inclusive. They help to spot problems and opportunities. They create innovation. They can often engender long-term relationships. And they are key to driving the social change we want to see and that we so urgently need.

We have a duty to act. We need to play to our multiple combined strengths to help those who help others and in so doing rise to these challenges. If we do that, we will all reap the benefits.