Equalities

Overview

In 2020, small charities were most likely to be ‘fully representative’ of the people their charities serve.
Small charities were most likely to report that they have directly involved service users in the design of services in the past three years, at over three quarters (77%) of small charities.
In 2020, over half (58%) of small charities had a service user on their board of trustees, the highest proportion compared to large or major charities (47% and 49% respectively).

In 2020, small charities were most likely to be fully representative of the people their organisations serve.

Small charities were least likely to have no representation on their boards from people under 30 or from the LGBT community (82% and 85% respectively).
Under half of small charities had some representation on their boards from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic communities, people with a disability and people from religious communities.
Women make up over half of small charities’ boards in the majority (55%) of small charities.

In 2020, over half (58%) of small charities had a service user on their board of trustees, the highest proportion compared to large or major charities (47% and 49% respectively).
This is a 15% increase from 2017, meaning that small charities also made the greatest increase compared to large or major charities (1% and 5% respectively).

In 2020, at least a half of small charities used various approaches to engage their services users in shaping their organisations’ activities.
They were most likely to report that they have directly involved service users in the design of services in the past 3 years, at over three quarters (77%) of small charities.
Between 2017 and 2020, the proportion of small charities using these approaches within the last three years has grown.

In 2020, 36% of small charities in London work with minority ethnic communities, followed by 11% of small charities in the North West.
The lowest proportion of small charities working with minority ethnic communities is in the North East at 3%.

insights

Explore data about what activities small charities do and where they work

insights

How has COVID-19 affected the needs and services of small charities? What challenges has COVID-19 posed?