Cost-of-Living and Cost Pressures

Forum Central is supporting our members to ensure the third sector remains strong through the current financial pressures.

Third sector infrastructure in Leeds is well-established but must be supported to rise to the challenges being faced at this very difficult time.

To support local people and communities get through the cost-of-living crisis services provided by Third Sector organisations are vital. Forum Central is working to provide evidence of challenges facing the third sector workforce, producing recommendations to support third sector organisations and working with system  partners to influence at the highest level. The whole health and care system facing financial pressures and the voice of the third sector must be heard.

Read the latest Cost Pressures Survey Summary 2022 – 2024

This report collates the results of the six surveys (available in two formats to aid accessibility)

Cost Pressures Survey

This survey is aimed at third sector organisations working in health and social care sector. It gathers evidence about the impact of cost pressures and potential risks to staff, services, and organisation viability. This helps Forum Central to understand:

• The current situation
• The support third sector organisations need
• How we work with system partners to provide better collective solutions

Forum Central has been running it since September 2022. This enables us to share an ongoing picture of what’s happening and how the impact of the Cost-of-Living crisis is affecting third sector health and care organisations.

Survey Results

The results of the survey have highlighted serious concerns shared across the sector about workforce retention and rising costs. Multiple factors present risks to the health and wellbeing of the third sector workforce, such as low pay and staff dealing with the impact of cost-of-living crisis individually and the stress of work pressure from increasing demand on services. This evidence led Forum Central to establish the Third Sector HR Network.

The results from each survey are below. These were published after each survey was conducted. (Google docs published for web).

• Forum Central and VAL | Signposting to Support for the Third Sector
• Leeds City Council | Together Leeds – Helping with the cost of living page
• Leeds Community Foundation | Supporting communities through the cost of living crisis page
• West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership | Working with our VCSE sector partners Harnessing the Power of Communities Programme
• MindWell | The Mental health website for people in Leeds – Cost of living crisis section on MindWell
• Third Sector Leeds | Cost of Living Position Statement September 2022