Disaster looming for local charities

GEELONG community groups and charities are under significant threat of closing, with growing fears some may not survive the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Give Where You Live CEO Bill Mithen said he doubted some local community organisations that helped the city’s most vulnerable residents would remain viable due to COVID-19.

“These groups are the soul of the Geelong community. The fact they may no longer be around will create a great loss,” he said.

Seventy per cent of Australia’s sporting clubs, arts and cultural organisations, community groups, welfare and youth services described themselves as “threatened” by COVID-19, a recent national survey revealed.

The $146 billion sector is fighting for cash, volunteers and, in many cases, survival, according to the COVID-19 Community Sector Impact Survey by social enterprise Our Community.

Mr Mithen said the pandemic had been a “challenge” for Give Where You Live — causing it to dip into reserves to issue emergency grants while having to cancel major fundraising events.

He said Geelong groups running on “shoestring” budgets faced a “difficult road” ahead after experiencing a drastic decline in financial donations.

Fundraising is set to drop by 20-30 per cent in the next nine months due to the COVID-19 crisis, according to the Fundraising Institute Australia.

Mr Mithen said “a lot of groups are very worried” about a likely huge spike in demand for services after September when stimulus program JobKeeper ends and JobSeeker payments halve.

“There’s a potential for this perfect storm to arrive for the community sector,” he said.

“There will be a lot of people looking for support and help. The level of demand will increase, while the supply of support will be decreased.

“It’s going to be really problematic.

“A huge amount of organisations won’t be able to cope.”

The Federal Government recently announced it would provide a funding injection of $129,350 for 75 community groups and organisations across the Corangamite and Corio electorates.

Mr Mithen said while any support was welcomed, grants of $1000-$5000 wouldn’t go far.

“I can’t imagine if an organisation was under threat of closure, that a couple thousand dollars would make the difference,” he said.