Last year the Empowering Communities Partnership surveyed 92 voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across Norfolk. We gathered insights about the state of the sector from groups of all sizes; ranging from small community groups to large regional charities. Today we have released the findings in our “State of the Norfolk VCSE Sector” report.

Key findings in the State of the Norfolk VCSE Sector revealed that securing funding remains the primary challenge. 59% of respondents citing it as a major concern. Additionally, increasing demand for services and the recruitment/retention of volunteers emerged as significant issues.

Organisations reported varied annual incomes, with most having between £10,000 and £500,000, and a median income of £200,000. One of the top issues, which over half of the respondents highlighted, was that their financial position has worsened due to rising costs, prompting many to diversify income streams or use reserves. Capacity limitations were also noted, as well as the struggles faced by smaller organisations in particular with staffing and resources.

Looking forward, the majority of VCSEs aim to maintain or increase funding. Financial sustainability, particularly the need for long-term funding that accounts for inflation, was identified as crucial to their continued operation. Reassuringly, 90% of organisations were optimistic about their survival over the next year.

Challenges affecting the Norfolk VCSE sector extend beyond funding. Approximately one-third of respondents face internal capacity issues, with limited staff and increasing demand for services. Rising operational costs, such as venue hire and staffing, have exacerbated these difficulties. Smaller organisations, in particular, expressed concerns about their ability to meet growing community needs, often relying heavily on volunteers to maintain services. As a result, some 39% of respondents said they were focusing on volunteer recruitment.

Retaining skilled staff remains another concern, with many organisations struggling to offer job security due to short-term contracts and precarious funding arrangements. Premises and venue access was another common theme, with respondents citing the need for more control over rented buildings or just aspiring to have a base from which to operate.

Most crucially, these challenges highlight the need for more robust support mechanisms and funding models to ensure the long-term sustainability of Norfolk’s VCSE sector, which provides so much invaluable support to people across the county.

Read the full State of the Norfolk VCSE Sector report here