Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the report by THEOS A Torn Safety Net, published on 7 November, what steps they are taking to support charities and organisations who have experienced a decline in volunteers and donations, and an increase in costs, as a result of the increased cost of living.

We know that, as households and communities face rising prices, many charities and civil society organisations are contending with the same price increases themselves while also seeing more demand for their services.

With the support of His Majesty Government, charities and civil society organisations have shown significant resilience over the past two years, and will again be crucial in supporting people through the winter.

We are providing support to all charities, public sector organisations, and businesses with their energy costs this winter by offering an energy price guarantee for six months through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This scheme will benefit charities and civil society organisations across the country.

DCMS will keep engaging constructively with the sector and across HM Government to monitor the impact of rising costs on volunteers and donations. We will ensure that DCMS is engaged on policy which affects charities and civil society organisations.