Action Against Hunger UK cut staff by 20% amid pandemic pressures

Action Against Hunger UK cut its staff by 20% last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization said in documents filed last week. The charity’s annual report and accounts for 2020 show that U.K. staffers numbered 59 at the end of the year, compared with 77 a year earlier. The organization made use of a government furlough scheme, “but despite this had to make some staff redundant and carry out a number of other significant reductions in our cost base,” the annual report said. Its revised 2020 budget included cost savings of £1.1 million ($1.5 million), or 30% of unrestricted funding, compared with the budget it had initially approved before the pandemic. Its unrestricted expenditure for 2021 is being held at the same level. “Despite the many successes we had in 2020, Action Against Hunger UK was not immune from the economic impact of Covid-19,” wrote Paul Wilson, the organization’s chair, in his introduction to the report. “The closure of hospitality and restrictions on fundraising seriously impacted our revenue in 2020 and we were forced to make incredibly difficult decisions. It was with great sadness that we had to make redundancies. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for the tremendous work contributed over the years by the staff we lost. At this time of great personal difficulty for them, they showed passion for Action Against Hunger, kindness towards us and a commitment to our cause. Thank you.” Despite the difficult environment, overall revenue rose from £46 million in 2019 to £50.8 million in 2020, with additional grants from institutional donors responsible for most of the increase.