Update on Sutton’s ‘State of the Sector’ review

We are pleased to share that the review jointly commissioned by Community Action Sutton and Volunteer Centre Sutton is in final draft, and we are now working towards publication and a launch event. (Please SAVE THE DATE of 30 April for a special ‘unconference’, bringing together colleagues from across Sutton to hear about the report outcomes, discuss key issues and opportunities, and start planning for action).

The report was independently researched and written based on 36 interviews, 54 Survey responses, and 17 participants who joined in person and online discussion events - 15% of all charities, community and faith groups in the Borough of Sutton participated in some way, and data was also gathered about all of the organisations based and/or operating in the Borough through extensive desk research. We were really pleased to hear from diverse range of participants who broadly reflect the overall charity, faith and community ecosystem in Sutton was recruited to take part, offering rich perspectives on key issues, opportunities, and the potential of Sutton’s charity, community, and faith ecosystem. We are grateful to those who contributed directly and to those who championed the project within their networks.

This project is the first of its kind in Sutton for almost 10 years and goes beyond a standard review of the sector as it includes the views and voices of the community, faith and charity groups, and system partners and national perspectives, alongside comprehensive data research. We’ve learnt a lot, including:

• There are 558 charity, community and faith groups based or operating in the London Borough of Sutton-  significantly fewer than the 800 previously logged, as some have become inactive, or have closed or merged.
• The total known income of Sutton’s Charity, Faith and Community ecosystem is over £111,000,000, (that’s not a typo!) contributing significantly to the local economy (including as a major employer) and providing a wide range of free and low-cost services, support, social, sport and cultural activities for local people.
• Worryingly, 21%  of participants in our research expect their financial position to get worse in 2025. Given the national trend of rising pressure on services, this is a major concern and indicates how vital it is to work together in response to the nationally felt challenges with income generation most organisations are affected by.
• More hopefully, 53% said that they are currently engaged in some form of local network, and the majority supported the idea of creating forums for organisations doing similar work, and for peer support for leaders and people in specialised roles. There was also strong support for developing a formal structure in Sutton to enable better collaboration and honest conversations between charity, community and faith groups, the Council, and the NHS, with strong advocacy and challenge where needed, to enable everyone to keep progressing from talking about issues to solving them.

“the people I come across seem committed yet pretty much all working in very under resourced circumstances”

“Sutton wouldn’t be Sutton without such a vibrant sector.” 

The full report is 40 pages long, with a lot of detail about the shape, size, and nature of the charity, community and faith ecosystem in Sutton, the challenges we face and the opportunities and recommendations identified through this research. We hope it will support your planning, fundraising, and enable better conversations and connections so we can all do more for the communities and causes we service.  We’ll share further updates in the coming months, leading up to the launch date of 30 April (remember to save the date!).

Thank you again to everyone who took part, and to our independent report authors Fiona Dwyer and Nicola Upton. 

If you have questions about the report, please contact Jackie Parr Jackie@communityactionsutton.org.uk