Charity workers are warning of a “pervasive climate of fear” that is forcing them to reduce their visibility online and to scale back public activity.

The findings have emerged in an NCVO report detailing the views of 46 charity representatives attending an event in autumn organised by the charity sector body.

Those attending “described rising levels of fear, intimidation and online hate”, said NCVO.

They warned that a “tangible sense of fear” is impacting the daily lives of staff and volunteers, particularly those from a global majority background.

Intimidating emails and other forms of harassment are detailed, with the NCVO adding that “operational disruption and forced invisibility” was a consequence.

Charities are reducing their public and online activity due to “direct threats and security concerns”.

One attendee said: “A charity in our county are not comfortable to share [their events] on social media because of the online hate, but also the potential for people who have ill intentions to come along and disrupt those activities... it’s a loss of visibility for communities, and that’s adding to the isolation and the fear.”

Another said: “The hostility is as much online as it is in the street.”

The hostility charities are facing is creating internal tensions among staff, trustees and volunteers, the report also warns.

Being called for is further practical guidance around staff safety, online hate and risk management.

Peer support spaces for staff experiencing hostility also need to be created.

The NCVO also wants to use its Civil Society Covenant agreement with ministers to raise concerns with government and to “challenge harmful narratives”.

“Using the findings from this report, we need to ensure the sector, and its partners and friends, come together to prevent this further affecting organisations that are simply trying to deliver their vital work,” said NCVO chief executive Kate Lee.

“By supporting one another, and offering hope where others spread hate, we can protect the space civil society occupies and ensure charities can continue to strengthen.”

'Threats and violence'

This week Charity Commission interim chair Mark Simms used his speech at the regulator’s annual public meeting to raise concerns about increasing reports of threats, violence and vandalism facing charities and their workers.

“Over recent months, we’ve seen charity workers verbally and physically abused on the streets,” he warned.

“We’ve heard of death threats, threats of sexual assault, witnessed damage and vandalism done to charity offices.”

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