The group is to close from 16 December through to 11 January due to ensure its survival amid its “funding gap”.

During the closure the organisation’s enquiry mailboxes will still be checked “so please know we will still be here for you”, CFG chief executive Caron Bradshaw told charities.

She said “We have reached the difficult decision that with the return of flexible furloughing we should close down our activities over this quieter time in order to protect the jobs of CFG staff. We know that this tips the balance between serving the sector and saving ourselves and hope that the timing will make the best of a bad situation.

Conscious that life doesn’t neatly perform to our plans, the CFG team have planned meticulously to cover our enquiry mailboxes and pick up requests for help during our period of closure.

She urged charities to help the group by donating via its fundraising page to continue supporting the sector.

“The last nine months have tested my courage, my resolve and resilience to work hard, at the seemingly impossible, and to have confidence that all things, even the worst of times, pass eventually. Pass they will, and we will return, stronger in the new year,” added Bradshaw.

A survey of charities by Locality this month found that 41% of charities and community groups expect to lose at least a quarter of their income between July 2020 and January 2021.

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