Charity leaders have met with government ministers to discuss the impact of the US-Iran war on communities and the sector.

The hour-long round table meeting took place at 10 Downing Street this week between representatives, from among others the NCVO, ACEVO and the Association of Charitable Foundation, and civil society minister Stephanie Peacock and economic secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby.

Also involved were representatives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the No10 Partnerships Unit.

Charity leaders attending say they welcomed the opportunity to discuss the impact of the growing crisis in the middle east on their communities under the Civil Society Covenant agreement, whereby the government pledges to better involve the sector in decision making.

Among charity leaders involved was NCVO chief influencing officer Leigh Brimicombe who said “this is the Civil Society Covenant in action”.

“While a roundtable may not sound helpful in solving what are very real, systemic barriers for charities - especially small charities at the frontline of communities - I feel we were heard and understood,” he said.

“I have confidence from the amount of note taking that our views could help inform direct action.

“Our sector is committed to engaging and finding solutions together. Today gave us a chance to see that this is a shared ambition, in action.”

Also attending was ACEVO chief executive Jane Ide who said the attending ministers “listened carefully and openly to our comments and concerns”.

She added: “It felt clear that this was not a one off set piece meeting but the start of a continuing engagement with a very genuine intention to understand the pressures the sector faces and to work together to address them, not just in the face of the current crisis but in the longer term."

She noted though that the meeting lacked voices from “those leading organisations within our minoritised and marginalised communities - those at the very sharpest end of economic challenge and attacks on community cohesion” but added that “it felt like a meeting worth having; and a clear example of the Covenant in action”.

Association of Charitable Foundations chief executive Carol Mack, who also attended said “there is growing concern about the impact that inflation is having on the real value of grants made” among its members.

“In such uncertain times it was a welcome and timely conversation and a promising start to a dialogue that will be ever more necessary in the weeks and months ahead,” she added.

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