Directory of Social Change (DSC) has announced it is closing with the loss of 25 jobs.

The charity support organisation said that its income generating model had helped it “survive through five decades of charity infrastructure turmoil”.

However, “like so many of the charities we serve, we have been squeezed by the huge financial pressures facing the sector”, said its chair William Butler and chief executive Debra Allcock-Tyler in a statement.

Tighter budgets in the sector, rising costs, particularly around National Insurance contributions and the growth of artificial intelligence have impacted its finances.

Also, the “funding landscape that does not favour causes as unexciting and never-ending as infrastructure”.

These factors have “contributed to an increasingly difficult situation that has eaten away at our viability”, they said.

Its statement added: “Despite the very best efforts of our staff and trustees, and appeals to key funders, we have been unable to find a way to continue.

"DSC was supported by a small, dedicated team, with all the challenges that entails. We promise you we did the best we could with the resources we had, and we can only apologise to our customers, colleagues, partners and supporters for making such a sudden exit.”

The organisation, which is a registered charity, said it is “completely devastated that our work has come to such a sudden end”.

It pledged to do “all we can to support” the 25 members of staff losing their jobs.

“Charities and volunteers are losing a source of independent, affordable guidance and funding information that many of them have relied on for years, and we know smaller organisations will feel that most,” adds their statement.



The DSC’s insolvency practitioner is working with the organisation to “facilitate the full closure”. Its Funds Online service will remain working to subscribers during this time and books and digital downloads can still be bought through its website.

However, no new course or event bookings will be able to be made and those with bookings for an existing course and event “will be contacted in due course”.

According to the charities register DSC’s income for the 12 months to December 2024 was £1.9m, while it spent £1.6m over this period.

However, its spending has outstripped its income three times over the last five years, for the financial years ending December 2020,2022 and 2023.

Among charity leaders to react to the DSC’s sudden closure is Children’s hospices Across Scotland trusts manager Sarah Johnston.

She said on LinkedIn: “The sector has lost a vital organisation full of amazing, committed people. Thinking of everyone at DSC and sending lots of love at this difficult time.”

Meanwhile, Community People chief executive Katie Rabone said on the platform: “So sad to hear this news. I have very fond memories of turning the pages of the many trust and foundation guides you published, attending your training, connecting with others from across the sector, and then the joy of running some of your training.”

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