A snapshot survey of charity chief executives and communications leaders has found that only one in 14 believe their organisation is “fully prepared for a communications crisis”.

This also found that more than half have no crisis communications plan in place or only one that is out of date.

Four in five say they believe their organisation is only “partially prepared” to deploy communications effectively in a crisis, and one in ten say they are not prepared at all.

The research has been carried out by communications consultancy Agenda. It warns that without a plan in place charities are being left particularly exposed to disinformation, hostile attacks and political disruption.

The snapshot survey involved responses from 29 charity chief executives and senior communications staff.

RNLI’s effective use of crisis communications

Becky Slack, co-director of Agenda, praised the RNLI’s recent handling of a communications crisis it became engulfed in when far-right protesters threatened and abused its workers and volunteers.

But she warned this example shows “why preparation is no longer a nice-to have for charities”.

“The RNLI has handled the situation very well, staying focused on its mission and values and putting the safety of its volunteers at the heart of its response”, she said, adding that it is “exactly the kind of situation organisations can’t afford to start planning for once it is already happening".

She added: “Disinformation, politically charged narratives and coordinated online attacks can move rapidly from a communications issue to a very real reputational, operational and even personal security problem.

“Yet our research found that while many people recognise it as a risk, very few have planned for it.”

“You cannot predict exactly where the next crisis will come from, but you can prepare for how you will respond: who makes decisions, how you monitor what is being said, how you correct false information, how you protect staff and volunteers, and how you communicate quickly with supporters and the public.”

---