High profile advocates of the UK quitting the European Union have been called upon to make commitments to help the charity sector in the event of the referendum delivering a ‘leave’ vote.

Acevo chief executive Asheem Singh has written to Conservative MPs and Vote Leave campaigners Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith, seeking assurances on the treatment of charities post-referendum.

Singh called on the Brexit campaigners to guarantee to replace the £200m per year estimated to benefit charities from EU budgets, if the UK votes to leave the union.

Vote Leave was also asked to guarantee an “immediate emergency summit” with charities should its campaign be successful, to discuss the implications in key regulatory areas such as child welfare, environmental protection, and workers’ rights.

Singh wrote that for those in the sector “Brexit looks unsustainable” without the two commitments.

There are “clear progressive arguments for both sides” of the EU debate, Singh wrote, but if Vote Leave prevails communities will suffer without action on funding and regulatory protections.

“Whatever our political views we must be pragmatic and consider the very real potential for upheaval on the ground. For Brexit to be a truly sustainable position the promises sought by Acevo are needed to redress these gaps.”

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