Charity workers face increased threats as sector faces growing social division, study finds

Charity workers across thousands of charities have faced in person threats as organisations increasingly face hostility linked to growing social division, according to research from the Charity Commission.

A survey of almost 3,000 charity trustees found that 2% said staff had been threatened in person, while one in four charities reported being directly affected by polarisation in society.

Overall, 25% of charities said they had experienced issues including a decrease in support (11%), vandalism or damage to property (4%) or having to change or stop services (5%).

Charities working in areas such as human rights, religious harmony and racial harmony were the most likely to report being affected.

The research also suggested financial pressures remain across the sector, although they may be easing.

Around 12% of charities said they had used more of their financial reserves than planned, down from 17% in 2025, while 4% expected their charity could close within the next year.

Separate research commissioned by the Charity Commission found public trust in charities remained high, with charities ranking as the second most trusted group in society after doctors.

Rachel Wenstone, assistant director of policy at the Charity Commission, said: “This research gives us clear evidence of the scale of what charities have been telling us over the past 18 months.