Catherine Woodhead, Chief Executive at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said:
“The measures announced today to support charities are welcome. We will be looking at the detail as it is released, but it is essential the services provided by charities like Muscular Dystrophy UK are not overlooked. We are providing vital guidance, support and advocacy for the tens of thousands of people in the UK living with muscle-wasting conditions who are a highly vulnerable group during the coronavirus pandemic. We receive no government funding for our core services, which are funded entirely through voluntary funds, so clarity on how government departments will be allocating funding is essential. The £2.8m loss to our fundraising income from the impact of coronavirus put our frontline services and charity at risk.
“We are also concerned that as a national organisation we may not be able to draw on the support that will be available through the National Lottery Community Fund to help us continue to support the people who rely on us.”