Why Small Charities Deserve Big Support (Especially During Small Charity Week)

It’s Small Charity Week here in the UK, which means it’s time to give a bit of well-earned attention and love to the 96% of charities doing the work that keeps the country ticking over quietly, brilliantly, and often against the odds.

Small charities are everywhere. From the baby banks helping parents keep their newborns warm and fed, to the research charities pushing for answers to rare and devastating childhood illnesses. They don’t always have glossy ad campaigns or six-figure CEOs, but they do have grit, heart, and community trust in spades.

And I know this, because I get to work with them.

The big impact of small charities

You know me, let’s start with some facts:

• Small charities (those with an annual income under £1 million) make up 96% of the UK charity sector that’s around 159,000 organisations. (Lloyds Bank Foundation)

• Despite this, they receive just 17% of the sector’s total income.

• More than 80% of them are out there delivering frontline services directly to communities. (small charities data)

• 73% now operate without a main income stream, relying instead on one-off grants, sporadic donations, and local goodwill (UK Fundraising).

So yes, they’re doing life-changing work. And no, they’re not funded anywhere near enough to do it properly.

They might be small, but they are mighty

Small charities are specialists. They work in niche, underfunded fields. I believe small charities, at their best, can out perform their bigger counterparts. Why? Because they’re fuelled by passion. Run by people who live and breathe their cause. Often founded from lived experience. Always closer to the communities they serve.

When parents in Hackney can’t afford nappies or formula, they go to Hackney Children & Baby Bank a tiny team, providing essentials with dignity and zero judgement.

When a new mum in Frome feels overwhelmed, isolated or lost in the fog of postnatal depression, she can call Frome Birth Talk a small mental health charity offering counselling and a listening ear, right when it’s needed most.

When families face the unthinkable, like a DIPG diagnosis, or a rare neurological condition like FIRES, they turn to research charities like Abbie’s Army and Sam’s Superheroes Foundation, both run by super mums who fight for funding research, hope and change.

And when someone is newly diagnosed with a brain tumour and needs financial help, With Love, Emma steps in with practical support grants that ease the pressure during the toughest of times.

These aren’t huge national brands. They’re small teams, family members (or sometimes just one person and the power of a spreadsheet) doing vital work because no one else is.

Why their websites matter more than ever

You’d be amazed how many of these organisations are doing all this without a decent website. Or any website at all.

Some can’t afford it. Others don’t know where to start. And most are stretched so thin that writing a homepage feels like a luxury task for a quieter month that never comes.

But here’s the truth: small charities need good websites. Not flashy. Not complicated. Just clear, trustworthy and easy to use.

Because…

• They need to receive donations without chasing lost JustGiving links.

• They need to signpost their services to people in crisis.

• They need to build credibility with funders who judge a website in 5 seconds.

• And they deserve a place online that reflects the heart and hard work behind it all.

I’ve seen firsthand how a simple, well-structured site can unlock donations, reduce admin, and help a tiny team breathe a little easier.

If you're reading this, here's what you can do

This Small Charity Week, if you’ve got a tenner to spare give it to a small, local charity or one that’s fighting for a cause close to your heart. Skip the big household names this time. Your donation will go much further with a small team doing big things on limited funds.

Even better? Set up a small regular donation. A few pounds each month can make a huge difference.

And whatever you give, don’t forget to tick that Gift Aid box. It lets the government top up your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. Win-win.

Are you a local business or corporate looking to give back? Why not fund a website for a small charity you care about? A professional, hardworking website can transform how they reach people, raise funds, and deliver support.

You can do this by donating directly to the charity, with the funds earmarked specifically for a new or updated website as a restricted fund. If you'd like help with that, I'm always happy to talk.

Thanks!