A new social media campaign, #NeverMoreNeeded, has highlighted the increasingly vital role that our Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations play in society during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The campaign, which launched just ahead of the BBC's Big Night In fundraising programme and the UK-wide Two Point Six Challenge, has been driven by leading VCSE sector organisations such as Charity Comms, Third Sector, NCVO, Charity Finance Group, Locality, the Directory of Social Change (DSC), and ACEVO. 

The announcement from Charity Comms stated: 

'How we frame calls for government support matters and we need a clear narrative to convey the absolute necessity of the sector... we are asking everyone to use the #NeverMoreNeeded to help our collective voices be heard.'

Ben Wittenberg, Director of Development for DSC, blogged about the campaign and noted that 'a lack of understanding about what “the sector” is and what we do at the top levels of government remains a big part of their refusal to properly support us.' 

He continued: 

'Charities are delivering public services. They are supporting the NHS. They are treating and supporting people with cancer. They are schools. They are hospices. They are pulling people out of the sea, and saving them from mountaintops. They are holding people’s hand when they die.

'We know that, and so do you. But right now we need everyone to know. To know that the work we do isn’t “nice to have”, that it was critical two months ago, it’s critical now, and it’s absolutely critical to whatever comes next for all of us.'

Since the campaign launch, VCSE sector organisations of all sizes - from large well-known charities and foundations to hyper-local community groups - have taken up the hashtag to show the importance of their services, particularly those that benefit people hit hardest by coronavirus and lockdown. Locally, we've seen the hashtag used by Baby Bank Network, Bristol Refugee Rights and Youth Moves. 

To join in with the #NeverMoreNeeded campaign, add the hashtag to your social media posts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

You can also add this PNG logo to your social media graphics (just right click and save the image to your computer or smartphone). 

Thank you to all of the VCSE organisations behind the campaign, and to Doug Dawson Creative for designing the campaign logo.