Ken Deeks, co-founder of Byte Night and Director at The Amber Group, writes:
Austerity may have become the buzzword of 2010 and for many in IT, it’s a necessary evil right now. But one sector with whom the word should never be associated is the charity sector, an industry where reduced income poses a very real threat to human lives.
At the moment, charities are struggling; overall donations are down due to the recession and CSR has fallen from the corporate agenda. But the proposed public spending cuts are set to make matters worse, affecting both service provision and Government funding. At the same time, demand for support will rise as access to welfare benefits is tightened and unemployment increases.
The challenge charities face over the coming months is enormous. But the onus is not just on them; this is a shared responsibility and we all have a social, moral and corporate duty to do what we can.
Subsequently, this year’s Byte Night, the IT industry’s annual sleep out event in aid of Action for Children, is more important than ever. As the charity sector faces increasing adversity, we need the support of everyone out there, everyone reading this, to ensure vulnerable people in the UK receive the help they deserve.
To register for Byte Night 2010, to find out more or to pledge a cash donation, please visit: www.bytenight.org.uk
