Voluntary sector groups that relied on room rental for their income have been adversely affected by Covid-19 - new Room to Rent report

Room to Rent, a new Macc report, looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the ability of a range of VCSE organisations to generate room rental income, especially during the original lockdown. 17 organisations from across Manchester were involved in this research and it found that organisations faced a number of challenges and had to adapt quickly to the original lockdown and the subsequent restrictions. However, and perhaps surprisingly, their experiences were not all negative and some organisations adapted very quickly. That’s not to say that for some, continued restrictions on their ability to raise revenue from room hire isn’t going to have potentially dire consequences

Room to Rent is the third in the Macc No Going Back series of publications looking at how the pandemic has affected the VCSE sector in Manchester – and how organisations have responded. A selection of organisations were interviewed for the report. Some had a range of income streams and some relied almost exclusively on room rental. The report reflects the experiences of groups across all of Manchester, and across the many communities of interest in the city. Of the 17 organisations interviewed, each has a different story to tell; each has its own unique response to the loss of income and each has its own concerns for the future. The report draws on these varied experiences to produce some broader conclusions and points for further consideration. Anyone with an interest in the role of community buildings within their local communities should read and take note of the findings in Room to Rent. 

A pdf copy of the full report is available by clicking on the image above or a link can be found at the bottom of the page. A pdf of the report summary is also available below.