The UK government recently chose to reduce the international aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI) to fund an increase in defence spending. These UK aid cuts will have significant national and global implications.
Among those most affected are Christian charities and mission organisations working to alleviate poverty, provide healthcare, and support vulnerable communities. This also comes within weeks of the US government shuttering the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and freezing all foreign aid assistance for 90 days.
For decades, the UK and its aid packages have played a crucial role in supporting global development, often in partnership with faith-based charities. These cuts will directly impact life-saving initiatives, making it harder for organisations to meet the needs of those they serve, or make serious sacrifices to sustain their mission.
Our friends at Medair have shared with us that their international teams in Ukraine and elsewhere have voluntarily deferred their salaries for 3 months to allow limited funds to be prioritised towards humanitarian activities impacted by very tight cash-flow because of these changes.
A blow to longstanding mission partnerships
Christian organisations in the UK have long collaborated with government-funded projects to tackle humanitarian crises, respond compassionately to conflict, support education, and provide healthcare in the world’s most vulnerable regions.
The loss of this funding is particularly concerning in areas like sub-Saharan Africa, where Christian charities are a lifeline for many. Several UK-based Christian organisations have strongly criticised the aid budget cuts, warning of their devastating consequences.
“A betrayal of the world’s most marginalised”
Christian Aid, a leading UK-based Christian development agency, has described the decision as short-sighted and appalling. CEO Patrick Watt stated that “Christian Aid welcomes the strong stand that the now former development minister Anneliese Dodds has taken today against this week's brutal aid cuts. Dodds has rightly recognised that these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people." [1]
Christian Aid has urged the government to restore aid funding and cancel the debts of countries struggling with poverty and climate crises. They warn that without immediate intervention, countless lives will be put at risk.
“Outrageous and disgraceful”
Tearfund, another well-respected Christian charity, has joined over 100 NGOs in calling for the government to reverse the cuts. They argue that aid spending is not only an act of compassion but also a strategic tool for global stability and that cutting the aid budget will result in more deaths, more disease, and more conflicts.
Tearfund has been at the forefront of poverty alleviation and disaster response for decades, working alongside churches to bring hope to struggling communities. These cuts will make their work even more challenging.
Their Chair of the Board recently commented that "The UK government’s decision to cut aid spending in order to increase its defence spending is both outrageous and disgraceful. At a time when hunger and poverty are being exacerbated by new and entrenched conflicts and human induced climate change, and where massive amounts of money have just been pulled from the development system, the UK should be looking to step up, not step back, in support of the most vulnerable in this world."[2]
How the church can respond
At Stewardship, we see generosity as more than financial giving—it’s a reflection of how we trust God and respond to His call to care for the vulnerable. Our recently published Generosity Report highlighted that Christian generosity is flourishing, and people are especially encouraged to give when they see a need.
Now is the time for UK Christians to pray, advocate, and give with renewed purpose in light of the UK aid cuts.
How you can help
- Pray with purpose
Prayer underpins all acts of generosity. Pray for charity leaders as they navigate this funding crisis. Pray for resilience and provision for communities impacted by aid cuts, and for churches around the world to respond with compassion. - Advocate for awareness
The more we raise awareness of the impact of these funding cuts, the greater our collective response will be. Share this issue with your church, small group, or community, and encourage others to learn how these changes will impact causes they care about. Contact MP? - Give strategically
By giving through Stewardship, you can ensure that your donations reach trusted charities, minimising the impact of the cuts. You can set up a regular gift or make a one-off donation through your Giving Account.
Get started with a Stewardship Giving Account
At a time when global aid is being cut, the Church has an opportunity to step into the gap—responding with generosity, faith, and action. We can show the world that Christian giving can make a difference.
A Stewardship Giving Account can help you discover even more charities working for causes that you care about. It provides full visibility of how much you give and who you are supporting, with the flexibility to make changes at any time.
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Matt Holderness
Matt joined Stewardship in 2022 with over twenty years of marketing experience from roles at Kendal College and Capernwray Bible School. He has degrees in Business and Marketing, Theology, Management and most recently a Masters in Hermeneutics.
Through raising awareness of Stewardship’s various products and services, Matt helps people explore the Kingdom impact that their growing generosity can have, and helps the Church and Christian charities gather faithfully and grow purposefully.
He’s passionate about supporting Evangelism and Bible causes, and has a particular interest in charities that are helping people in Poverty and Debt in the UK.
