Rising costs, uncertain times — what Kent social enterprises need to know right now
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
I talk to a lot of clients about income diversification — specifically about flattening what I call the 'income spike': that familiar rollercoaster of "we have money / we have no money" that so many social enterprises are riding. The goal is a blend of income streams steady enough that no single shock tips
you over.
I wish I had equally sage words to offer about cost spikes. But honestly? The fuel situation has raided my own pocket more than once in the past few weeks. I drive a diesel car and I buy heating oil. So I know exactly what I'm talking about when I say this hurts.
The thing is, sitting and moaning about the war and its effect on fuel prices isn't going to help anyone. So here's what I've actually done: off goes the central heating, out come the electric heaters, face-to-face meetings have reduced and much more of my week is spent on Zoom. Thanks, Donald.
The point isn't that my workaround is the right one for you — it's that when costs spike, you adapt and innovate. That's what social enterprise leaders do. And there are some concrete things worth knowing right now to help you do that.
What's actually happening with fuel
Diesel prices rose by 40 pence per litre in March alone — from 142p to 183p according to RAC Fuel Watch. That's the biggest single-month rise ever recorded. If your organisation relies on vehicles for outreach, deliveries, or community transport, you'll have felt that immediately.
We all know the cause is the conflict in the Middle East following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which disrupted global oil supply and sent wholesale prices sharply upward. There's no clear ceiling on how long this lasts but the UK Government say they have a plan — it's worth keeping in mind that fuel duty is scheduled to rise by 1p per litre in September 2026.
If vehicle costs are a significant line in your budget, now is the time to model what a sustained price of 180p+ per litre means for the year — and ask honestly whether any journeys can be consolidated, reduced, or moved online. Not every face-to-face meeting needs to be one.
What support is available right now
There's something genuinely useful to flag here. A new fund launched on 1 April 2026 that many of the communities you serve — and potentially your own organisation — can access.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) replaces the old Household Support Fund and runs until March 2029. It provides £1 billion annually to local authorities in England, combining immediate crisis support for households facing a financial shock with longer-term resilience-building: debt advice, income maximisation, savings support, and community coordination.
Crucially, VCSE organisations are part of the picture here — both as referrers for clients who need support, and potentially as providers of resilience services funded through the CRF.
The practical step is simple: find out what your local authority in Kent or Medway is offering under the fund. Each council designs its own scheme, so what's available will vary.
The bigger question worth sitting with
The organisations I worry about aren't the ones who are struggling and know it. They're the ones who are coping so well — so quietly, so resourcefully — that they don't notice until much later that they've been subsidising their services from reserves in ways that weren't sustainable.
Cost spikes, like income spikes, are a planning problem as much as a cash problem. The question isn't just "can we absorb this?" It's "what does absorbing this cost us in six months' time?"
Sometimes an outside perspective — someone asking the questions you haven't had time to ask yourself — is the most useful thing. Not to tell you what to do, but to help you see your situation clearly before decisions get made by default.
If that's where you are right now, my diary is open. The free 45-minute advice session exists precisely for moments like this — no obligation, no agenda, just an honest conversation..
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