Voluntary groups whose resources were already stretched by the Covid-19 pandemic could face closure as a result of the cost of living crisis, health chiefs have been told.

This was revealed by a snap survey to which 47 Calderdale organisations responded, with energy price rises and high inflation ahead.

Calderdale Health and Wellbeing Board agreed more work to understand the implications for the voluntary sector.

Chief Officer of Calderdale Voluntary and Community, Julie Robinson, told board members the results were “stark” in terms of groups’ resilience.

There are a number of groups who are in danger of not continuing in the months ahead, she said.

Calderdale Council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham, who is also the Place Lead for Calderdale on the new NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The scale is beyond anything we have experienced in public services and I think is clearly posing a threat to the voluntary and community sector but also businesses beyond the pandemic.

“We clearly need to understand what that will mean in practical terms over the next few weeks at a national level.

“It is a scale of depth and impact that is beyond any of us to be able to mitigate in its entirety.

“It needs a national response,” he said.