The Charity Commission’s chair is to call on funders to support infrastructure organisations amid fears of what could be a “destructive earthquake” for the sector.

At the Charity Commission’s annual public meeting in London today, Dame Julia Unwin is expected to discuss the “gradual impoverishment” of organisations providing charities with volunteers, trustees, skills, advice and practical support.

“Their loss does not affect one organisation at a time; it weakens the capacity and resilience of the sector as a whole,” she is expected to say.

It comes after yesterday’s announcement that training and publishing charity the Directory of Social Change will close due to financial pressures.