A mentoring charity has lost more than 200 volunteers in two years as economic pressure on businesses has rebounded on the non-profit sector.YouthNet, which partners schoolchildren with volunteers from the business community, has seen its number of pairings drop from 1,000 in April 2010 to about 785.Executive director Clare Mello says numbers have been hit by non-Bermudians leaving the Island, while those still here have less time to volunteer due to increasing work commitments.Meanwhile YouthNet staff have faced salary freezes and bonus cuts, with one full-time position wiped out, as the group has seen its budget reduced from $750,000 to $675,000 for 2012. It operated at a loss in 2011.The Centre on Philanthropy indicated YouthNet is one of many charities feeling the pinch during the recession.Ms Mello told The Royal Gazette: “With the shrinking economy and with many companies shrinking or outsourcing, many of our mentors have left the Island.“YouthNet has had the privilege of having many non-Bermudians acting as mentors because they want to give something back to the community. But there’s been quite an exodus of non-Bermudians and we’ve been impacted.”She said feedback from mentors still on the Island suggests they’re finding it more difficult to donate time.“Due to companies downsizing, they are trying to do the same amount of work with less resources,” said Ms Mello.“Many mentors no longer feel they can commit to one lunch hour every week.”To plug the gap, YouthNet is encouraging colleagues to commit on a rotational basis, while targeting younger potential mentors who may have less responsibilities at work, and stepping up its general recruitment drive.According to YouthNet’s annual report, revenues for 2011 were just under $650,000, with expenses closer to $700,000. This compared to revenues of more than $700,000 in 2010, when a profit was recorded.Ms Mello said the lower income is a result of decreasing contributions from donors.“The environment is tough for everybody, and it’s certainly tough for charities,” she said.The report states in 2012 it reduced its operating budget from $750,000 to $675,000 by:* cutting one full-time position;* outsourcing marketing, communications and accounting functions, alleviating the financial responsibility for health insurance, social insurance and payroll tax;* restructuring salaries and benefits by reducing staff bonuses by 60 percent and awarding staff additional vacation time instead;* implementing a six-month salary freeze.Reflecting on the impact of the recession on charities across the Island, Centre on Philanthropy programme manager Danielle Riviere said: “There is no question that the economic downturn is affecting the non-profit sector just like every other industry.“Charities are adjusting in various ways including having to look at how to manage their budgets and human resources.”