The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 14: Winter 2019 | Page 14
POSITIVE BUSINESS
CHARITY SECTOR REVIEW
Ahead of The Business Exchange South West Charity
Conference, we asked Gill Freeman, Head of Charity and
Not-for-Profit at accountancy firm Milsted Langdon LLP, for
her insight into the challenges the sector faced in 2019 and
what’s likely to impact it in 2020.
What have been the major challenges
for charities this year?
Income generation is always a major challenge for most
charities, and many are finding it increasingly difficult to meet
the higher demand for their services. A more recent concern
for charities is cyber-security and the risk of fraud, but it’s not
all doom and gloom, there are opportunities for charities too.
What should charities and not-for-profits be
concerned about as we move into 2020?
Brexit is a concern for many charities, especially if they
receive funding from the EU. This could have a significant
impact on a charity’s operations and their beneficiaries,
so we await more details on what the political landscape
will mean for charities in the coming months. Refreshing
a Board of Trustees can be a concern, and there is also the
matter of diversity – research shows that the average trustee
is a white man in his 60s – so charities need to attract a
more inclusive group of trustees.
Working with so many charities and not-for-
profits in the South West, you have a good steer
on what the current conditions are like. Have
things got harder in 2019? Is the picture looking
more bleak or more optimistic?
I think it’s a mixed bag. Generally there is a negativity around
certain aspects such as Brexit and cyber-security, but lots of
charities are optimistic for the future and new opportunities,
whether that’s by diversifying or using new technology to
protect, grow and develop their organisations. It can be
difficult for charities, but my charity clients find it hugely
beneficial to talk with people in a similar situation, that’s
why I host a number of roundtable events across the South
West throughout the year to facilitate a discussion forum in
a safe and confidential environment, which has been very
well received and helped to find solutions for many Financial
Directors, Chief Execs and other charity staff.
We all know charities are having to diversify
to survive. Can you give any examples of
charities doing this with success?
Diversifying is just one of the ways in which a charity can
look at new revenue streams, I think innovation is key – it’s
not always about creating a new product or offering, it could
be using technology in a new way – many charities now
carry contactless devices to receive donations as people just
don’t carry as much cash anymore. But a recent example
of diversifying was from Dorothy House Hospice, who have
Proudly sponsored by:
14
www.tbebathandsomerset.co.uk
introduced a new skincare and well-being range called
Ubiety. It’s one of the only product ranges on the market
where all proceeds go directly to supporting palliative and
end of life care in the community.
Is there a piece of work you’re
most proud of this year?
I’m proud of my team and the excellent work they do –
providing a fantastic service and added-value to our charity
and not-for-profit clients – not just on compliance matters
but also in an advisory nature. We are approachable and
clients often call up looking for advice on lots of different
types of issues and I’m pleased we have such wonderful
relationships. I’m also really pleased with my charity
roundtable events which have proved to be a real support
to my clients, where they can take a little time out of their
day-to-day to reflect on the bigger picture of the charity and
problem solving with a like-minded group.
What did you think of the South West Charity
Conference 2019? What did you get out of it?
We were absolutely delighted with the inaugural charity
conference in Bath and are very pleased to support the event
for a second year. It was a fantastic conference to invite
my Bath charity clients to as well as those from further
afield. The feedback was excellent – my clients enjoyed the
networking and the range of expert speakers, in fact one of
my clients won a new office printer in the prize draw so they
were very happy!
Gill Freeman
What part of the 2020 conference
are you most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to seeing the conference develop – taking
into consideration the feedback from last year and making
it even bigger and better. I’m currently working on my
seminar that I’ll be presenting at the conference - there’ll
be an interesting Q&A session with a charity as well as an
interactive opportunity to explore real charity issues – watch
this space!
To find out more about Milsted Langdon’s
charity roundtable events, or to see how Gill
might be able to help your organisation, email:
[email protected]
or call 01225 904 940
“Brexit is a concern for many
charities if they receive funding
from the EU”