The Charity Pages Issue 7

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Charitable thoughts...

Some months ago a new theme began to emerge in adverts heard on the radio: there was an upsurge in the number of adverts from charities urging people to leave legacies. The trend was soon taken up by ads on the TV. It is, of course, the whole starting point of this supplement, and the more widespread dissemination of the message is to be welcomed: talking about death has been very much taboo in our comfortable society. However, the trend is not as new as we may think – as Remember a Charity’s Rob Cope has pointed out in one of two articles on the subject analysed in these pages.

• Leaving a gift in a will is only possible if there is a will in the first place. Many people find the cost of making a will prohibitive, so don’t bother. Now there is a scheme that offers a free will-making service twice a year. As well as drawing up the will, the participating solicitor will draw attention to the possibility of leaving a legacy.

• Another issue that could militate against legacy giving would be prohibitive government fees – as proposed by

Mrs May’s government and seemingly on the cards under the present one. The 2017 general election resulted in the proposals being put on a back burner, and this latest election has seen the idea killed off – for now.

• The view most of us have of charitable trust board members is of middle-aged worthies offering the benefit of their long experience to the general good. Unfortunately that is often the case. But it is not because young people do not want to take up roles on trust boards – ­ at least that is the result of research into the matter. Many young people of the so-called Generation Z would gladly participate if they knew how to go about it. The answer to the dilemma is not hard to see.

• As many as 10% of us have said we have given to charity but have in fact forgotten to do so, it seems. We all live busy lives and there cannot be anybody who has expressed a solemn intention to fulfil some duty or other and then simply have it slip the mind. Most of the time we can rectify the situation – which reminds me…

In this issue...

CONTENTS 7

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25

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Laugh and the world laughs with you…

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Software update helps advisors to pop the question

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After its first 25 years, legacy reporting looks to the next

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Legacy sector delighted by probate fee climbdown

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Umbrella campaign welcomes new chair

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Free wills are on offer twice a year

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New reports on charity fraud reveal ambiguities

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SORP-making body seeks partners to inform change

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Research shows young people would become trustees

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Regulator’s annual report shows continued progress in raising standards

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Conference and awards shine in week of fundraising celebration

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Many claim to have donated to charity – but haven’t

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GETTING FROM THIS

TO THIS

TOOK MORE THAN T.L.C. Friends of the Animals is a practical and caring charity that works to alleviate the suffering of stray and unwanted animals. They specialise in ‘preventative’ work such as spays and neuters.

The charity was founded by Helen Sinclair MBE, who was honoured for services to animal welfare in 2014. She explained: “Neutering is the only humane way to reduce the numbers of unwanted animals and it improves the lives of animals already here. We work hard to ensure the areas we cover are kept stray-free and that in turn has a hugely beneficial effect on the whole community.”

The charity has negotiated much reduced ‘charity’ rates at a total of 38 veterinary practices in various parts of the country. They can also further subsidise those prices, making the cost of previously-unaffordable veterinary treatment attainable for those owners on even the lowest of incomes.

Helen Sinclair continued: “Since the charity’s inception in 1990 we have done well over 38,000 spays or neuters, and are willing to help anyone genuinely struggling to finance the cost of this vitally-important surgery: as long as they can reach one of ‘our’ vets.”

Veterinary treatment is their biggest outgoing and, dependent on funds, they also help with the cost of veterinary treatment for sick, injured and neglected animals – often finding they are an animal’s very last chance of life. They even operate a voluntary driving service that

transports owners and their animals to and from vets.

Said Helen: “Our wonderful drivers give freely of their time; all we ask is for service users to cover the cost of the driver’s mileage.”

They also help the public by loaning out equipment, such as carrying baskets and crates, free of charge. That eliminates the risks of transporting animals in cardboard boxes – which owners do all the time. They also check on owners who are struggling financially and help by donating items such as pet food and bedding.

Helen explained: “We were moved to tears when we discovered one elderly, recentlywidowed man. He had no food in the house and was feeding his much loved dog on the 'Meals on Wheels' intended for him.”

In addition, by utilising a network of capable foster homes, Friends of the Animals are able to provide a pet re-homing service. Foster carers look after mainly dogs and rabbits until a permanent home can be found. They also serve as a lifeline to the elderly and to people in hospital, or in short-term care in homes, as they provide a fostering service for their pets free of charge – usually for up to a month.

Helen concluded: “We truly appreciate that people have many choices of charities to support, but no one appreciates it more, or tries harder than we do to get the very best possible from every penny donated. Thank you for your consideration.”

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A lifeline for sick and injured swans [SWAN LIFELINE is the longest-established charity entirely devoted to

the care and needs of sick and injured swans. Their main aim is to rescue and treat swans and wherever possible release them back to the wild.

The charity was formed in the 1980’s by a group of dedicated people who had worked with Save Our Swans.

Kay Webb, one of the original committee, is current chairman of the trustees. She said: “The trustees are actively involved with the day to day running of the charity. In 1992 Eton College offered us a lease on ‘Cuckoo Weir Island’ on which to build a rescue headquarters and treatment centre.

“We have been operational on the site since 1993. It is possible for us to care for up to 190 birds at any one time in ponds and pens. We also have a specialist bird washing sink and an intensive care unit.”

The mute swan, the largest and best loved of British wild birds, which has thrived from its close proximity to human beings, suffers badly from man’s activities. Swans fly into bridges, hit power cables and land on motorways, mistaking them for water. There are also incidents involving attacks by dogs and deliberate vandalism.

Although much of the danger from anglers’ lead weights has been averted – thanks to the work of the charity, supported by government legislation and the angling community – swans still become entangled in discarded fishing tackle and plastic can holders. There is always a danger from chemical and oil pollution and collisions with rivercraft.

During the past thirty-three years many thousands of swans have been rescued and treated by Swan Lifeline. The majority are released back to the wild after treatment and the most disabled go to sheltered homes. “Our aim is to maintain a treatment centre in perpetuity, not dependent on any one person or group of people,” said Kay Webb, “legacy gifts can help us continue with our work.” q

Sending out an SOS for the owls [ESTABLISHED IN 2001, the Suffolk Owl

Sanctuary – known, appropriately, as S.O.S. – operates a comprehensive facility for the rescue, care and rehabilitation of owls across East Anglia.

It also promotes the need for the conservation of endangered owl species throughout the UK and beyond with its Saving Britain's Owls initiative.

The S.O.S. owl and raptor hospital at Stonham Aspal is unique in the region. It is specially equipped for the care and treatment of the many injured wild owls and other birds of prey that are brought there every year. The reasons for their being there include road traffic accidents, mishap, starvation, trauma, disease, poisoning and sometimes even shooting or trapping.

Many of the birds can be given a recuperative, short-term pick-me-up before being re-released into the wild. Those that are more seriously injured but stand a chance of recovery are given medical aid and/or surgery, as determined by their vet. The birds are then allowed space and time to fully recuperate in one of the secluded recovery aviaries, before being carefully returned to the wild.

S.O.S. also operates a wild owl nest box scheme, in conjunction with volunteers from the Thornham Owl Project. That includes building and locating long-lasting, environmentally-friendly nest boxes in appropriate locations, to replace the gradual erosion of natural nesting sites. It also involves the careful monitoring of nesting activity within the scheme, for the annual reporting of raptor population information to regulatory authorities.

S.O.S. is funded purely by donation, and like many small charities faces an on-going, uphill struggle to survive. q

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Laugh and the world laughs with you…

Recent months have seen a sea change in the way charities talk about death – as a way of influencing how we, their donors, talk about the subject. Adverts on TV and particularly radio are encouraging people to think more about what they want to happen when they die. It is a quite conscious exercise aimed at increasing the numbers of us leaving legacies to charities, in the wake of campaigns such as Remember A Charity and the more recent DeadHappy. Both organisations have been featured recently in blogs examining the change in attitudes and promoting the cause, as CHRIS STOKES discovered.

[ IN A BLOG on the Charity Choice

website, Remember A Charity director Rob Cope took a serious look at the way humour is used to promote legacy giving.

Said Rob: “Some charities have made a great success of developing humorous campaigns that really capture people’s attention, but the challenge is of course that humour is not always predictable. It’s subjective. The things that make us laugh differ widely from person to person, day to day and during different phases of life.”

Despite the perceived taboo of discussing death until recently, Rob found examples going back some decades – as far back as the 1990s.

Greenpeace Australia used gritty Oz humour coupled with the Hindu concept of samsara to put the message on a beer mat.

Rob wrote: “Greenpeace Australia’s beer mats have since achieved almost legendary status in the legacy world. The mats followed a poster campaign, all bearing the slogan ‘When you come back as a whale, you’ll be bloody glad you put Greenpeace in your will’. A few years later, an almost identical campaign was run by Greenpeace Canada, excluding the word ‘bloody’, which hadn’t tested well with the national audience.”

Around the same time the National Canine Defence League (now Dogs Trust) used an image of a grinning dog with the slogan ‘Who’ll keep him happy when your client dies?’

As well as drawing on humour – and the inevitable feeling of warmth generated by an animal with a human face – the slogan is also aimed at solicitors. The strategy of encouraging lawyers to engage with their clients to discuss legacies has become a central plank of Remember A Charity’s work.

A parallel theme has been adopted by the financial services company DeadHappy. DeadHappy’s mission is to encourage people to recognise that we all die and that it is sensible to plan for that event. By compiling a series of ‘deathwishes’ they can convey their

wishes – and that may well include a gift to a charity.

The organisation’s co-founder Phil Zeidler penned a blog post for the Institute of Fundraising in which he argued that charities need to take a more blunt approach with their donors when talking about death and legacies. He also explained why charities should be talking about legacies with a much younger audience. That results from their innovative suggestion of incorporating a charity as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy as an alternative to a bequest in a will. People tend to take out life insurance at an earlier age than that at which they write their will.

Said Phil: “A different way of approaching death and products that help people to think differently about it bring new opportunities for legacies. Legacy marketing has always been focused around the creation of a will, but what about other death products? No-one has ever thought to include charities as one of the beneficiaries of an insurance policy before, but we’ve found that people are very open to the idea when you prompt them to think about it.

“We think this approach opens up a whole new fundraising channel to a very different demographic… every single one of our life insurance customers has at least £5k of cover allocated to a charity.”

With such a blunt approach, however, there is still room for humour – even if it is ‘deadpan’.

Phil explained: “We think the best way to effect change is to tackle the topic head-on. We’re very straightforward about death. We use the ‘D-word’. Our logo is a laughing skull. In a very British way, we use a bit of humour on top. This is certainly not for everyone, but you can’t change opinions by doing something everyone likes. So far our customers seem to like it.” q ∙ Chris Stokes is editor of The Charity Pages and editorial consultant to Your Expert Witness.

Re-homing is their mission [ THE MISSION of Three Counties Dog Rescue is to accept,

care for and find homes for unwanted, lost and stray dogs and cats and to ensure their wellbeing afterwards. The charity was founded in 1972 and since then they have improved the lives of over 7,000 dogs and cats.

Before rehoming, all animals are vet checked, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Rehabilitation costs are a major part of the charity's annual expenditure of over £200,000 Healthy animals are never put down. As part of that non-destruction policy, several elderly dogs are kept in long term foster care.

Every penny raised goes to improving the lives of dogs and cats.

Three Counties Dog Rescue is run entirely by voluntary and unpaid helpers, who also meet their own expenses. q

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What will you do for National Robin Day? [NATURE BRINGS US all huge benefits. From the

beautiful birdsong we hear when we wake up in the morning, to the trees that clean the air we breathe, the wonders of nature are all around us.

But sometimes we take these gifts for granted. ​National Robin Day is the annual awareness day founded by the charity SongBird Survival. On 21st December Ruby Robin, the hero of National Robin Day, brings people together, inspiring them to take action for wildlife.

Ruby represents all our struggling garden birds in the UK who need our help. The cold winter months are especially tough – as temperatures drop and food becomes scarce, wildlife needs a little extra help.

This is where you come in! Whether it’s building a bird feeder, making a wildlife-friendly space in your garden, holding a fundraising event or making a donation to help songbirds. No matter how small, every action goes a long way to helping Ruby Robin and her feathered friends.

Follow the fun with #NationalRobinDay on 21st December. Everyone can get involved. It’s really easy for your workplace, school or group of friends to take part – just visit www.nationalrobinday.co.uk/join-in for some great ideas to get you started! q

Health and disability care for the world’s most vulnerable – without discrimination [HOPE HEALTH ACTION (HHA) have been working in Haiti to improve maternal, infant and disability healthcare since 2007. Haiti has the worst rates of maternal mortality in the Western Hemisphere and has suffered numerous natural catastrophes in recent years, worsening the cycle of poverty that exists.

HHA works to empower local groups to develop sustainable healthcare solutions. They partner closely with a hospital in the north of Haiti to ensure everyone in the region has access to quality healthcare without discrimination. HHA focuses on building the hospital’s capacity with recent projects including a new emergency department, a radiology facility and continual improvements to the solar, electric and water filtration systems.

The charity also delivers community based projects to ensure the most marginalised have access to healthcare. The current priority in Haiti is to build new neonatal and maternity wards to tackle the huge need for better maternal and infant healthcare in the region.

Since 2016, HHA has also been working in East Africa to provide aid and healthcare to South Sudanese refugees now living in Ugandan settlements. Working in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, HHA are focussing on providing emergency food aid, agricultural training and resources, and community based healthcare for the most vulnerable groups in the refugee settlements.

HHA stands up for those who have been left behind. A gift in your will could ensure HHA can be there to care for the most vulnerable communities in the world for years to come. q • Contact the HHA team to find out more about their work and how to leave a legacy on info@hopehealthaction.org or 020 8462 5256.

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Software update helps advisors to pop the question [A MAJOR NETWORK of over

1,300 solicitors and will writers has announced that it is integrating new prompts about legacy giving into its will-writing software. Countrywide Tax & Trust Corporation Ltd made the announcement in September during Remember A Charity Week, and with almost 60,000 wills written via its software each year, it is anticipated that the move could generate millions in donations through gifts in wills annually.

It will ensure that every client with an interest in supporting charities is made aware that they have the option of leaving a gift in their will, and to ask for donations to charity in lieu of flowers at their funeral.

Legal director Charlotte Ponder explained: “We know how important charitable bequests are to charities, funding vital services across the country. Many of our clients want to benefit causes close to their heart, and with generous tax breaks available for those who leave a legacy it is so important that we highlight the options to them. We hope that simple changes to our will-writing software could help inspire countless gifts and enable people to pass on something wonderful to future generations by leaving a gift in their will.

“Asking for donations to charity in lieu of flowers at a funeral is another option growing in popularity among clients, and again we have made some simple changes to ensure that this option is presented to every client a will is written for using our software.”

Remember A Charity is the 200-strong charity consortium that encourages all professional advisors involved in willwriting and estate and financial planning to get involved and use the annual Remember A Charity Week as a platform to open up conversations about estate planning and gifts in wills.

Its director Rob Cope commented: “Professional advisors play a key role in opening up conversations about legacy giving and answering questions from clients in an independent and informed way. We hope to see even more legal advisors taking the Campaign Supporter pledge this September and joining us in inspiring the nation to pass on something wonderful to future generations by leaving a gift in their will.”

Free resources are available for the consortium’s Campaign Supporters, helping them raise the topic with clients and to address common misconceptions. q

Helping the forgotten people of Zimbabwe [ZANE: ZIMBABWE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY is a UK

registered charity working to help the most destitute, vulnerable and impoverished people in Zimbabwe. It is the largest supplier of financial aid to elderly people in Zimbabwe who lost their life savings and pensions in the economic collapse and subsequent hyper-inflation.

This includes over 600 frail veterans and their widows who fought for the Crown. ZANE assists with rent, medical bills and food – and, crucially, also provides comfort, advice and support.

In addition, ZANE funds a clubfoot correction programme, successfully treating over 3,550 children to date. It funds the provision of prosthetic limbs for victims of landmine explosions and assists people with hearing loss. ZANE also funds education programmes including the provision of pop-up classrooms in highdensity townships for children who would otherwise not receive an education. It runs creative therapy workshops for women living in extreme poverty who are victims of political violence and trauma.

Zimbabwe remains in a state of crisis. The economy teeters on the brink of collapse. Fuel shortages are commonplace and with food prices escalating, ZANE’s aid is needed more than ever by the most destitute people in Zimbabwe. q • To find out more about the work of ZANE visit www.zane.uk.com

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21 years rescuing animals at Willows!

[WILLOWS ANIMAL SANCTUARY is

the largest ethically managed, equine, farm and domestic animal sanctuary in Scotland and will try to help any animal in distress.

The charity operates a strict no kill policy and will only euthanise an animal on veterinary advice. They look after over 450 animals – including over 100 horses, ponies and donkeys, approximately 65 cats and dogs and many reptiles – as well as over 200 farm animals and birds.

Willows are very dependent on donations, legacies and grants from benevolent organisations to keep the sanctuary running. Unlike larger charities they have no reserves of money and are always desperately short of funds.

They specialise in helping elderly or more vulnerable animals that have already been refused help by well-known large national charities, but can only continue to help these needy animals with your support! q

Spirit’s story

SPIRIT CAME TO Willows in the summer of 2018. He was very dehydrated, emaciated and only weighed 1.9kg (above). He was suffering badly from a nasty upper respiratory infection known as feline calicivirus and was very close to death.

Kate Robinson of Willows takes up the story: “As soon as he arrived we rushed him straight to our vets and he was placed on a drip. His owners were traced and they hadn’t seen Spirit for over three years as he had disappeared and the charity they homed him from refused to take him back. Even in his poor state, Spirit was showing great

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determination and made it very clear he wished to live.

“There was no way we could turn our backs on him so we took him into the sanctuary. It wasn’t easy, but Spirit slowly gained weight and now weighs a super 4.5kg! He has had antiviral treatment to combat the calicivirus and is very content with his life at Willows. He is very frail, but leads a good quality of life and he gets lots of fuss from all the staff and volunteers.”

The staff at Willows still keep a very careful watch over Spirit and he sees their vet on a weekly basis to make sure all is well. q

Ginger’s story

What will happen to me?

EX RACE HORSE Ginger had fallen into the wrong hands and was in an appalling state when he arrived at Willows.

Emaciated, covered in lice and with very long feet, it took a lot of work and effort to get this boy back into good shape again.

He is now recovered and living very happily with all his friends at Willows. q

DO YOU EVER wonder what happens to the cats that no one wants? Too many cats are left homeless, without food, proper shelter and love. This is what often happens to cats that have failed basic house training and then their owners just can’t cope with them anymore. The larger charities often don’t accept cats like these and without a loving home, there is very little hope for them.

The founders of Willows identified this issue long ago and went on to set up the Cat Hotel – a special home where cats are free to roam the sanctuary’s 54 acres and where there’s always beds and food available.

Willows specialises in helping cats that other charities turn down because of their lack of house training, health issues or age. It is one of the few places in the UK that offers a safe haven to these unhomeable cats. Every cat is neutered, vaccinated and wormed regularly and has constant access to food, medical care and a safe warm bed.

Willows urgently need support so they can keep helping cats like these. q

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Aiming to bridge the gap for those with clefts [CLEFT is a charity focused on providing permanent, sustainable

ways to improve cleft care both in the UK and overseas. Its tagline ‘Bridging the Gap’ illustrates the three aims of physical joining, improving information and linking care across countries.

A cleft is a congenital birth defect which happens in the womb when the component parts of the upper lip and the palate fail to join properly.

There may be a cleft just of the lip, just of the palate, or both. They can be one-sided (unilateral) or double-sided (bilateral).

It is known that one in 700 babies in the UK are born with a cleft. The figure is higher in Asia – particularly so in people from the Far East. It is estimated that 250,000 babies throughout the world are born each year with a cleft.

A core principle of CLEFT is to invest in research projects that study the cause and treatment of clefts. When it comes to clefts, there is still so much that is unknown.

The progression of knowledge and understanding of clefts is therefore a key component in improving the methods used by surgeons, speech therapists and other medical professionals, to treat and provide quality, long-term care for all those born with clefts, both in the UK and overseas.

All donations and gifts in wills help to further that research. q

Giving sighthounds a second chance [FOREVER HOUNDS TRUST has been rescuing, caring for and

homing greyhounds, lurchers and other sighthounds for 23 years.

These beautiful dogs find themselves in the charity’s care for many reasons, but they have one thing in common – they are in desperate need of help to find them a safe and happy home, having been neglected, abused, or finished their career as a racing greyhound.

Forever Hounds Trust are proud to have homed over 10,000 of these marvellous dogs and they rely entirely on supporters, donations, trusts and, vitally, legacies to cover the substantial costs of every dog’s journey from rescue to loving family pet.

The charity’s Susan Kerry Bedell says: “The demand for us to take in dogs continues to grow. By leaving a gift to Forever Hounds Trust in your Will, you are allowing us to rescue, treat and give more dogs a safe future.

“Legacies provide shelter for dogs in our kennels and foster homes. Legacies provide emergency medical care and preventative treatments. Legacies keep our vans on the road to rescue dogs from desperate situations.”

By remembering Forever Hounds Trust in your will, you are helping give more dogs a second chance at a happy life. q • For more information visit the website at www.foreverhoundstrust.org, telephone 03000 125 125 or email legacy@foreverhoundstrust.org

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After its first 25 years, legacy reporting looks to the next [LEGACY FORESIGHT, the consortium

of charities formed to produce research into legacy giving, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Since it was formed in 1994 it has worked with over 200 charities in the UK and internationally.

To mark the anniversary the organisation has published a new report looking into likely trends in legacy giving over the next 25 years. Giving Tomorrow: Legacy and InMemory 2045 includes 10 predictions for how giving will change, and the implications for fundraisers. The report is based on Legacy Foresight’s own analysis combined with the opinions of well-known industry experts.

Launching the report, Legacy Foresight said: “The next decades will bring huge – and as yet largely untapped – potential for growth in the legacies and in-memory sectors.

We look forward to continuing to monitor, understand and shape this vital sector alongside our many valued clients over the next 25 years and beyond.”

The report is forthright from the very beginning. In the introduction it states: “There’s no doubt UK society will see some fundamental shifts over the next two decades, including many people living well into their 90s, more child-free donors and a huge transfer of wealth as the baby boomer generation dies out. Given current trends, we predict that legacy and in-memory incomes will double by 2045.”

One phenomenon that has come as a surprise to many is the reverse of the decline in the death rate, attributed to the increase in numbers of older people. That fact will have the effect of increasing the number of legacies, the report says.

“The number of gifts is also due to rise quickly, thanks to rising death rates.

But compared to the last 30 years, gift values will rise relatively slowly, due to the uncertain economic and social climate. That uncertainty is also affecting willingness to give to charity – those with children feel they are more likely to need their money, and so charities can lose out.”

The focus of giving will also change.

“We are likely to see small charities making big gains, with people increasingly looking to support local and specialist charities and campaigns. Baby boomers want to give money and time to causes they feel can make a tangible difference – often on a local/one-toone basis – and this includes their legacies, as well as their giving or volunteering when they are alive.”

Following a somewhat tongue-in-cheek ‘Welcome to 2045’ which predicts a look back to the present, the report provides a timeline celebrating Legacy Foresight’s 25year development.

Then, in an analysis of legacy and inmemory giving today, the report states: “The UK has a long-established, vibrant not-forprofit sector, with charities covering every possible cause, area and population. In 2018 British charities received over £5bn through gifts in wills and in-memory motivated giving.

That’s a tenth of total income, and this figure is on the up.”

The report then relates a number of indepth stories of people who will be leaving legacies in the next 25 years, ranging in age from 20 to 105, exploring their motivations for taking the path they have.

Finally, the report elicited those 10

predictions for legacy and in-memory giving from a number of leaders in the sector.

Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity, sums the position up thus: “It’s very simple.

You’ve got to invest in legacies now. In the next 25 years we will see a significant increase in potential income. Baby boomers will die off, and it will be the biggest transfer of wealth from generation to generation there has been in history. You are either a part of that, or you’re not.”

Ross Anderson, gifts in wills manager for RSPCA Victoria, agrees. “Have the ability to change the way you communicate. It’s not about us; it’s about the donor and their story. If you’re not investing in relationship management and getting to know your donors and supporters, you are probably going to come a cropper.” q

Help for those with failing sight

[FAILING EYESIGHT is nothing short of a personal catastrophe.

Do you have a family member, friend or neighbour who is gradually losing their sight?

Reading, recognising friends and living skills are all affected as your sight is going – and it’s much harder if you live alone.

The National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK) keeps its members in touch with general information, help and updates on what’s going on.

The charity produces bi-monthly news magazines and circulars in audio, braille or electronically, which members can read independently. It also encourages blind and partially sighted people to play a fuller part in society. q • For further information contact NFBUK on 01924 291313, email admin@nfbuk.org or visit www.nfbuk.org.

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Legacy sector delighted by probate fee climbdown [AFTER INTENSE LOBBYING by charities and the legal profession,

the government has announced it has abandoned plans for a new probate fee regime which could have seen fees of up to £6,000 being levied. Speaking to The Daily Mail, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland confirmed the new fee structure had been abolished.

The minister said: “I have listened very carefully to the strong views aired on proposed new probate fees.

“While fees are necessary to properly fund our world-leading courts system, they must be fair and proportionate. We will withdraw these proposals and keep the current system while we take a closer look at

Holidays help boost confidence of young cancer patients

“

It’s a great experience to meet other people who have been through similar experiences in such a positive and upbeat setting, away from hospitals and cancer centres.

”

[THIS QUOTE FROM Kate sums up the value of the work undertaken by the Youth Cancer Trust. The organisation provides free therapeutic activity holidays for teenagers and young adults – those aged between 14 and 30 – from the UK and Ireland who are suffering from cancer.

Cancer can tear a patient’s world apart, and at an age where everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives – with university, relationships and careers – the diagnosis of cancer can bring all of that to a halt.

The Youth Cancer Trust helps reduce the sense of loneliness, which often accompanies long stays in hospital and time off school. Long term friendships are formed and families are given a much deserved break, knowing their child is having fun and being looked after.

The charity receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations, such as those from legacies, to help support the needs of young cancer patients like Kate. q • For more information visit www.youthcancertrust.org.

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these court fees as part of our annual wider review.”

It had been feared the increases could threaten legacy giving. Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity, said: “We’re hugely relieved to hear that there will be no major increase to probate fees and that that the current structure will be retained, at least for the time-being. Charities large and small rely heavily on gifts in wills, worth around £3bn a year.

We simply can’t afford to risk jeopardising such an important income stream or to reverse the trend for growth in legacy giving.”

The Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) expressed delight that the government has axed the proposal. The ILM had been campaigning against the rise for months, arguing that the fees would have a knockon effect on charities, as people might simply not apply for probate in order to avoid paying the fee. That would potentially pass the cost on to charities if they step in to act as administrator. The ILM estimated that might cost the sector £8m per year.

A spokesperson for the ILM said: “We are very pleased that this proposal has now been axed, with only a very small increase to cover costs now expected to be introduced.”

Addressing the parallel issue of delays in the granting of probate, the ILM said: “We continue to work with HMCTS on the delays at the probate registry, and will keep members fully up-to-date with any changes or progress.”

That statement was echoed by Rob Cope, who explained: “We’ll continue to work closely with government to ensure the sector’s views are heard and that the legacy environment is protected. That includes ensuring that concerns about the prolonged delays to probate are addressed and the sector kept informed.” q

Umbrella campaign welcomes new chair [ON 12 NOVEMBER Remember

A Charity announced the appointment of fundraising specialist Allan Freeman (right) as its new chair.

He took over the voluntary role with immediate effect, picking up the reins from interim chair Craig Fordham and former chair Alex McDowell, who stepped down in December.

Looking forward to his new role, Allan remarked: “Fundraising is becoming ever more challenging and yet the public’s willingness to leave a bequest continues to grow. Legacies have become the bedrock of financial stability for so many charities and are capable of changing the future of so many more.

“As it stands, there remains an intention gap between those who are open to the idea of leaving a gift in their will and those who actually do so, leaving a huge opportunity to further grow the donor market. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to chair the campaign at such an exciting time, as we draw closer to the tipping point when legacy giving will become a social norm.”

Craig Fordham praised Alex McDowell’s ‘immense’ achievements during his six-year tenure as chair, saying: “Under Alex’s leadership, the coalition grew from 140 to 200 members, developed a powerful policy and lobbying voice to protect and strengthen the wider legacy environment, and expanded its network of campaign supporters to over 1,400 legal advisers. We are hugely grateful for his guidance, commitment and energy as chair.” q

Help give future generations the power to prevent cancer

[A STAGGERING one in two of us will develop cancer

during our lives, yet we know that around 40% of cancer cases are preventable. That’s 144,000 cases in the UK alone every year that could be prevented through our lifestyle choices.

For over 25 years World Cancer Research Fund has been a pioneer in vital worldwide scientific research into the links between our lifestyles and cancer prevention. Demonstrating that eating a healthy diet, being active each day and maintaining a healthy weight are, after not smoking, the most important ways you can reduce the risk of cancer for you and your family.

World Cancer Research Fund founder Marilyn Gentry is passionate about preventing cancer. She said: “Almost all of us are affected one way or another, yet we are not powerless. Our work couldn’t be more urgent, especially when we know that around 40% of cancers could be prevented. We hope that by spreading this good news, along with our cancer prevention recommendations, many thousands of lives will be saved.

“But there is so much more we need to do and leaving a gift in your will to World Cancer Research Fund could be your special way of rewriting the future and making a memorable contribution to cancer prevention and survival in the years to come.” q • To learn more about how you can give future generations the power to prevent cancer visit www.wcrf-uk.org/legacy

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Legacies – the gift of life [ANIMAL CHARITY Wild Futures rescues

and offers sanctuary to monkeys who have suffered abuse and neglect. They are dedicated to protecting primates and their habitats worldwide – primates are endangered due to climate change, habitat destruction and the bush-meat and pet trades.

For some species, it is too late. The future of all that remains lies in our hands, so leaving a legacy to Wild Futures is the gift of life and a future for primates and our wonderful planet.

Wild Futures’ holistic approach makes them unique – providing sanctuary to rescued

monkeys, supporting projects overseas, campaigning for primate welfare, educating to protect primates worldwide and promoting a sustainability and ethical ethos.

They receive no government funding, so the generosity of those that remember Wild Futures is essential to enable them to continue their work. A legacy can be the gift of a life worth living and a wild and safe future for all. q • For more information call 01503 262532, email giving@wildfutures.org or visit the webiste at www.wildfutures.org.

This sanctuary helps donkeys from across Europe and beyond [ESTABLISHED IN 1990, NEDDI offers care and safety to donkeys –

and to a lesser degree, ponies – in Britain and Europe who have suffered neglect, cruelty or maltreatment or who are at risk of such treatment.

In addition to rescuing such animals from undesirable situations, within the financial and practical constraints prevailing at the time, they work to try to change attitudes and to educate donkey owners into better practices. For example, since 2016 they have been assisting associates in Kenya to achieve those aims for the working animals there.

Since its establishment in Cornwall, NEDDI has operated a sanctuary specifically for distressed donkeys. In 2001 the sanctuary moved to just the other side of the channel, where the resident donkeys enjoy more space and pasture than would otherwise have been possible.

Its policy is to try to offer actual, hands-on help to the animals in need, and to restore them to the maximum possible degree of fitness.

Once brought back to full health, new homes are sometimes sought for the fit animals.

Where full health cannot be achieved a safe home is offered to the donkey for the duration of its life.

NEDDI is a comparatively small organisation with limited resources, and relies heavily on support from animal-lovers. A bequest will enable more donkeys to be freed from pain and misery. q

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Free wills are on offer twice a year [TWICE A YEAR – in March and October – people aged 55 and over

in different parts of the country have the chance to have their will written or updated for free during Free Wills Month. During those periods people can get in touch with the solicitors taking part and request an appointment, during which they’ll be asked a series of questions that will affect how the will is written up, such as number of children. After the appointment, the solicitors will draw up the will.

The areas that take part in Free Wills Month change with each campaign, and the solicitors in those areas are all listed on the Free Wills Month website at www.freewillsmonth.org.uk. However, people should start checking the website for information before the campaign begins, as appointments often fill up pretty quickly.

Free Wills Month covers the writing of ‘simple’ wills. Those whose will is more complicated, or whose estate is valued over £325,000, will normally need to pay for the service themselves.

Trust works to alleviate condition’s worst effects [A SMALL CHARITY with a big heart: that’s how the Childhood Tumour Trust (CTT) has been described. It is the only charity established to support just children, young people and their families affected by the genetic condition Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

It is a very isolating condition and can affect any family. Tumours grow on nerves which can cause a lifetime of pain. Symptoms are varied and can include learning difficulties, amputations, blindness, ADHD, bone deformities, cancer, facial disfigurements and many other problems.

There is no telling how a child will be affected and as it is progressive it causes a lifetime of worry. CTT works hard to raise awareness among the public and healthcare professionals, to support families and provide special family days out and camps for children – for whom it is often the first time they feel accepted and are the only friendships they have. q

There are three main reasons why solicitors take part in Free Wills Month: to raise awareness about the need for wills, to help people who can’t afford a will and to promote leaving gifts to charity

Raising awareness

Just over half of adults in the UK don’t have a will, and a total of 5.4 million people have no idea how to even go about getting one. A lot therefore needs to be done to raise awareness about will-writing, to prevent the sort of issues that can arise when someone doesn’t have a will in place dies.

Offering free wills for two months of the year is a great way to get more people on board with the idea of needing wills, and in the long-term it is hoped that these people will share this information with others.

Helping people who can’t afford a will

A standard will can typically cost around £150, and the more complicated it is the more expensive it becomes. That means that, for some people, getting a will is simply something that they can’t afford.

Free Wills Month, which is organised by Capacity Marketing and funded by the charities that take part in the scheme, is a useful campaign for these people as it gives them a chance to get their affairs in order without having to worry about the cost.

Gifts in wills

Part of the reason behind offering free wills is to raise awareness of gifts in wills. People who have their will written during Free Wills Month are under no obligation to leave anything to charity in their will, but it’s hoped that by spreading awareness on this issue, more people will decide to help out charities in the future.

Many charities rely on gifts in wills to continue their work – from finding cures for cancer and other diseases, to caring for animals and vulnerable people – so for those who have a cause they care about it’s a good opportunity to consider leaving a gift in their will. q

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The dream continues to offer sanctuary to abandoned animals [THE YEAR IS 1983 and it is the coldest winter for 20 years. Many

stories about horses and ponies being abandoned by their owners on Rainham Marshes in Essex were hitting the headlines.

Paula Clark, who was involved in raising money for a number of sanctuaries, was sitting at home in tears after reading the story of those poor horses. When her husband Ernie returned home from work, Paula showed him what was happening and they vowed to take action and help the animals that needed them.

Some of the horses were already dead and others were starving when the couple got to the marshes. They weren’t having their basic needs met; they had no water or food. Paula and Ernie took tanks of water to them and bales of hay and feed. They even got a vet to examine some of them. No-one was looking after the horses’ basic needs – let alone enriching their lives.

Paula and Ernie embarked on fulfilling their dream and the story of Hopefield Animal Sanctuary began. They began taking horses with the intention of fostering. They would bring them back to health and then find them nice homes.

The first horse they fostered out was Pye. Soon after they heard that the fosterers were trying to sell him, so Ernie took them to court at a cost of £4,000. Ernie finally got Pye back in a terrible state, so both Paula and Ernie promised they would never rehome again – the animals had a home for life.

As Paula and Ernie found fostering animals didn’t work out they decided to provide homes for life to their animals. One beneficiary is Juliette, a thoroughbred horse who arrived in a terrible condition.

Because of her home for life at Hopefield, and the daily care and attention she receives, she is now physically transformed.

Paula and Ernie have both now sadly passed away. Since their passing the work has been taken over by new trustees and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers look after the resident animals, old and new. Many animals arrive in a terrible condition and are completely transformed by living at the sanctuary.

The sanctuary has now been running for 35 years – it has over 50 regular volunteers, a huge amount of local and loyal support and over 20,000 followers on Facebook.

CEO Dave Schlaich explained: “We have continued to rescue horses and farm animals, but have found that over the years the type of animals we are having to help has greatly changed, with people getting more and more into exotic species through the pet trade.”

The sanctuary is now open the public from Friday to Monday each week. It has become a visitor attraction with a small tea room. All activities generate funds that go directly to the animals, making the future more secure.

Said David: “You can support us by becoming a regular donor, visit us, sponsor an animal or leave us a legacy in your will, knowing that your donation goes towards providing a home for life for one of our animals.” q

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New reports on charity fraud reveal ambiguities [TWO NEW REPORTS published in October have revealed the

biggest fraud risks to charities. The publication of the reports coincided with Charity Fraud Awareness Week (21-25 October) and drew on a study earlier this year involving over 3,300 charities, looking into fraud awareness, resilience and cyber security.

The results suggest that many charities are not doing the basics to protect themselves, despite the fact that over two thirds think fraud is a major risk: insider fraud being one of the biggest threats.

The findings also show that charities do not always recognise how vulnerable they are. They need to put basic checks and balances in place to protect themselves.

Surprisingly, over a third think their organisation is not vulnerable to any of the most common types of charity fraud, and over half of those affected by fraud in the past two years knew the perpetrator.

Equally surprisingly, 85% of charities think they are doing everything they can to prevent fraud, but almost half don’t have any good-practice protections in place, and only 29% of charities reported cybercrimes to the police.

That gap between awareness and practical action is a threat to charities’ valuable funds, and to public trust and confidence in the sector.

The reports – Preventing Charity Fraud: Insights + Action and Preventing Charity Cybercrime: Insights + Action – offer charities simple steps to protect themselves: • Introduce and enforce basic financial controls: for example have at least two signatories to bank accounts and cheques, and undertake regular bank reconciliations • Make sure no one single individual has oversight or control of financial arrangements – effective segregation of duties is a crucial method of preventing and detecting fraud

• Encourage staff, volunteers and trustees to speak out when they see something they feel uncomfortable about The Charity Commission has worked with the National Cyber Security Centre to develop cyber security guidance relevant to charities of different sizes: the Cyber Security: Small Charity Guide provides simple steps to improve cyber security, while The Board Toolkit is relevant for larger charities.

The latter helps boards and senior managers understand cyber security from a governance perspective, which makes it easier to have productive conversations with technical colleagues.

Charities can register to access the free Charity Fraud Awareness Hub: a new one-stop shop for information on how to prevent, detect and respond to fraud. They can access free help sheets, case studies, webinars and practical tutorials. q

Saving lives one sniff at a time [HYPO HOUNDS provide a

viable health care alternative for children and their families by using their family pet – training their best friend to detect the subtle changes in the child’s blood sugar levels.

The dogs are trained to alert sleeping parents when the child’s sugar levels drop dangerously low or rise too high. This not only impacts on the child but also on the family’s ability to function as a unit, with the registered carer becoming the dog.

Hypo Hounds work is becoming nationally recognised and is literally saving the lives of children – one sniff at a time. q

Caring for chelonia [THE BRITISH CHELONIA GROUP publishes six newsletters

a year containing details of meetings, short articles, news items and veterinary notes. Their journal Testudo is published annually and contains original articles and reviews on all aspects of turtles, terrapins and tortoises – their biology, conservation, welfare, veterinary care and husbandry. The group also organises symposia.

As well as the yearly appeals in aid of specific international causes in chelonia research and survival, the BCG assists other worthy causes in support of its aims with grants. They invite grant applications from organisations and individuals engaged on the work of chelonia conservation – such as zoos, universities, zoologists and students in this country and overseas. q

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Daring rescue mission saves dozens of animals

[AT THE BEGINNING of this year the

oldest zoo in Gaza – Rafah Zoo – attracted worldwide attention. It emerged that over 40 animals were suffering in terrible conditions, prompting over 150,000 people to demand immediate action. Fortunately, international animal charity FOUR PAWS were able to respond to that call.

A 14-month-old lioness had been permanently mutilated. The lioness (above left) had endured excruciating pain as her claws were removed with garden shears, leaving her mutilated forever. To make matters worse, four newly-born lion cubs had frozen to death. There was no proper

nutrition, medical care or shelter, leaving the animals severely neglected.

The zoo, in the Gaza Strip, had suffered frequent damage from bombings and other military action during the on-going conflict there. Some animals had even been killed by rocket fire, and many others had died from malnutrition and disease. The team at FOUR PAWS knew they had to act.

In its largest ever rescue, and after several months of careful preparation and negotiations, the FOUR PAWS team entered Gaza. A total of 47 animals – including five lions, monkeys, wolves and foxes – were brought to safety.

The declawed lioness and many other animals were brought to the Al Ma’wa Sanctuary for Nature and Wildlife in Jordan – a partnership between the Princess Alia Foundation and FOUR PAWS. Two lions made the long journey to the five-acre FOUR PAWS LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa (below): years of pain and neglect finally behind them.

Gifts in wills can enable FOUR PAWS to continue their groundbreaking rescue missions and help animals worldwide. q • To receive your legacy information booklet please call Joanne Royston on 020 7922 7954 or email joanne.royston@four-paws.org.uk

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Help inspire the next generation of ecologists

[ THE WORLD IS FACING huge environmental challenges,

Expertise from the experts – support from mentors

Hard work – raised aspirations

From council estate to director and ecology champion

from climate change to plastics in our oceans. We need a new generation of ecological scientists to search for the solutions.

However, getting a start in ecology is not easy, particularly if you are from a low income background. Thankfully, the British Ecological Society (BES), the world’s oldest ecological society, is doing something about it.

Every summer BES takes 30 motivated 16-18 year olds from some of the most disadvantaged schools in the UK on their first residential ecology field course. The Ecology – the Next Generation Summer School lasts five days and the young people are taught by leading academic ecologists. Successful applicants, who are all from low income backgrounds, pay nothing to attend.

The academics provide their services free of charge.

“We take talented students from low income and black and minority ethnic backgrounds and expose them to the relevance of ecology in our world and the breadth of opportunities open to them,” explained Karen Devine, who heads up all BES education programmes. “The majority come to us having never considered taking a degree in ecology or the natural sciences or understood the rewarding careers on offer after they graduate.”

The Ecology – the Next Generation Summer School is not a holiday. A six a.m start for bird watching is followed by a day spent out in the field and in the lab. A researcher might lead the group through an area of freshwater ecology, then Environment Agency staff will set a hands-on task about mapping flooding locations locally. The students will then make decisions on where to build houses and flood defences. Evenings are spent discussing all they have learnt, then out into the night – bat detector in hand.

The young people get to work alongside experts who are leaders in their field and with support from mentors who are university students and have similar experiences to themselves.

“They spend time with ecologists who are passionate about what they do. The young people then think ‘I could be that person!’. That changes everything,” says Karen Devine.

Phoebe Whitehead, who is studying at Oxford University and is a mentor, said: “I just love it. I was the first person in my family to go to university – I had no idea what I wanted to do and made bad decisions at first. I took a gap year and changed it all round.

The young people on the summer school liked this, hearing that you can take time to think and dedicate yourself to what you’re interested in.”

“It’s inspirational really,” said John Condron, director of consultancy firm Ecology Resources Ltd which he founded with his wife Naomi. John grew up on a South London council estate and is now a sponsor of this year’s summer school. John and Naomi have provided a £2,500 bursary for one of the participants to invest in equipment, books and field courses.

John continued: “It’s great to see a lot of diversity at last. Ecology can be a very white, middle-class profession. From my visit I can see that the Ecology – the Next Generation Summer School reaches out to young people who otherwise would not have the same access as some of their peers. That is very important. It can open up the eyes of kids to nature, ecology and wildlife.”

How you can help

Please join John and Naomi Condron and support the next generation of ecologists. Donations will help BES expand the Ecology – the Next Generation programme so that more talented young people from low income backgrounds can study and make our world a better place. You can donate to the BES by: Bank Transfer to – Barclays Putney Branch UK. Sort Code 20-90-69, Account Number 70208736, SWIFT/BIC, BUKB GB22, IBAN GB59 BUKB 2090 6970 2087 36. Payable to The British Ecological Society.

Please quote NextGen as your reference Cheque to – Fundraising and Development, British Ecological Society, 1 Wharf Studios, 42 Wharf Road, London N1 7GS. PayPal – www.britishecologicalsociety.org/donate. q • If you would like more information on how you can support the next generation of ecologists by leaving a gift in your will, please contact BES Development Manager Paul Bower on paul@britishecologicalsociety.org or + 44 (0)20 3994 8246.

Founded in 1913 The British Ecological Society is a Registered Charity No 281283.

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SORP-making body seeks partners to inform change

[THE BODY charged with developing

the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (the SORP) is looking for engagement partners to form key stakeholder groups, in order to help gather feedback and ideas for change. The SORP is the set of rules which governs accounting for charitable companies and larger charities – those with an income over £250,000.

The current SORP was formulated in 1995 and it is proposed to have the new one in place next year.

The views of the stakeholder groups inform the work of the advisory Charities SORP Committee and so shape the future form and content of the new SORP. The engagement partners can be individuals or organisations. They will have an interest in charity financial reporting and the work of the sector, and will have the opportunity to work with the SORP Committee to make sure that their views are expressed correctly.

They will be put into stakeholder groups based on their main areas of work. Groups will be asked to reflect on:

• The information needs of users of charity annual reports and accounts • How far the SORP needs to change to meet those needs • What information users of the SORP need to prepare good annual reports and accounts • Opportunities to simplify and remove unnecessary reporting and ensuring technical compliance with the UK-Irish Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) The Charity Commission’s Nigel Davies, joint chair of the SORP Committee, said: “We are committed to helping charities meet public expectations, and so we want to see an accounting framework that best serves the reader of the report and accounts, and the wider public interest in the activities of charities. I encourage anyone with an interest to come forward to help develop improvements in reporting for the sector.”

An information pack is available to download from the Charity Commission website at www.charitysorp.org. It provides all the information needed about the role and how to apply. The closing date for applications is 31 January.

Myles McKeown, joint chair of the SORP Committee and head of compliance and enquiries at the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, said: “Northern Ireland charities with an income over £250,000 have been legally required to apply the charity SORP since 2016. Now is the time to build on your experience and contribute to the development of the next SORP, with the aim of making charity financial reporting better and more appropriate for the sector and for everyone who reads your accounts.” q

Charity that helps kids with kidney problems [FOUNDED IN 2000, Kidney Kids Scotland supports children

with renal illness and their families and is the only Scottish charity specifically set up to do so.

The main aim of the charity is to enable children to receive treatment as close to home as possible, thus minimising disruption to the family unit. To do that Kidney Kids Scotland works closely with consultants and other medical and welfare personnel, relying on their expertise to identify where help is most needed.

In addition, the trustees believe that no family should have to worry unduly over financial problems while also worrying about a sick child, and they do their utmost to support those families in any way they can.

The charity principally supports the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, which is the only centre in Scotland where children with end-stage renal failure can be treated with haemodialysis or receive a transplant.

Kidney Kids Scotland understand that children and young people living with chronic kidney disease face a lot of challenges in living a happy, healthy childhood. Conventional treatment options such as 3-times-weekly haemodialysis in a hospital dialysis unit offer huge health gains but can be hard on children and young people who want to be at school or with their friends instead of in a hospital.

The Charity has been instrumental in setting up the first-ever home haemodialysis service in Scotland, funding a nurse to do this. As a portable, home-based therapy, it can be used more frequently and at times that suit the family as, unlike in hospital, home patients can choose when and where they wish to do their treatments. This service is now hugely successful. q

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Research shows young people would become trustees [RESEARCH CARRIED OUT for insurer

Ecclesiastical has found that many 18-24 year olds – known as Generation Z – would consider becoming a charity trustee, but a large number know little about the role.

The specialist insurer conducted a survey of 500 people aged 18-24, in conjunction with Getting on Board and the Young Trustees Movement, to understand their perceptions of charity trustees. The research, released to coincide with Trustees Week, found that many young people would join charity boards if they knew more about the role and how to get involved.

While many Gen Z’ers support charities through donating (30%), volunteering (30%) or fundraising (19%), only 9% said they were currently a trustee. In fact, the majority have no idea what a trustee is, with just one in 10 able to explain the role when asked.

However, the good news for charities is that, once the role was explained, almost a quarter of those surveyed said they would consider becoming one, presenting a major opportunity to charities in the midst of a trustee recruitment crisis.

Almost two in five respondents (38%) said they would be more encouraged to become a trustee if they knew more about the role and how to become one. Improving their employability and gaining skills was an important factor for Gen Z’ers, with a third of respondents saying they would be encouraged to join a charity board if it supported their career goals and was recognised by employers as valuable experience. Flexible meeting times were also important.

Angus Roy, charity director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Our research tells us that charities need to do more to promote the benefits of being a trustee. The board of trustees will often form the strategy for the charity and so trustees gain invaluable experience in strategic planning and managing

long-term risks. Working closely with other board members also means working as a team and learning from each other.

“The role also comes with a lot of responsibility, as trustees have to make sure the charity is run properly and uses its charitable funds and assets wisely to deliver its objectives.

So, for young people, it’s a great opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience.”

More engagement needed A clear message from respondents was that the charity sector needs to do more to engage with young people and encourage them to get involved.

Almost half said more guidance was needed from charities on how to become a trustee, while 45% said charities needed to promote the benefits of being a trustee more widely. In addition, 42% said charities should demonstrate that the skills and experience gained were valuable in the job market. The same number said charities should do more to proactively engage with schools and universities.

Penny Wilson, chief executive of trustee recruitment charity Getting on Board, said: “We already know that young people are underrepresented on charity boards as volunteer trustees. We must do more to involve young people in charity governance to draw on their skills and experiences, to reflect the next generation in our strategic planning and to ensure a fresh supply of new people into the trustee body.

“This research from Ecclesiastical demonstrates that the barrier to more young people becoming trustees isn't a lack of willingness: it is a lack of information and awareness, with a large percentage of respondents not knowing about the role or not knowing how to become a trustee. We can take action both as individual charities as well as a sector. Ecclesiastical and Getting on Board are working on a new free guide, How

to Become a Charity Trustee, and we hope that this will support more young people to understand the role of trustee.”

The Young Trustees Movement is on a mission to double the number of trustees aged 30 and under on charity boards by 2024. They aim to change the image of what a trustee looks like by shining a light on the impact made by young trustees.

Leon Ward, a Young Trustees Movement campaigner, said: "I became a trustee when I was 18 years old and now at 27 I am currently serving as deputy chair of Brook. Trustees should particularly consider the benefits young people can bring to the boardroom, such as new talents and a fresh perspective.

In return, trusteeship is an excellent way for young people to learn new skills and progress professionally."

Kira Lewis, 19, a trustee on two boards and Young Trustees Movement campaigner, added: “Being a young trustee has helped me understand the importance of charities in the world we live in. From finance to social media, fundraising and making sure policies are inclusive, the breadth and depth of talent young people can add to boards is undeniable.

Young trustees can help transform the strategy of charities to make them future-facing, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow.” q

Supporting the maritime community [SEAFARERS UK is a charity that has been providing vital support

to the men and women who work at sea and are in need, and to those in maritime education or training, for over 100 years.

The charity does this by giving grants to organisations and projects that make a real difference to people’s lives. Seafarers UK receives no government funding and is heavily dependent on public donations and legacies. Last year Seafarers UK was able to give £2.5m in funding to over 50 maritime welfare and youth charities. q • To support Seafarers UK or to find out more about their work, visit the website at www.seafarers.uk or email seafarers@seafarers.uk

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From accident victims to abandoned pets, all are cared for [ANIMALS IN DISTRESS is a charity founded in 1967 to alleviate the

suffering of sick and injured animals: and that is still the main aim today.

It is achieved through a number of methods, including 24-hour rescue, veterinary treatment, neutering and a microchipping scheme. The work involves strays, abandoned animals, cruelty cases and road traffic accidents – plus, with its new retirement home they are able to offer longterm care for older animals.

The 24-hour emergency service at the Animals in Distress sanctuary in Irlam, Manchester, carries out what is perhaps the most important part of its work – and also the most difficult, costly and unpredictable.

The majority of cases stem from road accidents involving animals, and owners are rarely found. Most animals are treated and kept while they convalesce, before being neutered, chipped and re-homed. That can be expensive: a broken leg can cost well over £300 and one x-ray around £80.

A spokesperson explained: “The telephone is on the go 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The police, social services,

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dog warden service, public and other animal societies call us out. Because many animals are passed on by other organisations, we feel that we are the end of the line – and we are reluctant to refuse any call that is an emergency.

“From experience we know that, if we refuse people, they may merely abandon animals – leading to a bigger problem.

Due to that we are taken advantage of regularly, often by use of emotional blackmail.

However, our concern is for the animals and if we can help, we will.”

The sanctuary in Littleborough, near Rochdale, is different. It takes in old or deserted and injured horses, wildlife, all types of birds, pet goats, sheep, pigs, reptiles and unusual or bigger animals that cannot find a place in society. They need feeding, bedding and someone to help and care for them. Unfortunately, smaller charities are struggling to survive and Animals in Distress is one of them.

The charity encourages anyone who wants to help to look on the website, Facebook or visit its sanctuaries. The spokesperson explained: “We need your help; we cannot survive without public funding. If everyone wrote out a standing order for £2 a month this would help enormously.” q

Regulator’s annual report shows continued progress in raising standards [ON 18 NOVEMBER the Fundraising Regulator published

its annual report and accounts for the year ending 31 August – highlighting the progress it has made in raising standards in fundraising.

The report includes the information that 3,597 charities are now registered with the regulator – up from 3,000 last year. The figure includes 16 online platforms: a sector that is increasingly supportive of voluntary regulation.

A total of 8,719 suppression requests were received through the Fundraising Preference Service, and 757 complaints from members of the public were resolved during the year.

The regulator lists as some of its key achievements the fact that 95% of fundraising organisations are now voluntarily choosing to pay the fundraising levy – demonstrating support for regulation of their activities – as well as the continuing use of the Fundraising Preference Service by charities, which allows members of the public to opt out of receiving unwanted communications from charities.

Plus, the charities investigated following complaints from members of the public are accepting the regulator’s

recommendations to improve the way that they fundraise.

Those achievements follow research which found that 90% of the public agree that the Fundraising Regulator and Code of Fundraising Practice perform important roles.

Lord Toby Harris, chair of the Fundraising Regulator (pictured), said: “Since I became chair in January 2019 I have seen record numbers of charities paying the levy and organisations registering with us. This clear demonstration of support from fundraising organisations shows the appetite for voluntary regulation from across the sector.

“Charities have made excellent progress since 2016 and are working hard to build public trust and confidence in their fundraising activities.”

Key highlights from the report were presented at an annual accountability event, which brings together 150 senior representatives from charities and fundraising organisations to discuss the steps taken to improve public trust in fundraising.

The report is available to download from the Fundraising Regulator website at www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk where a shorter Annual Review focusing on key highlights is also available. q

Charity carries on the work of its founder [FOR OVER 30 YEARS the famous animal hospital known as

Tiggywinkles has been working to rescue, treat and rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned British wildlife. Over that time they have proved beyond doubt that most wild animal and bird casualties can be saved and returned to the wild.

Although they specialise in hedgehogs – indeed, they derive their name from St Tiggywinkles, the name of their specialist hedgehog ward, inspired by the animal character created by Beatrix Potter – their wealth of expertise in the care of a wide range of species can now be passed on to others.

In addition, their commitment to practical education plays a vital part in the conservation of wildlife. As an accredited centre, opportunities are available for students aged 16 and over to gain a City and Guildsapproved qualification via their Apprenticeship in Animal Care scheme.

Tiggywinkles was founded by Les Stocker, who sadly passed away in July 2016. In a tribute, Les was described as ‘…a steadfast ambassador, achieving his goal to turn wildlife rehabilitation into a profession’. In another he was referred to as the ‘the spiritual heart of Britain’. He was awarded an MBE by The Queen and given the title Laureate in the 1990 International Rolex Awards for Enterprise, for his work in wildlife conservation and establishing Europe’s first wildlife teaching hospital. More recently, he gained the prestigious Honorary Associateship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

The charity is happy to commemorate all who generously remember the Wildlife Hospital Trust in their will by inscribing their name on a plaque in its Remembrance Garden. Gifts are also welcome in the form of a donation or by becoming a Friend of Tiggywinkles. q

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Research is key to a better life after brain injury

[THE MISSION of Brain Research UK is to fund essential research

to discover the causes, develop new treatments and improve the lives of those affected by neurological conditions.

The charity’s current research focus is on areas where there is a realistic chance of making a difference to neurological patients within the short to medium term. This is where the need for charitable funding is most urgent.

As a result they have three current research priorities – brain tumours, brain and spinal cord injury, and headache and facial pain.

Brain Research UK receives no government funding and so relies exclusively on voluntary donations. For further information please visit www.brainresearchuk.org.uk. q

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Conference and awards Rescue centre offers a lifeline to injured wildlife shine in week of fundraising celebration

[HESSILHEAD WILDLIFE RESCUE TRUST is situated near Beith, [WITH THE on-going rise of digital technology and the shift in

audience expectations and demands, it has never been more important for charities to reinforce the relationship they have with their supporters, both online and offline. To respond to the pressing demand for transformation and change, fundraisers and charity leaders must adopt innovative and creative approaches to fundraising campaigns.

That was the message to fundraisers from Third Sector as it launched its annual Fundraising Conference, to be held at ILEC London on 20-21 May next year. The conference promises to be overflowing with inspiration, innovation and practical solutions to current fundraising challenges.

According to the organisers: “From cause-led and supporter-first campaigns to diversified revenue models and digital fundraising, it’s time to step up and work together to build a bright future for the fundraising community.”

The key topics for 2020 will be: • The future charity model – co-operation and collaboration to • maximise impact • Fundraising portfolios and alternative income-generation models to • expand impact and reach • Mobilising audiences through effective storytelling and effectively • leveraging social media tools • Building an ambassador scheme to get the most value out of a • volunteer base • Rebuilding trust for the third sector – transparency, authenticity and • trust for the modern consumer The conference is part of Third Sector’s Fundraising Week 2020, which acts as a focus for a celebration of fundraising from 18-22 May. Information on all the events is available at www.fundraisingweek.co.uk.

One of the highlights of Fundraising Week is the Business Charity Awards ceremony, taking place at the Marriott Grosvenor Square on 20 May. With corporate social responsibility now a fundamental business objective, UK businesses large and small are looking for new ways to engage their employees and promote community issues through mutually beneficial charity partnerships.

The awards offer a perfect platform for businesses to share best practice and reap the rewards for their achievements in the community.

In partnership with the London Benchmarking Group, the awards bring together a network of innovative organisations and professionals to recognise and reward new standards of excellence and lead the way for other organisations to follow. q

in North Ayrshire. It was set up as a charity in 1986, although its founders Andy and Gay had been caring for injured and orphaned wildlife since 1970, when they rescued a fox cub from a gamekeeper and his dogs. As the number of casualties increased year on year, Andy and Gay needed financial and practical help.

Once the trust was set up, new aviaries and enclosures were built. A membership scheme proved popular and many volunteers were recruited. The centre now occupies a 20-acre site, including woodland, marsh and open water. That gives a variety of release sites for its patients.

Approximately 3,500 wildlife casualties are now treated each year, with the aim of returning them to the wild. Among the many hedgehogs, foxes and familiar garden birds there are deer, otters, badgers and seals. All have been rescued and are rehabilitated. In addition, swans are treated regularly, along with buzzards, peregrines, herons and sea birds.

The centre operates a 24-hour rescue service and there are more than 60 enclosures and aviaries, a hedgehog hospital, a seal/swan unit and intensive care facility. It also offers training courses on the handling, care and treatment of wildlife casualties.

Spring and summer are especially busy, with hundreds of nestling birds being hand reared. Care is taken to rear all youngsters with minimum human contact. That prevents wild birds and mammals becoming too used to people, so giving them a good chance of survival in the wild.

Hessilhead is primarily a voluntary organisation. Its volunteers help in many ways: fundraising, building and maintenance, driving patients to the centre and daily cleaning and feeding. q

• Further information and an entry kit can be downloaded from www.businesscharityawards.com. Deadline for entries is 6 February.

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Many claim to have donated to charity – but haven’t [MILLIONS OF ADULTS may have ‘forgotten’ to donate to charity,

despite telling others they would, a study of 1,000 adults has found.

According to the research, carried out by OnePoll for Sainsbury’s and Argos, more than one in 10 have told friends and family they have donated a certain amount to charity when they haven't. Of those, as many as 40% claimed to have forgotten to make a donation, while three in 10 said they didn’t have the time, which is why they have misled others.

More than one in four couldn’t afford to make a donation, with 31% even confessing to fibbing to show off to someone else. It also emerged one in four adults give less to charity than they think they should.

Sainsbury’s and Argos are urgently calling for donations as they launch their biggest-ever Christmas charity drive.

The Help Brighten a Million Christmases campaign is hoping for one million food and toy donations in stores across the UK. The initiative is running in partnership with thousands of charities, who will distribute the items to local communities in time for Christmas.

Judith Batchelar from Sainsbury’s said: “If every person shopping at any supermarket this December bought one extra item – be that a can of soup or a roll-on deodorant – over 50 million products could be donated to those in need this festive season.

“It’s also worth noting that customers don’t have to shop in Sainsbury’s, as we will be welcoming products from any other retailer placed in our collection boxes – so everyone can come together to Help Brighten a Million Christmases again this year.”

The good news is that 95% have donated at some point in their life, giving money, clothing and books to charitable causes. More than three in 10 reckon they are more likely to be charitable at Christmas than any other

time of year. The study also found nearly half of Brits feel happy and one quarter feel proud of themselves when they donate in some form.

In all, 85% agree it’s important to give to good causes – whether that’s in the form of a cash donation or giving old clothes, toys or food.

A third are also more likely to make a donation when given a prompt, such as going to a fundraising event or seeing a donation tin at a shop till, and a third would also be more inclined to give to charity if it was easier to do so.

It also emerged that, of the parents polled, 40% will have a big clear out of their children’s toys in time for Christmas, with seven in 10 going on to donate old toys and games to charity. In fact, 88% of mums and dads actively encourage their little ones to be more generous and give to charity.

Sainsbury’s and Argos are asking customers to donate non-perishable food items, toiletries and new toys for children between the ages of 0-16.

The retailers also encourage the donation of old toys via a local charity shop to help brighten even more people’s Christmas. q

If you Will, we will [LEGACIES MEAN SO much to the team at Last Chance

Animal Rescue. These wonderful gifts have helped them to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home so many abandoned, abused and unwanted dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, rabbits and guinea pigs who otherwise would have had no future.

The charity understand the wishes of its kind benefactors who have considered them in their Wills. A spokesperson said: “We know they want their generous gift to us to be used directly to save lives, provide the very best of care and to find loving homes.

“Legacies really do provide the gift of life and Last Chance Animal Rescue can now, after much planning and prudent use of funds, offer our life saving services to so many more needy pets. We are delighted to announce we now have a second rescue and re-homing centre in Kent, giving hope and a true A new friend for Alan last chance to so many.

“Sadly we cannot thank those who have enabled this wonderful achievement but are extremely grateful to all those who are currently considering helping us now and in the future to continue our work.” q

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The range of charities which depend on legacies to carry out their valuable work is a broad one. Those that are represented in this publication are listed below, grouped according to the area of activity in which they operate.

ANIMAL WELFARE

INDEX

MEDICAL RESEARCH

Friends of the Animals 4/5

Prostate Cancer Research Centre 1

Swan Lifeline 6

CLEFT 12

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary 6

World Cancer Research Fund 15

Three Counties Dog Rescue 7

Brain Research UK 28

SongBird Survival 8

Pain Relief Foundation 28

Willows Animal Sanctuary 10/11 Forever Hounds Trust 12 Wild Futures 16 The New European Distressed Donkey Initiative Ltd 16

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

Heartbeat Home for Horses 17

Youth Cancer Trust 14

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary 18

Childhood Tumour Trust 17

British Chelonia Group 19

Hypo Hounds 19

FOUR PAWS 20/21

Kidney Kids Scotland 23

Pet Rescue Welfare Association 24 Animals in Distress Field of Dreams 26 Tiggywinkles 27 Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue 29 Last Chance Animal Rescue 30

SUPPORT & ADVICE Nerve Tumours UK 2 Victim Support 24 Seafarers UK 25

HEALTH & DISABILITY Seeing Dogs 2 National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom 13

OVERSEAS AID Hope Health Action 8 ZANE: Zimbabwe A National Emergency 9

ECOLOGY British Ecological Society 22/32

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