Hi everyone. I will send out the presentations and video this afternoon.

by "charities" do you mean just registered charities, not CiCs, unincorporated organisations etc?

Have you any recent examples from around the UK of small charities successfully merging to save overhead costs and achieve economies of scale?

Hi Rob, the Almanac doesn't include CICs or unincorporated orgs, so we know that our data doesn't reflect all types of voluntary action. Sadly, we're limited a lot by the data from the Charity Commission.

Hi Nickie, anecdotally we hear of some mergers and that should always remain an option for organisations. But we don't look at mergers in the Almanac.

Thank you

So would you suggest the next financial year is a key period for funders to give out more funds than in recent years if they can?

I think that the public are also, rightly giving money to Ukraine and this is going to impact on our income.

as funders we can only give more if investment income increases - can you see what the trend in this might be

Bigger organisations have benefited more from public giving than small - something that we're working with the government on (trying to encourage the public to give locally and to small orgs).

It's a good point, Kaye. Sadly, for most investments, the trend is downwards particularly with volatility in financial markets.

Really important to make sure your investment strategy is giving the best returns, and/or perhaps look at changing funding criteria so focus on a smaller area or smaller number of issues?

I think that's definitely an option, Carla.

Investment policy is not always dictated by a best return basis, for many Community Foundations there is now green/environmental basis for investment, which is about trying to achieve carbon emissions reduction. This means that investment portfolios no longer invest in e.g. fossil fuel companies.

The message that has come out of our research in the Wakefield district is that many VCSE organisations want to collaborate, as they know that this would strengthen and improve their offer, but don't do it. The norm is to work informally with each other and they have told us they haven't got the support to move them into more formal collaborations / partnerships, where they could look at capacity building in its widest sense, including shared costs, etc

I meant to add that they also told us they felt they might be taken more seriously and better understood by the statutory sector, if there was more collaboration, coalitions, etc

Interesting work Kath. Need more charities/groups to come to us and ask for funding to support these collaborations, and for us to encourage them to ask.

We find the support and capacity building for smaller groups is of equal or great value than cash

As Small Charities Coalition has now closed, this learning report talks more about how funders can support small orgs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LdDwcbFTMjn3s8dwvKNAtB4yLamcDPM3EOzF-hLJH_Y/edit

I agree Tony! Much of the research through the pandemic shows exactly this. Fewer dissolutions, increased workforce, and shifting volunteering patterns. But this isn't universal.

Some VCSE organisations who do have debt, there are some who have social investment loans. At CFFC we give small loans, interest free, only a few at a time and for very specific criteria, but these do work.

Thanks Tony. The reports were a fascinating insight for me. Certainly in Hull I am worried about VCSE resilience especially with so many larger funders reviewing there own strategies.

Thanks for having me this morning. I'm afraid I can't stay for the second hour, but thanks for the comments and questions. Oliver will be staying and so can answer any more questions from our presentation. Thanks again!

Thanks so much. Very interesting this morning. Apologies I have to leave for my next meeting but looking forward to the next meeting.

Missed out would be really useful to look at reviewing grant making criteria - many funders closed for a little while to review this, especially as given funding up front for covid emergency funding and stepping back to review

Thanks for coming Rachel!

yes agree move to more funding for skilling groups up not just projects

Great session, thanks all! :)

Great meeting today. Lots to think about and consider. Thank you to all the organisers and facilitators.

Really useful, thanks everyone!

Would welcome the recording Carla

Thanks all

Thanks everyone!

Thanks all for coming!

thanks

great session, thank you