The Charity Pages Issue 5

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Charitable thoughts...

This spring has been a time for reflection on trends in people’s charitable giving, including a notable piece of research into the past decade of legacies.

The research, carried out for Remember A Charity, has reported a significant rise in the number of wills including a charitable bequest – a trend that has been reflected in this publication. It also found a major expansion in the number of charities looking to legacies as part of their fundraising, which is also reflected in the range of organisations featuring their work in this supplement.

The pot may be getting larger, but the generosity of legators is being spread ever more thinly. What the next 10 years will bring is anybody’s guess.

• The knowledge and expertise that has been gained into legacy fundraising comes together in London in June for the annual Legacy Summit. No doubt the insight gained from Remember A Charity’s report will be hotly debated by the broad church of fundraisers attending.

Again, the sheer diversity of the organisations they represent – from major international names to small local charities – bears witness to the expansion of the market.

• Other research published in the past couple of months shows a fall in the number of people making regular donations to charities – although the amount donated per capita has risen, meaning the amount donated has remained roughly the same. Charities are feeling more demand for their work, however: a fact reflected in their fundraising investment.

• May was the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims are traditionally particularly generous in their charitable donations, or Zakat. It follows that it is also a time when fraudsters are active, so donors need to be vigilant in their giving. The ‘Give Smart, Give Safe’ campaign from the Muslim Charities Forum carries tips on safe giving, as does guidance from the Charity Commission, which traditionally offers advice at significant religious times and following a disaster.

In this issue...

CONTENTS 9

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Checklist guides charities through the will-writing minefield

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Research reflects on decade of legacy giving

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Legacy practitioners head to London for summit

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Report shows charities’ fundraising priorities

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Muslims urged to ‘give safe’ at Ramadan

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Convention goers hear the latest on legacies – and Dame Kelly’s story

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Fundraisers look forward to national awards

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Institute takes a step closer to chartered status

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Regular donor numbers fall for third year running

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Regulator publishes complaints report

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Cyber crime: Charity Commission issues new alert

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Scottish charity review comes in for criticism

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Brexit and probate: it really is anyone’s guess

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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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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.

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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Checklist guides charities through the will-writing minefield [

FREE ADVICE is now available online to help charities choose a suitable will-writing partner. The resource can be found on the website of Remember A Charity – the umbrella organisation for charities that promotes legacy giving.

Charities are increasingly pairing up with will-writers to help their supporters gain access to specialist and legal advice and to promote their cause to a wider audience – particularly those who are currently planning what will happen to their estate.

To help charities assess both the opportunities and the risks, and to make the right choice for their needs and those of their supporters, Remember A Charity have developed a brief guide and checklist, together with a directory of some of the most well-known will-writing firms.

While working with a good will-writing partner can help to raise a charity’s profile and encourage legacy donations, the organisation says, there is a broad range of services on the market. It is important that charities and the public can determine how those services differ and what level of legal expertise is provided. A will that lacks rigour can mean that assets may not be allocated as intended and is more likely to be disputed.

Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity, says: “With will-writing options changing rapidly, especially in the online market, we are seeing growing opportunities for charities to reach out to new audiences. However, with such a diverse

range of providers on offer, and an as-yet unregulated willwriting marketplace, it is imperative that charities choose who they work with carefully.

“This advice helps charities identify the questions they need to ask when making that choice in order to form a proper assessment of potential partners, identifying what service will be the best fit for their needs.”

Before choosing a partner, charities are encouraged to consider how the will-writing service is delivered and regulated, whether the provider has the expertise to handle complex estates, and at what level qualified legal professionals are involved in the process. Additional questions include asking what steps the providers are taking to ensure that clients have mental capacity to make a will and how they guard against undue influence of others.

The resources have been developed with support from the Institute of Legacy Management. Its CEO Matthew Lagden explained: “With contested wills having risen significantly since 2016, it is becoming ever-more important that charities offering will-writing services work with a suitable partner, to provide a service that protects both supporters and estate beneficiaries as well as themselves, and reduces the risk of dispute. These resources from Remember A Charity will help charities make informed choices and form strong partnerships that enable them to do just that.” q

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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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 but have been left destitute and surviving on one meal a day. 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 2,800 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 high-density 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.

Whilst a change in leadership brings hope of a brighter future, it will take years, if not decades, to recover from the economic and social devastation of the last 30 years. In the meantime, ZANE will continue to provide aid and comfort to those who need it most. q • To find out more about the work of ZANE visit www.zane.uk.com

How science can help restore the dawn chorus [DO YOU REMEMBER the dawn chorus? Spring mornings when the

cacophonous beauty of bird song wakened you early; the summer sky filled with swooping swallows and glorious skylarks; the evening air punctuated with thrush and nightingale song. Where have all the songbirds gone?

Songbird numbers have crashed in only one generation. Woodland birds have halved and farmland birds have fared worse. But is this is all down to farming techniques and loss of habitat? Much has already been tried, but numbers of these beautiful birds are not getting any better.

Birds are a good indicator as to how well our environment is coping with the stresses of modern life: if birds are not doing well then everything else is not doing well. What sort of world are we creating for future generations?

SongBird Survival is funding new research to find out more about the problems our songbirds face and hopes to find ways to reverse the worrying decline in their numbers. The research is highlighting many areas of wildlife management we need to improve.

But that is only the tip of the iceberg: there is so much more we need to learn. Georgina Bradley of SongBird Survival explained: “We need your help to continue our vital work to save songbirds. Your gift, either now or in your will, can make a world of difference to the wildlife legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren.” q • For more information email dawn-chorus@songbird-survival.org.uk or visit www.songbird-survival.org.uk

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Research reflects on decade of legacy giving

[REMEMBER A CHARITY has published a report covering trends in

the legacy fundraising market over the past 10 years.

Showing growth in the number of charities benefiting from legacies and revealing new insights into income growth, The UK Legacy Fundraising Market 2019 report underlines the importance of achieving the consortium’s goal of growing the donor market and normalising legacy giving.

The research was conducted by Dr Catherine Walker, director of The Researchery, and Cathy Pharoah, visiting professor of charity funding at Cass Business School.

Remember A Charity’s director Rob Cope commented: “The donor market is clearly growing, with a long-term shift in the proportion of estates that include a charitable gift. But with rapid expansion in the legacy fundraising marketplace and more charities at the table, the question is whether charities will start to feel the squeeze.

“Our research shows that legacy income is being stretched across a broader marketplace and that some markets are more likely to feel the pinch than others. With the future impact of Brexit as yet unknown and economic instability predicted for some time yet, that reinforces the need for the sector to work collaboratively to grow the donor market, providing a more stable basis for this vital income stream for the years ahead.”

The report unveils new trends and market insights, based on the analysis of legacy income of over 1,100 UK fundraising charities, with annual legacy income of £2.23bn. Exploring the impact of the recession and subsequent economic recovery, the research identifies long-term legacy income patterns, drawing national comparisons for charities in England, Scotland and Wales.

Dr Walker said: “This new research on long-term trends in UK fundraising charities’ legacy income demonstrates the resilience of this form of planned giving as a way to support the causes the public cares about. Legacies made a strong recovery from the impact of recession as market values picked up again, with donors responding to new opportunities and appeals to make charitable bequests.”

Welsh and Scottish charities are outperforming charities in England as well as those with a UK-wide remit in terms of legacy income growth. Although the Welsh and Scottish legacy markets constitute a small proportion of the UK’s legacy income – amounting to a collective total of only 4% – the report reveals that charities saw real terms legacy income growth from 2007-2017 of 35% in Wales and 23% in Scotland, against a UK average growth rate of 10%.

Professor Pharoah commented: “Across all parts of the UK, legacies continue to be the largest single source of fundraising income, from 31% of giving to UK-wide national charities to a quarter of giving among Scottish and Welsh charities.”

The research also reveals that the market is broadening, with a 24% rise in the number of top 5,000 fundraising charities reporting legacy income over the decade, and changing public preferences in terms of the types of organisations people are naming in their wills.

Health charities retain the largest income share from legacies (42% in 2017) but overseas aid, environmental and services charities are increasing their space in the market. At the same time, religious charities and social care are losing ground.

Rob Cope comments: “While the biggest UK-wide charities have long dominated the sector and continue to be hugely successful with legacies, they don’t have the monopoly. Today’s legacy market is proving more accessible than ever, with many new and smaller charities fundraising for legacies and changing the overarching shape of the market.

“Our challenge now is to increase the pace of growth of the donor marketplace and ensure that there is greater scope for every fundraising charity to benefit from gifts in wills.”

The report was unveiled as part of the launch of Remember A Charity’s three-year strategy for 2019-2021. In addition to on-going consumer awareness initiatives, government lobbying and ensuring legal advisors encourage clients to consider leaving a gift to charity when writing their will, the strategy sets out a new focus for identifying trigger points for the public to consider legacy giving, during retirement and pension planning. 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 Lydia Francis on 020 7922 7954 or email Lydia.francis@four-paws.org.uk

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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

Rare diseases affect many lives [ MORE THAN HALF of the people in the world with serious

lifelong conditions are children. Indeed, in the UK alone there are over half-a-million children with life-threatening genetic disorders, according to Genetic Disorders UK, and worldwide more than 350 million people are fighting a rare disease.

Add to that the fact that most rare diseases do not have treatments – many giving rise to misdiagnosis – and the task facing the Ultra Rare Diseases, Disorders and Disabilities Foundation (URDDAD) becomes apparent.

URDDAD grew out of the Cavan Tommy Hoey Trust. Cavan is the grandchild of two of its directors and has one rare disease and one ultra rare disease: EBV-HLH and XLP. His grandparents know only too well the affects on the whole family.

Since Cavan’s diagnosis in 2007 they have worked tirelessly on their websites, blogging daily. As a result of their dedication, awareness of rare and ultra rare diseases has spread across the globe and major drug companies are taking up the challenge.

They now need funding to enable them to reach their biggest goal: a centre to help families who are going through the nightmare of such a diagnosis. The aim is to set up a home-from-home with a dedicated team of volunteers, counsellors and medical staff to enable families to have a bit of ‘normal’ time: a place where parents can bring their children and a sanctuary for patients with special needs.

More immediately they are looking to establish a soft play café dedicated to children with special/extra needs and their parents – a place where they will all feel at ease instead of feeling different. q

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Legacy practitioners head to London for summit [ON 13 JUNE the Legacy

Strategy Summit 2019 will bring together experts from a wide range of charities at varying stages of their legacy journeys to share their knowledge and experiences.

The summit, which will be taking place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge, will give delegates the opportunity to hear first-hand how other legacy professionals are tackling specific areas such as investment, social media, creating a legacy proposition and how to pinpoint what good stewardship looks like. They will be able to network with other senior leaders in legacy fundraising and engage in strategic conversations about opportunities in the sector; define an effective social media strategy and explore how digital technology can increase their legacy income; and gain exclusive insights and learn key success factors from other charities to replicate in their own role.

Commenting on last year’s show, Alana Bradford from the University of Cambridge said: “Being new to the legacy market, I was really pleased to find out that the issues I face in my new role are not unusual.”

Pumulo Joe Banda, marketing executive (legacies and in memory) at Save the Children, added: “I enjoyed the panel

discussion on legacy propositions – having recently gone through the process of establishing a new proposition, it was great to see and hear from other charities going through the same process.”

New for 2019, the event format has been updated to include even more opportunities for charities to network and build strategies.

This year the event will feature a range of panels and case studies followed by interactive breakout sessions which delegates can pick and choose, to tailor to their own legacy strategy programme or needs.

Run by charities for charities, the summit will give an exclusive insight into how other legacy professionals tackle issues and challenges such as securing investment in legacy fundraising, evolving a social media strategy and creating a legacy proposition, plus much more.

Emma Rylance of the British Red Cross enthused: “Wide range of opinions and viewpoints represented; more interesting to have discussions than be talked at, plus opportunity to network.” q

• To find out more, register and download the full agenda visit the website at https://legacystrategysummit.com

Make a lasting contribution to family life

[MOTHERS’ UNION is a movement of over four million members

who won’t stand to see families suffer. In 84 countries their Christian faith inspires them to serve their communities, helping people of all faiths and none.

Together they change the lives of over 750,000 people each year; and because they work in the heart of every community the impact lasts a lifetime.

Leaving a legacy to Mothers’ Union means helping to ensure that no family has to struggle to get from one day to the next. You will help families get the support they need, long into the future – through projects such as parenting programmes, literacy circles, family centres in prisons and much more.

Leaving a legacy of any size is a lovely way to make a lasting contribution to family life, all over the world. q • For further information on leaving a gift in your will to Mothers’ Union tel 020 7222 5533, email legacy@mothersunion.org or visit the website at www.mothersunion.org/legacy

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Report shows charities’ fundraising priorities [A NEW REPORT from the Institute of

Fundraising (IoF) and PwC has revealed the current priorities and decisions that charities are taking around their fundraising activities.

Fundraising for Impact was published on 7 May and is based on a survey of over 100 fundraising charities of different sizes. The research explores fundraising income and costs, how charities are investing in fundraising, key fundraising challenges and their views about fundraising in the future.

The report shows that charities are concerned about future economic uncertainty and the disposable income of donors, and continue to experience a rising demand for services. Despite the pressure on charities – including increased costs of compliance, workforce and fundraising activity – it is clear that they are adapting and proactively taking control through innovation and new approaches to put in place strong foundations for future success.

Some of the key findings include: • Charities are predicting a growth in income for future years. The majority of respondents predicted growth of at least 10% in most areas of voluntary income over the next three years.

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• Improving the experience of current supporters is the number one current area of focus for charities (63%), while the most commonly reported area of focus for the future is to find new supporters (74%).

• Charities have experienced rising costs over recent years: 86% of respondents reported a significant increase in costs of compliance, alongside increases in workforce, fundraising activity, and systems and technology.

• Three quarters of respondents (73%) said their charity’s investment in generating voluntary income was a priority, with digital engagement being the most likely area of predicted increased donations over the next three years.

The IoF’s chief executive Peter Lewis commented: “Fundraisers know that the success of fundraising goes beyond the pound that is donated: it is about the relationships that are created between the cause, the charity and supporters that will deliver long-term success.

“While increased costs and economic uncertainty lead to a challenging environment, I’m pleased to see that more charities are putting in place strong foundations and building blocks that will deliver for their causes into the future.”

Aidan Sutton, partner and head of charities at PwC, said: “I’m heartened by the sense of positivity and optimism from those who responded to our survey. Improving the experience of existing supporters and attracting new ones are, quite rightly, seen as key priorities – and building deep, authentic relationships will be at the heart of that. Focusing on creating a great supporter experience means a shift in mind-set away from a traditional measure of financial return on investment and towards a return on experience.” q • The full report is available to download at www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/ fundraisingforimpact.

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

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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.

Muslims urged to ‘give safe’ at Ramadan [DURING THE HOLY MONTH of Ramadan the Charity

Commission and the Fundraising Regulator joined with the Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) to launch a ‘safer giving’ campaign, encouraging people to take simple steps to ensure their Zakat donations reach their intended causes.

The MCF estimates that Muslims across Britain donated around £130m during Ramadan last year, helping to strengthen communities and improve lives. However, the regulators are warning that, in rare cases, people can seek to take advantage of that generosity and valuable donated funds can end up in the wrong hands.

Fadi Itani, chief executive officer of the Muslim Charities Forum, commented: “British Muslims are enormously generous in their charitable giving, which increases during the holy month of Ramadan.

At the Muslim Charities Forum we see first-hand the difference these vital donations make. That’s why we are supporting this campaign and are encouraging Muslims to check before you give, to ensure you are giving to a genuine registered charity and that your donation is going where it is intended.”

The regulator’s top tips are: • Before giving, check for a charity registration number: you can • verify it via the charity register at www.gov.uk/checkcharity • Be more cautious about people • collecting for general charitable • causes, such as ‘for sick children’ • When approached by collectors, check • whether they are wearing a proper ID • badge and that any collection tin is • sealed and undamaged • Check if a collector has authority • to collect: if they’re raising money in • a public place, they’ll need a permit or • licence. Collections in mosques • should be authorised by the trustees • of the charity If in doubt, potential donors should ask the collector for more information. A genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer questions and explain more about the work of the charity. In particular, people should never feel under pressure by a fundraiser into making a donation immediately.

Modern methods for online donation carry their own risks. Those wanting to donate online should type in the charity’s website address from their internet browser, and if donating through an online fundraising platform, should check if they’re registered with the Fundraising Regulator.

Care should be taken when responding to emails or clicking links within them: do not click-through from suspicious-looking emails.

Gerald Oppenheim, CEO of the Fundraising Regulator, said: “We want to make sure donations made during Ramadan go to the right place. Unfortunately there are people who will try to take advantage of the generosity of the Muslim community. The fundraiser asking for your money should know where it’s going, so don’t be afraid to ask them. If they’re using the Fundraising Regulator badge on their collection bucket or clothing, their charity should be signed up to good, honest fundraising – you can check this on our website.”

In a blog on the Institute of Fundraising site, Fadi Itani explained: “We want Muslim donors to be able to differentiate between the overwhelming majority of genuine charities and their fundraisers and sham entities, whilst both groups compete for a donor’s attention.” q • The MCF’s Give Smart, Give Safe campaign can be viewed at https://youtu.be/LALUXz8J4co

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 vist www.nfbuk.org.

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Convention goers hear the latest on legacies – and Dame Kelly’s story [THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED with legacy

giving form one of the themes of this year’s Fundraising Convention – to be held at The Barbican from 1-3 July. The annual convention sees thousands of fundraisers gather at the largest professional fundraising event in Europe.

Speakers from across the sector deliver a rich, diverse and engaging range of workshops, case studies and debates. The programme brings a wealth of insight and experience to challenge delegate thinking with an aim to inform, refresh and engage through talks, workshops and features.

The convention addresses a number of themes – dubbed ‘programme tracks’ – which this year follow a general concept of inclusiveness.

The legacy track runs across the first two days of the convention – 1-2 July. It combines case studies with overviews of legislation and examination of some of the philosophical debates associated with constructing successful legacy programmes.

The first day sees presentations on why charities shouldn’t expect to take legatees ‘on a journey’, while continuing to normalise legacy giving and not being afraid to talk about death.

The process of creating a legacy programme from scratch is followed by a presentation from Meg Abdy of Legacy Foresight on legacies in a multicultural society.

Day two sees case studies from Save the Children, Marie

Curie and The Donkey Sanctuary followed by presentations on why some charities attract more legacies. The day ends with the ‘B’-word, as Allan Freeman of Freestyle Marketing addresses Debating the BIG questions.

The highlight of the third day of the convention will be the plenary session from double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes (left).

Dame Kelly Holmes is one of the UK’s most famous athletes, respected throughout the world as a role model and an inspiration. She is also the founder of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust – a UK youth sports charity which supports 11-25 year-olds who are harder to engage in both education and in the community.

In her talk she will draw on how she found the determination and dedication to overcome injury and disappointment, and emphasises that we can all overcome our hardships, especially in the workplace – just as she did.

Alongside the seminar and plenary sessions, the convention offers the opportunity to network with some of the brightest fundraising leaders from across the sector, make new contacts and meet colleagues both old and new, and improve performance through sharing new knowledge, skills and experience. q • For more information visit www.fundraisingconvention.uk

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 of all breeds – and to ensure their wellbeing afterwards. The charity was founded in 1972 and since then over 7,000 dogs and cats have been successfully re-homed.

Before re-homing, all animals are vet checked, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Rehabilitation costs are therefore 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

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

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Fundraisers look forward to national awards

[LEGACY CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR is one of the categories up for

grabs at the National Fundraising Awards, also promoted by the Institute of Fundraising. The awards will be presented at a gala event at The Brewery, next to London’s Barbican, on 1 July as part of the Fundraising Convention.

The awards recognise the best examples of excellent fundraising from charities, agencies and individual fundraisers across a range of categories.

The individuals, campaigns, charities and agencies represent some of the most exciting and innovative fundraising over the last year, individual stories of dedication and hard work against the odds, and the best collaborative working in the sector.

Chair of the judging panel, Howard Lake, said: “Our judging panel received an amazing standard of entries this year. With such strong candidates, it was as challenging as ever. Asking the judging panel to come up with the top five entries for each category results in some strong debates, yet several judges told me just how much they enjoyed the experience. Thank you to every inspirational fundraiser who entered this

year and the judges for all the time they gave to examine each entry and to test each of them against the criteria to find the winners.”

Fundraising is at the core of every charity, the IoF says, and excellent fundraising is the essential ingredient that enables charities to make the world a better place.

“We are delighted to offer these prestigious awards to the remarkable fundraisers out there, who through their amazing work help to make the world a better place. These are the only awards that recognise and reward fundraising excellence and best practice in the charity sector.”

Other categories in the awards reward individuals, charities, partner companies and fundraising campaigns. The shortlist for most of the categories was announced on 3 May, with the awards for Fundraiser of the Year and Lifetime Contribution to Fundraising being reserved for announcement at the awards ceremony itself. 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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Charlotte lost her life when she was just 19 years old SUE SHEPPARD shares the heartrending story of her daughter’s all-too-short life

[MY DAUGHTER CHARLOTTE was born in 1989 and was quite a

character from the start. She was very bright and learned to walk and talk early. Charlotte started self-harming at 13; her behaviour worsened and she overstepped every boundary I put in place. It wasn’t until she

turned 18 that she was finally diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

I had never heard of it, but once I read about it, it explained Charlotte’s behaviour and why life was such an exhausting struggle for her. People with BPD can have extraordinarily intense emotions – but apart from a spell in a private hospital and about 10 months with a private psychiatrist, Charlotte had no help.

The private care she received was a result of the benefit from my work, but because BPD is a lifetime mental illness they would only allow a certain amount of funding. We were told that cognitive behavioural therapy would help her, but the waiting lists were so long we couldn’t get an appointment. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s self-harming was becoming more and more extreme.

I asked my doctor if he could give her a mood stabiliser and for those last few weeks of her life she was able to talk to me more and explain her internal battle.

But, sadly, on 22 February 2009 she selfharmed and lost her life.

There are so many holes in the system and Charlotte fell through all of them.

After her death, I felt so passionate about the fact that there was so little help for young people in crisis. I wanted to do something and found Rethink Mental Illness. Rethink Mental Illness supports and represents people who are very unwell, helping them to find a way through the healthcare system and get the care they need and deserve.

Much of their work relies on legacies, and sadly mental illness isn’t something most people think of when making their wills.

You don’t have to be well-off to leave a legacy. Any gift, large or small, will make a difference. It’s also a way to keep the memories of those we loved – and still love – alive. I don’t want another young person to suffer like Charlotte: no brother to lose their sister, grandparent to lose their grandchild or parent to lose their child like I did. Charlotte was so much more than borderline personality disorder; she was a fun, bright young woman who loved children, but was sadly blighted by this awful mental illness.

If we stand together, we can change the way mental illness is treated. And we can start now. Thank you. q

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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

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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Institute takes a step closer to chartered status [PERMISSION HAS BEEN GRANTED to the Institute of

Fundraising to apply for chartered status. It marks the latest step in a long-term plan for the IoF, which for the past six years has had a strategic objective, based on consultations with its members, to become a Chartered Institute.

A statement issued on 16 April said: “The IoF is delighted to confirm that the Privy Council has granted permission for us to formally apply for chartered status and continue our chartered journey.

“The new status, if granted, will raise the profile and status of fundraising, promoting it as a respected profession with high standards of practice at its heart and which delivers public benefit.

Most importantly, it will provide public recognition of the fundraising profession.”

IoF chief executive Peter Lewis said: “Working towards chartered status has been a key priority for our members for several years. Now that we are able to continue our journey, I’m excited to consult with them on the detailed proposals before submitting our formal petition to the Privy Council for their decision.

“This is a really important step for the institute, embedding professional standards at the heart of the fundraising community and securing external recognition for the important role fundraisers play in today’s society raising vital funds to make the world a better place.”

The statement highlighted the feeling among fundraisers that their occupation is not recognised as a profession, either by the

public or the organisations for whom they work. That is changing gradually, but many still feel some people outside the sector don’t see fundraising as a credible career, profession or even a proper paid job.

A draft set of new constitutional documents has been agreed by the institute’s board of trustees, which will be consulted on with its members and the Privy Council, before taking a final version for agreement by members at its AGM in July. If the consultation goes smoothly, and members approve the move to become a chartered body, they expect to make a formal petition to the Privy Council in July. It is hoped their decision will be made known before the end of the calendar year.

Alex Xavier, IoF director of individual membership, compliance and professional development, added: “Having worked for a chartered membership body in the past, I have seen first-hand the many benefits it can bring. Should we be granted chartered status as an institute, it will give much deserved recognition and credibility to everyone in the profession.

“If we are subsequently given permission to award individual chartered status in a few years’ time, this will give our individual members who hold qualifications or equivalent experience the opportunity to apply to become chartered fundraisers – anticipated to be the pinnacle in professional recognition of knowledge, skills and ethical standards in fundraising.” q

Supporting the maritime community [SEAFARERS UK has been helping people in the maritime

community for 100 years, providing vital support to seafarers in need and their families, as well as to those in education or training who are preparing to work or serve at sea.

They do this this by giving grants to organisations and projects that make a real difference to people’s lives, across the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Last year they gave grants totalling £2.5 million to 50 maritime welfare charities. Seafarers UK receives no government funding and is heavily dependent on public donations and legacies to maintain its grant-making. 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

Education through the power of play

[ACTION FOR SICK CHILDREN is currently focusing on its two main

projects – Dental Playbox and Magical Power of Play Appeal.

The Dental Playbox project is a preventative programme to educate the under fives, through the powerful medium of play, in the importance of good oral hygiene, sensible eating and drinking – along with visiting the dentist on a regular basis. In 2017, the scheme reached almost 7,000 children!

The Magical Power of Play Appeal supports the invaluable work of health play specialists by providing play resources for hospitals across the UK. These resources help to improve the hospital journey for sick children through distraction and recovery. In 2018, Action for Sick Children hopes to provide a Magical Power of Play Appeal box to ten children’s wards across the UK. q

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Regular donor numbers fall for third year running [THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE in the UK who regularly give to charity has declined for

the third year in a row, according to the Charities Aid Foundation’s UK Giving report. The research found that the proportion of the British public who are either giving money to charity directly or are sponsoring a friend or family member dropped to 65% in 2018, from 69% in 2016.

The findings are based on monthly interviews and include a yearly total of more than 12,000 individual interviews. The report covers data collected over three years from 2016 to 2018.

“With three years’ worth of data, we can now see a clear trend in people’s charitable giving and it is headed in a worrying direction,” said Susan Pinkney, head of research at the Charities Aid Foundation.

A particularly concerning finding revolved around the issue of trust. Fewer than half of those surveyed in 2018 (48%) said they believed charities to be trustworthy. A further 21% of people said they do not believe charities are trustworthy, compared to 19% in both 2016 and 2017.

“If people lack trust, that means they worry that their hard-earned money is not being well spent when donated to charities,” said Pinkney. “This is a challenge that the entire charity sector needs to tackle head on and find ways to inspire people to give and demonstrate to them that their money is making a difference.”

Although fewer people report that they are giving money, those who do give are giving higher amounts. As a result, the overall household amount given in 2018 remains comparable to 2017 at £10.1bn.

Rates of volunteering, however, have remained stable, as have the rates of people donating goods to a charitable cause such as a charity shop.

The UK remains one of the most generous countries in the world, consistently ranked in the top 10 in the Charities Aid Foundation’s annual World Giving Index. q

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

homing greyhounds, lurchers and other sighthounds for more than 20 years. These wonderful dogs desperately need help, having been neglected, abandoned, abused or, in the case of racing greyhounds, retired from the tracks.

The charity has homed over 9,000 of these marvellous dogs and relies entirely on supporters, general donations, charitable trusts and – vitally – legacies to cover the substantial costs of saving these beautiful hounds.

The charity’s Susan Kerry Bedell says: “By leaving a gift to Forever Hounds Trust in your will, you will enable us to provide shelter and care to these special dogs in future years.

“Legacies allow us to ensure shelter for dogs in kennels and foster homes while they await their forever homes. They help us to provide emergency medical care, preventative treatments, keep our vans on the road to rescue dogs in desperate situations and provide expert behavioural support.”

By remembering Forever Hounds Trust in their will, legators can help 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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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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Regulator publishes complaints report [ON 28 MARCH the Fundraising Regulator published a report on

complaints received about fundraising in the 2017-18 financial year.

The report comprises two parts. Part One looked at the 1,504 complaints received by the regulator itself from members of the public – usually complaints that could not be resolved by the charity.

The regulator completed 78 investigations between 1 April 2017 and 31 August 2018: of those, 63 cases included a breach of the Fundraising Code. There were also 11 investigations that were not completed, because they were under investigation by another agency or the police.

The most common code breaches were about general principles, thirdparty fundraising and personal data.

Part Two focused on the 21,851 complaints received by the 58 charities that spent the most on fundraising, which had been reported to the Fundraising Regulator by the charities. Door-to-door fundraising was the most complained about method, with addressed mail being the second most common complaint.

The report noted the commitment from organisations to make changes if they had breached the Fundraising Code. It also includes summaries of some of the investigations as examples of casework.

The Fundraising Regulator’s chief executive Gerald Oppenheim commented: “Our Complaints Report is vital to our understanding of fundraising standards in the UK, and helps to inform our work.

Complaints made by the public help us, charities and their fundraising partners learn from concerns and make improvements. We will continue to review and evaluate the complaints process, and we look forward to working closely with charities to make sure high standards of fundraising practice are maintained.”

Responding to the report, IoF chief executive Peter Lewis said: “The Complaints Report shows that charities are committed to delivering an excellent experience for supporters and the general public. The comparatively small number of complaints compared to the fundraising activities that inspire millions of people to give every year is positive. Having said that, each complaint and breach of the code should be taken seriously and used to improve the experience of supporters.

“We are pleased to see the

Fundraising Regulator recognise the commitment and dedication from charities to getting this right and willingness to make changes where needed. We see this ourselves day in, day out. For example, our new Complaints Handling Training, developed with the Fundraising Regulator, has proved very popular.

“We will be discussing the findings of this report with our Standards Advisory Board to identify whether any further guidance or resources are needed to help fundraisers deliver excellent fundraising standards all the time.” q

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Securing a future for endangered wildlife

[AS A CONSERVATION CHARITY, the role of Marwell Wildlife is to give a helping hand to the many species with populations that have become so small that they would otherwise face an uncertain future.

You can see some of the world’s rarest species of all shapes and sizes at their zoo. From Partula snails and scimitar-horned oryx, to Somali wild ass and Amur leopards – all are part of international efforts to prevent extinction.

The charity relies heavily on legacies to support their work. Leaving a gift in your will to Marwell Wildlife is one of the best ways in which you can help them secure a better future for endangered wildlife and habitats for generations to come. q • Visit www.marwell.org.uk/legacy or call 01962 777988.

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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Cyber crime: Charity Commission issues new alert [THE CHARITY COMMISSION has issued

an alert for charities on the risk of cyber crime, and how to report it. The government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2019 revealed that over two thirds of high-income charities had recorded a cyber breach or attack in 2018. Of the charities affected, the vast majority (over 80%) had experienced a phishing attack, which is an attack via fraudulent emails.

Cyber crime has a number of definitions, the commission says, but will usually involve attacks on or through computer systems and networks. It often includes theft of data or disruption of systems to enable further crime.

With the cost of a breach ranging from £300 to £100,000, charity managers cannot afford to ignore the growing threat posed by cyber crime in all its forms.

Dependant on the nature of the crimes, trustees, staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of charities may be adversely affected. Negative publicity could also impact on public trust and confidence in not only the charity affected, but the sector as a whole.

How to protect a charity

All charities should be vigilant to the threat of cyber crime and make sure appropriate defences are in place, including raising awareness with their staff and volunteers.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has produced a useful guide on how to protect against cyber crime. Available on the website at www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/charity, it also explains how charities can become accredited under the government’s Cyber Essentials Scheme.

For larger charities, detailed advice for trustee boards on improving cyber security is available in the NCSC’s new Boards Toolkit. HM Government also provides timely advice and guidance through its Cyber Aware website at www.cyberaware.gov.uk.

How to report cyber crime and fraud

If a charity has fallen victim to cyber crime, or any other type of fraud, it should be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or by visiting the Action Fraud website at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Charities should also report fraud to the Charity Commission as a serious incident. According to the commission: “We require prompt, full and frank disclosure of incidents. Serious incident reporting helps us to assess the volume and impact of incidents within charities, and to understand the risks facing the sector as a whole.

“Where appropriate, we can also provide timely advice and guidance, either to assist individual charities and get them back on track, or to warn the wider sector about prevalent threats.” q

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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.

Scottish charity review comes in for criticism [ON 1 APRIL the Scottish Governments’ consultation on charity law

ended. One of the organisations to respond to the consultation was the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). And while SCVO welcomed the opportunity to review charity law, it expressed concern that the consultation did not go far enough to deliver a comprehensive review of Scottish charity law.

The SCVO’s chief executive Anna Fowlie formally wrote to Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Aileen Campbell requesting that ministers rethink their approach, urging the Scottish Government to reflect on the broader challenges and take the time needed to create a stronger foundation for the charitable sector in Scotland.

In the letter, Ms Fowlie said: “There can be no underestimating the importance of trust in charities, which is already at a high level in Scotland.

Public trust in the charity ‘brand’ is one of the most powerful assets our sector holds but gaining and retaining this is not easy in the current context. We agree with the Scottish Government’s view that this challenge should be addressed by appropriate regulation.

“A significant area of concern for SCVO and the wider voluntary sector exists around the definition of ‘public benefit’, and we would urge the Scottish Government to work with the sector, OSCR [the Scottish Charity Regulator] and SCVO to redefine what public benefit should mean in 2019.

“Without a clear and relevant definition of public benefit, charitable status will continue to be misused, or used in ways that the public and many in the charitable sector would not support.” q

Brexit and probate: it really is anyone’s guess

[IN THE LAST ISSUE of this supplement on charities and

legacies, two issues that we reported on were the proposed changes to probate fees and the effect on legacy giving of Brexit.

At the time, we postulated that by the time this issue was published the UK may not be a member of the EU. Similarly, on 1 April the new, revised fees for probate were due to be introduced. Neither of those events has happened – the one being the cause of the other.

Events surrounding Brexit have, as we all know, dragged on and threatened both the PM and the economy as a whole. Interestingly, the amount of parliamentary time the discussions have taken up has meant the postponement – indefinitely – of the introduction of the new probate fees: an ill wind, some would think.

There is a possibility that both events may have happened by the time our next issue is published. Recent events have, however, led us to refrain from making any attempts at guessing what may or may not happen in the next three months. 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

Animals in Distress Field of Dreams 2

Prostate Cancer Research Centre 1

Friends of the Animals 4/5

Brain Research UK 9

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary 6

CLEFT 12

The New European Distressed Donkey Initiative Ltd 7

World Cancer Research Fund 15

SongBird Survival 8

Pain Relief Foundation 29

FOUR PAWS 10 Wild Futures 16 GSD 2000 German Shepherd Rescue & Re-home 16 Three Counties Dog Rescue 19

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

Last Chance Animal Rescue 20

The Ultra Rare Diseases, Disorders & Disabilities Foundation 12

Swan Lifeline 22

Hypo Hounds 19

Tiggywinkles 22

Action for Sick Children 23

Forever Hounds Trust 24

Youth Cancer Trust 30

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary 25 Marwell Wildlife 28 British Chelonia Group 28 Pet Rescue Welfare Association 28

SUPPORT & ADVICE

Heartbeat Home for Horses 30

Mothers’ Union 13

Jim Cronin Memorial Fund 32

Victim Support 14 Seafarers UK 23

HEALTH & DISABILITY Seeing Dogs 2

OVERSEAS AID

National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom 17

Hope Health Action 6

Multiple Sclerosis Trust 18

ZANE: Zimbabwe A National Emergency 8

Rethink Mental Illness 21 dDeaflinks Staffordshire 27

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