The Charity Pages Issue 9

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Charitable thoughts...

It seems counter-intuitive, but while the number of people leaving a legacy in their wills – or stating that they intend to – has risen once again, the actual income from legacies is projected to fall significantly this year. It is another of the subtler effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just as Remember A Charity was proclaiming the success of promotional campaigns in raising awareness of legacy giving, particularly among the over-40s, Legacy Foresight was forced to adjust its projection of legacy income downwards for the second time.

• The COVID-19 scourge has acted as a honey pot for fraudsters – particularly online fraudsters. The Charities Commission has issued an alert to all charities to step up their vigilance against a tide of the kind of scams that they see on a day-to-day basis.

• The crisis has also created an avalanche of extra burdens for charities, while decimating their finances. The government has stepped in with emergency aid for charities, administered by the National Lottery Community Fund. It isn’t enough –

that goes without saying: and it risks looking as if it is relying on charities to provide services the state should be providing.

• The not-for-profit sector is nothing if not charitable itself, and sharing knowledge, skills and experience is what it is good at. That generosity has shown itself in the many podcasts expert organisations have made available to a wide audience. A whole series of online resources have also been published outlining ways of thinking outside the box.

• For those of us struggling to keep up with the technology, it comes as a relief to learn that oldfashioned mailings are still considered crucial. As someone whose first training conference, back in the 1980s, was on the subject of using direct mail for marketing a not-for-profit, I allow myself a small preen.

• Two issues ago we learned of the many young people who act as trustees for charities. In this we pay tribute to one such young person who was gunned down in the street in Blackburn. Aya Hachem will be missed by many beyond and in addition to her own family.

In this issue...

CONTENTS 12

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Annual review shows legacy giving at record levels

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Could charities access legacies early?

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Forecasts for legacy income are revised down again

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Training bursary winners announced

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Commission issues fraud warning

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Community fund expects heavy demand

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Fundraising Convention migrates online

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ILM conference is virtual success

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Big data helps home in on hardest-hit areas

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Digital enabler answers your questions

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Podcasts help legacy administration keep ahead of the game

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New channels allow the fundraising to continue

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How to keep calm and carry on fundraising

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Fundraising success is in the mail

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Children’s charity mourns murdered trustee

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Charity Commission appoints new chief operating officer

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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 40,000 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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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

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.

Annual review shows legacy giving at record levels

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RECORD LEVELS OF charity donors say they have written a gift to charity into their will – or are preparing to do so – according to the latest consumer tracking study carried out by nfpSynergy for legacy giving umbrella body Remember A Charity.

The study reveals that 17% of charity supporters aged 40 and over have included a charity in their will and a further 10% are preparing to do so. Annual tracking indicates a steady increase over the past decade, with the figure in that age group saying that they have left or intend to leave a gift in their will rising from 21% in 2010.

Only 9% of donors actively reject the concept of leaving a legacy – down from 12% in 2010. The number of people unaware of legacy giving has fallen from 20% in 2010 to 11% in 2019.

Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity, commented: “We’re continuing to see growth in legacy giving over the long term, which is fantastic news for charities across the sector. It’s clear that there’s a real appetite for supporters to do something meaningful for good causes at the end of their lives, and that charities are communicating legacies well, creatively and sensitively, demonstrating how important they are in funding vital services.

“Legacy growth is being driven not only by charities communicating their own legacy case for support, but their willingness to work together to grow the market. Having a proactive and collaborative approach to legacies is critical if the sector is to succeed in normalising legacy giving and increasing the income pot so that every charity can benefit.”

Key findings from the tracking study can be found in Remember A Charity’s latest Impact Report, along with highlights of its lobbying work and public awareness drive for legacy giving.

Highlights of last year’s activities included:

• Providing evidence to the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) that helped protect current ‘critical’ tax breaks for legacy giving • Collaborating with fellow industry bodies – including the Institute of Fundraising, NCVO and the Institute of Legacy Management – to scrap the proposed probate fee hike • Driving up charitable conversations among will-writing professionals, with a record level of 68% of solicitors/will-writers saying they now always or sometimes raise the topic of gifts in wills with their clients • Widespread media coverage of the 10th

Remember A Charity Week – the national celebration of gifts in wills – with digital activity reaching 62% of all charity-minded people in the over-55 group on Facebook.

Rob continued: “There’s still a misconception among many that you have to be wealthy to write a charity into your will or that you can’t leave a gift if you want to take care of your family and friends. So, we’ll be working hard to continue to address those myths this year and to support the sector in opening up conversation around legacy giving.” q

Could charities access legacies early?

[A REVOLUTIONARY PLAN to allow charities access to legacy gifts during donors'

lifetimes has been postulated by think tank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC).

The accelerated legacy plan is a new idea developed by three researchers – Anthony Bolton, Paul Spencer and Tom Skwarek – with advice from specialist lawyers Bates Wells.

How accelerated legacies would work

An accelerated legacy plan involves three parties: the donor, a charity and a funder who does the discounting of the commitment by the donor. The donor commits to give an amount on or just before their death to the funder.

The funder then advances the discounted value of that amount to the donor today, based on the donor’s age and interest rates. The donor then donates that amount to the charity of their choice.

According to NPC: “There are many benefits to this idea. Charities would be able to support more beneficiaries sooner. They could also claim Gift Aid, unlike existing legacy gifts. Donors can see the impact of their generosity in their lifetime, alongside keeping financial security by retaining their assets. Funders would benefit from greater alignment with social impact, whether they are a grant-making trust or a commercial entity.

“As an idea, the accelerated legacy plan is innovative and much-needed. The possibility that charities could benefit from legacies during a donor’s lifetime is attractive, but our research uncovered financial, cultural and regulatory concerns that we think need further investigation.” 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 £2.2m 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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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.

Research is key to a better life after brain injury

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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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Forecasts for legacy income are revised down again [ CHARITIES’ LEGACY INCOME is expected to

decrease by up to 27% this year – even more than previously forecast. Legacy consortium Legacy Foresight has revised its projections to account for the severity of the coronavirus crisis.

While legacy income was originally expected to grow in 2020, in March the organisation predicted it could drop by up to 9% compared to the year before as a result of the crisis. It is now projecting a more significant decrease, between 8% and 27%. The new estimate takes into account a worsened economic outlook – which translates into lower gift values – together with a higher number of deaths and worsethan-expected administrative challenges.

Legacy Foresight said: “Emerging anecdotal evidence suggests that the impact on solicitors, charities and government departments’ capacity to process charitable bequests is more severe than previously assumed.”

It found that between 5% - 10% of bequests that would have been notified in 2020 could be delayed. It also expects average gift value to decrease by between 2% and 4%.

Despite this year’s decline, Legacy Foresight is expecting legacy income to bounce back in 2021. In the long term, it still forecasts an increase over the 2019-2024 period, projecting a rise from around £3.2bn in 2019 to £3.7bn-£3.8bn in 2024.

However, that is up to 5% less than its original forecasts.

In the five-year period, the pandemic is also expected to cause an increase in the overall number of bequests. It estimates this increase to be between 0.5% and 0.8%.

Jon Franklin, economist at Legacy Foresight, said: “These forecasts show a more dramatic decline in legacy income, especially over the coming year. But despite the enormous uncertainty and significant negative impact in the short term, it’s important to recognise that legacy incomes are still expected to grow over the next five years.” 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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Invest in a future for your songbirds [

IN HARD TIMES, birds and birdsong offer us immense pleasure, solace and a welcome boost to mental wellbeing. We watch, listen and are filled with hope. In fact, 80% of Britons say that hearing birdsong makes them happier – and 72% feel less stressed.

Now, with our roads becalmed from traffic and flight paths silenced, many have become bewitched by birdsong for the first time – as reflected in the plethora of media articles that have appeared this spring.

Now is the time to leverage that focus on the power of nature to soothe our souls, and proclaim why birdsong must grow louder, not dimmer.

Help keep nature’s salvation singing in this time of crisis

You can help to make a difference now to the future of songbirds, with a gift to SongBird Survival – a charity dedicated to fighting the worrying decline in the UK’s much-loved songbirds.

To help SongBird Survival save even more birds, make a donation today; or make a regular, on-going commitment; or join as a member to invest in a future for your songbirds.

Songbirds seem to reassure us that, whatever happens in the human world, everything will be fine. In the words of American poet Douglass Malloch: “You have to believe in happiness, Or happiness never comes.

I know that a bird chirps none the less When all that he finds is crumbs.” q • Call 01379 641715, email dawn-chorus@songbird-survival.org.uk or visit www.songbird-survival.org.uk for further information.

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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Training bursary winners announced

Rescue centre offers a lifeline to injured wildlife

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[ON 27 MAY Legacy Link announced the winners of this year’s

Crispin Ellison Bursary Awards. In a change from previous years there was one award providing funding to complete the Institute of Legacy Management’s (ILM) Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration (CiCLA) and two awards for ILM Training of up to £500 each.

Writing in Legacy Link’s blog, its director Ashley Rowthorn said: “The panel were overwhelmed with the number of applications received and it was exciting to see the passion, enthusiasm and commitment shown by the applicants to the sector.”

Jacob McGreevy of Rennie Grove Hospice Care (above) was thrilled to be announced as the deserved winner of the CiCLA bursary award.

Said Jacob: “Since I joined Rennie Grove Hospice Care last year, in what is my first role in legacy administration, I have been interested in the CiCLA qualification, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to pursue it. It will enable me to effectively maximise our income opportunities while maintaining the strong relationships which are so important to a local hospice charity, particularly when dealing with personal executors, who are often family members of former Rennie Grove patients. I can’t wait to get started and share what I learn with the rest of the organisation.”

The Training Bursary winners were Wendy Ahl of Safe Haven for Donkeys and Amy Martin of Julia’s House Children’s Hospice.

Wendy Ahl commented: “Like most animal charities, Safe Haven for Donkeys relies heavily on legacies to be able to continue our vital work, but up until now I have been reliant on my counterparts from other charities sharing their knowledge to make sure I am managing our legacies in the most efficient way. Now I will be better equipped to deal with executors and co-beneficiaries and I will be able to share my new-found skills as others have been kind enough to do for me.

Thank you so much to Legacy Link and ILM for making this possible.”

Amy Martin added: “Winning means so much both for me personally, and for Julia’s House. The charity’s financial situation is particularly challenging at a time when its care is such a lifeline for local children and families. We rely on public fundraising, donations and gifts in wills for 95% of our income, and so winning this will really give me the opportunity to develop and upskill in such a vital income area, which is ever more important in this current uncertain time.” q

HESSILHEAD WILDLIFE RESCUE TRUST is situated near Beith, 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

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Commission issues fraud warning

[THE CHARITY COMMISSION

has issued a warning to charities that fraudsters are exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to carry out fraud and cybercrime. Police have reported an increase in coronavirusrelated scams.

All charities, the commission says, but especially those providing services and supporting local communities during the coronavirus crisis, could be targeted by fraudsters.

The Fraud Advisory Panel and Charity Commission have pre-recorded a webinar with sector partners to help charities spot COVID-19 related fraud, and better protect their charities from harm. They are joined by fraud experts from the City of London Police and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy, who share practical advice and tips.

The commission points to a number of common types of fraud currently prevalent and some steps charities can take.

Scam emails – ‘phishing’

The police have already noted an increase in phishing attacks and charities are urged to be vigilant. They should not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious emails and should never respond to unsolicited messages or phone calls that ask for your personal or financial details.

An example of that type of fraud can be where fraudsters claim to be from a legitimate organisation and able to provide information that could be of assistance to local charities, such as a list of at-risk elderly people in a local community who may require support from the charity.

The victim has to click on a link to get the information. That leads to a fake website or asks the victim to make a cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin) payment.

Protect devices

Charities should always install the latest software and app updates to protect their devices from the latest threats. They should in particular consider if they need to take any extra steps if they have staff working at home.

They should ensure they keep people safe by protecting the personal

data of staff and beneficiaries when using, or switching to, digital communications and delivery platforms.

Procurement fraud

There are a number of ways in which charities can be defrauded by procurement fraud. Some scams involve the sale of vital personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks and gloves, online. Once the payment has been made, no products are delivered or the products do not meet required standards.

Officers should carry out due diligence if they’re making a purchase on behalf of a charity from a company or person they do not know. They should discuss with fellow trustees, colleagues or volunteers if they’re unsure.

Mandate or ‘chief executive officer’ frauds

People should always be cautious if they are asked to make changes to bank details or make payments to a new account. Wherever possible, they should follow their charity’s validation procedures and check the authenticity of such messages before making any payments or actioning banking changes.

An example of that type of fraud is where a charity employee working from home receives an email purporting to be from a legitimate company providing services for the charity. The email asks that future payments be made to an alternative bank account, which is controlled by the fraudster.

Unsolicited offers of goods, services or financial support – advanced fee fraud People should always question unsolicited offers of goods or other financial support where an advanced fee payment is required. Just because someone knows your name and contact details, it does not mean they are genuine. People should not be rushed or pressured into making a decision that could harm their charity or beneficiaries.

If a charity is a victim of fraud or cybercrime, they should report it promptly to Action Fraud and the Charity Commission. Potential phishing messages should be reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) – email: report@phishing.gov.uk q

Help for those with failing sight

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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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Your donations can help honour the hero ‘dogs of war’

[NATIONAL MILITARY WORKING DOGS MEMORIAL – otherwise

known as NMWDM (UK) – is a charity that has been established for the purpose of building and maintaining a national memorial to honour the many working dogs that have served the country from World War One and beyond to the present day.

The aim is for a statue which will serve as a national reminder of the contribution military working dogs have made and continue to make to the country’s security. Sited centrally in the UK, in North Wales, the memorial will form an important part of the country’s cultural heritage and allow visitors to connect with the conflicts which have shaped the world today.

A design has already been developed which features four bronze dog statues facing north, south, east and west: specifically chosen to represent all of the military working dogs who have bravely served their country. Alongside the four bronze dog statues will be plaques with the names of many other loved military dogs.

Since its inception in 2017 NMWDM (UK) has already raised around a third of the estimated £200,000 needed for the project to be realised. q

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Community fund expects heavy demand [THE GOVERNMENT’S Coronavirus Community Support Fund

opened for applications on 22 May. The new funding stream makes available £200m from the government that is being aimed primarily at small-to-medium organisations in England.

According to the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), which is distributing the grants, the fund has two key objectives: • To increase community support to vulnerable people affected by the COVID-19 crisis, through the work of civil society organisations.

That category includes organisations supporting older people, disabled people (including people with long-term health conditions) and BAME communities. It also includes organisations that provide advice and support to those pushed into crisis as a result of the pandemic. The category also includes those organisations supporting people and their families with end-of-life care.

• To reduce temporary closures of essential charities and social enterprises, ensuring services for vulnerable people impacted by COVID-19 have the financial resources to operate, and so reduce the burden on public services.

The grants will allow organisations to meet service costs where they are experiencing increased demand and/or short-term income disruption. They will also allow organisations to refocus services to address more immediate beneficiary needs in light of COVID-19.

According to the NLCF: “We will distribute this much-needed financial support to communities across England, while also continuing to distribute money raised by National Lottery players.

The entry point and process for both streams will be the same, making it easier for you to apply.

“We’re committed to working flexibly, as far as possible, to support

organisations to get the help needed to respond to the immediate crisis and prepare for the future.”

The fund’s CEO Dawn Austwick commented: “Charities are playing a vital role in channelling the right resources, to the right place, at the right time.

This government funding will fuel that vital work and give those charities greater certainty at this critical time for the country and we look forward to getting it to where it can make the most difference.

“In putting the programme together, we have been helped by insight and advice from across civil society. We will keep that conversation going to guide how we support charities and community organisations as they rebuild in the future.”

There is certain to be high demand for the funding, so charities are encouraged to apply quickly. Also, the NLCF expects the funding to be heavily oversubscribed and anticipates only being able to support a proportion of applications. 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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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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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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Fundraising Convention migrates online [ THE INSTITUTE OF FUNDRAISING

has announced that its annual Fundraising Convention will be held online from 6-8 July. Now in its 30th year, the iconic event for professional fundraisers in Europe returns in the form of Fundraising Convention Online. Interested parties from all over the world can attend live interactive sessions or access the content on demand.

Fundraising Convention sees thousands of fundraisers gather each year at the largest professional fundraising event in Europe.

However, due to the coronavirus crisis the format has been changed this year.

A programme of live interactive sessions will provide those joining with the opportunity to hear from expert speakers, ask questions and interact with their fellows. The full speaker line-up and plenary speakers has yet to be announced.

Katie Johnson, head of events and communities at the IoF, explained: “We have worked hard to ensure that this incredible event can be delivered in a way that works for everyone: maximising all the opportunities fundraisers would have had from the face-to-face event while making the content easily accessible remotely.

“We’re excited that, in its 30th year,

Fundraising Convention will continue to bring the community together despite the challenging circumstances.”

Throughout the three days, over 80 pre-recorded sessions from the sector’s brightest stars will be made available for those joining the sessions to delve into at a time that suits them. The content, which will also include recordings of the live sessions, will also be available after the event for a minimum of one month.

Laurie Boult, chair of the Fundraising Convention’s board, declared: “Fundraising Convention Online will see a new era for the event. We’ve ensured that the sessions respond to the rapidly-changing climate in

which fundraisers at all levels are operating.

“Convention also plays a brilliant role in providing inspiration to delegates on both organisational and personal levels, enabling them to bring back lessons that will impact on their professional development, their organisations and the causes that our sector works tirelessly to support.” q

ILM conference is virtual success [

THE INSTITUTE OF LEGACY MANAGEMENT was also forced to postpone its annual conference this year due to the COVID-19 crisis.

However, 250 ILM members and partners were able to attend its online conference on 15 May, which featured updates from law firm Bates Wells on ex gratia payments and mental health, Remember A Charity looking at charitable wills during the current crisis, and an update and announcement from Legacy Link and Legacy Foresight.

ILM members can now watch the recording of the full event, as well as recordings of each individual session and the slides. 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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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

Heartbeat horses on the move

[IN 2019, following the retirement of managing trustee Colin

Cooper, some of the Heartbeat horses moved to a new home at Sink Farm in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Colin was very pleased to announce that the charity’s headquarters had moved to Hollesley where the current horses will live and be cared for alongside the wonderful Suffolk Punch horses.

Sink Farm is the colony stud for the Suffolk Punch Trust charity, who continue their important and essential work in preserving this unique breed. q • For more information on either charity please contact Tracey Pettitt, stud manager or David Clarke, finance director, on 01394 775495.

Heartbeat Homes for Horses, Sink Farm, St David’s Lane, Hollesley, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3JR

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Big data helps home in on hardest-hit areas [

ACCORDING TO A REPORT in The Guardian, Vodafone’s internet usage had increased 30% in the UK and Opinium Research recorded that households are now spending a whopping 41 hours a week online. New digital data has emerged from COVID-19, and charities have been making the best of the time spent online.

Now, New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) – the charity supporting the wider non-profit and social sector – has been using ‘big data’ to build an interactive COVID-19 dashboard for charities to interrogate.

Its policy manager Tom Collinge explained: “Our goal is for charities to use data to allocate resources more effectively. We are concerned, for example, that areas at high risk but with less social sector support will not loudly advocate for themselves or put in funder applications as much as places with a stronger social infrastructure.

Data can stop them going unseen.”

The dashboard takes underlying big data from the ONS to show where COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people – with the intention of helping charities to make the best use of their own limited funds.

Some of the preliminary findings show the places with the highest proportion of people over 65. They include areas of East Sussex, Essex, Norfolk and Devon. Big data results indicate that those areas could be where the virus could potentially hit the hardest.

Cities like Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Birmingham all have high levels of deprivation, which appear linked to the mortality rate of 0.37-0.39 per 1,000 people. Less deprived areas appear to

have a significantly lower mortality rate.

The dataset also indicated that BAME populations may be disproportionately affected.

British Red Cross Society has also been making use of big data to assess how vulnerable UK populations are to the virus. Using the online hosting service GitHub, the charity has been compiling useful datasets to understand the effect of COVID-19. The charity has looked at population vulnerability ‘factors’. Topics which the British Red Cross Society has reviewed include BAME, food security, and hardship factors.

Charities have also been using digital surveys to reveal mental health impacts. For charity digital leaders interested in big data, the survey showed how charities can deep dive into COVID-19 data online and influence policy with the results.

Big data opportunities are not just for research-based charities.

With funding for charities crunched by coronavirus restrictions, digital fundraising efforts can offer charities opportunities to collect information on new donors. Earlier, Charity Digital, the organisation set up to help charities make use of digital technology, showcased opportunities for digital leaders organising virtual events. With new donors registering for virtual events online, there is huge potential to learn more about the demographics and donation habits of supporters.

The new data could be incorporated into charity CRM systems, building a better picture of audiences. For charity marketing and communications teams, additional information can add to the personalisation of messages. q

Digital enabler answers your questions [CHARITY DIGITAL has developed a suite of podcasts that charities

“Once again, we’re joined by four members of the Charity Digital team who have come together virtually to offer their help. Questions cover can subscribe to, dealing with a range of issues including responding to inventive ways to continue activities online, cyber security, text donate questions posed by its subscribers. The latest podcast is the second in and so much more. the series answering those questions.

“It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by digital right now, but that’s why According to Charity Digital: “With such a seismic shift in such a short we’re here to help and show charities that they can thrive digitally during space of time, charities have been left with questions about their new COVID-19 and beyond.” q remote ways of operating and their increased reliance on digital. We've been asking charities to submit these questions to us and on this episode, four members of the Charity Digital team come together remotely to answer some of the questions submitted so far.

“COVID-19 has impacted LEGACY UMBRELLA GROUP Remember A Charity has lined up a series of podcasts to discuss all charities everywhere, but we things legacy-related. In the first of the series Remember A Charity was joined by Matthew Lagden from must continue to ask questions, the Institute of Legacy Management and Ashley Rowthorn from Legacy Link to discuss legacy admin – learn and iterate so that charities covering the challenges and opportunities faced during the COVID-19 crisis. can use the tools available and It was reported as a very positive and hopeful discussion, with both Matthew and Ashley sharing their thrive digitally.” combined insight and expertise.

Other titles in the series include: Topics covered included: Covid & digital: the elephants • How to keep cashflow moving during lockdown in the room; COVID-19: Digital • Striking the right tone in legacy admin communications fundraising, what's it all about?; • Ensuring wills are legal and valid Getting your digital fundraising • What might be next for legacy administration? journey started; and Tackling At 48 minutes long, it is perfect to listen to during an hour of outdoor exercise, from the news pages of inclusion in the charity sector.

Remember A Charity, who are also open to suggestions for future podcasts. q In the introduction to the latest podcast, Charity Digital says:

Podcasts help legacy administration keep ahead of the game [

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Kidney Kids Scotland turns 20 in 2020

Legacies mean so much to our Kidney Kids

[

KIDNEY KIDS SCOTLAND, a very small charity with a huge heart, has for the last 20 years supported Scottish children with renal and urology conditions. The main aim of the charity has always been to enable these children to receive treatment as close to home as possible and minimise disruption to the family unit.

In addition the charity helps hospitals all over Scotland, supplying them with much needed equipment and funding posts recognised as being essential. Chronic Kidney disease is a condition that has no cure and that children and their families must learn to live with.

IMAGINE your child only being able to drink 400mls in one day. That’s less than two cartons of juice – a can of juice is 500mls.

IMAGINE being a parent where you must be home before 8pm every single night to ensure your child gets their daily home dialysis.

IMAGINE not being able to take your family abroad or too far away from the hospital because your child cannot go without their dialysis. This HAS to happen in hospital 3 or 4 times EVERY week.

IMAGINE your child missing out on school education, social activities, family members’ birthday celebrations, a sibling’s sports day or a family wedding because you need to make sure they receive their life saving dialysis treatment.

IMAGINE your child spending their birthday and/or Christmas Day in hospital and not being able to see their friends from week to week. q IMAGINE LIVING WITH KIDNEY DISEASE For more information about Kidney Kids Scotland please visit our website at www.kidneykids.org.uk, call 01324 555843 or email office@kidneykids.org.uk Kidney Kids Scotland can help in many ways

This sanctuary helps donkeys from Britain, 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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New channels allow the fundraising to continue On the following pages we offer two views on how non-profits can adapt to the new way of working. First, RORIE CLARKE, junior community manager at Social Misfits Media, looks at some mainstream and not-so-mainstream online funding sources.

[IT’S NEVER BEEN more important for

non-profits to use social media to connect with their respective communities. Yet, with so many social platforms out there, it can be overwhelming knowing what role each could play in building your social strategy.

Facebook

Although not as prominent as it once was, during the last quarter of 2019 Facebook had nearly 2.5 billion monthly active users: the largest of any social network worldwide.

Therefore, its influence should not be underestimated. Facebook still possesses significant power for charities – especially if your goal is to increase awareness or build a fundraising campaign.

Twitter

If you’re looking to engage with large audiences quickly, Twitter is a great option.

By posting consistently, tagging people and organisations, using appropriate hashtags and connecting with relevant influencers you can easily build your audience.

Twitter restricts you to 280 characters per post, so you need to be short, concise and punchy with your copy. Unlike most platforms, the majority of Twitter users tend to find and share information from other people, rather than share updates about themselves.

Instagram

Instagram is an image-based, social networking app that lets users post photos and

videos, follow and interact with organisations, influencers and friends, and send messages.

Aesthetically pleasing and short-form videos perform best on the platform, which tends to have relatively younger users compared with Facebook and Twitter.

According to Sprout Social, over half of the total population of Instagram users (71.1%) are under the age of 34, so it’s a great platform to reach younger audiences.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is one of the top places with potential to reach high net worth individuals.

According to Foundation Inc, 91% of marketers view LinkedIn as the best platform to search for top-quality content and 40 million of those users are in decision-making positions.

However, if you’re looking to target a younger audience, it might be productive to place your campaign elsewhere, as only 20% of users are between 18 and 24.

TikTok

Looking beyond the ‘big 4’, we’ve seen the recent emergence and growth of social media platforms such as TikTok. TikTok is basically the successor to Vine. It’s used to create short comedy, talent and lip-sync videos up to 60 seconds long. It has increased in popularity over the past few months and was announced as the 7th most downloadable mobile app in 2019. According to Hootsuite, TikTok has 800 million monthly active users.

Like other social media platforms, it’s

free and can help tap into new and large audiences. WildFire found that 41% of users are under 25, so if you’re targeting that age bracket, you may want to consider TikTok.

Pinterest

With 26% growth since last year, and more users on the platform than ever before, Pinterest is one to consider. With over 322 million monthly users, it has a smaller audience pool than other platforms, but does provide a slightly different type of audience.

According to Hootsuite, 29% of Pinterest’s ad audience are women between 25-34.

Women make up 71% of Pinterest’s audience, versus 21% for men – the other 8% did not specify gender. With that in mind, Pinterest could be an effective option for organisations targeting a predominantly female audience.

Twitch

Another alternative platform that purposeled organisations should consider is Twitch – one of the world’s leading live-streaming platforms for video gamers, allowing users to watch a live or pre-recorded video of a broadcaster’s gameplay.

Each broadcast often includes audio commentary and a video of the player via their webcam. There’s also running chat from viewers that the broadcaster can respond to. q • Social Misfits Media specialises in helping purpose-led organisations use social media and digital better in order to reach their goals.

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, microchipped and kept in suitable conditions. 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. However, this means that the charity can incur large veterinary costs to maintain a dog’s health while they await a new permanent home.

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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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 over 3,800 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 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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How to keep calm and carry on fundraising Here BART LEONARD, trustee at National Funding Scheme – which operates the online funding stream DONATE – offers seven ways to fundraise outside the box.

1: Online fundraising and text fundraising are easy to set up and quick to get going. How can you use these techniques to raise money? Can you appeal to influencers or celebrities via Instagram or Twitter to support your cause? The more people that share your donation URL or SMS number the better, and it’s free to ask. Once you gain momentum you can then start to spread the word further.

2: Approach your local paper to see if they will write about your cause for free. They may even agree to a more formal partnership where they use your campaign on a regular basis. That works well for local newspapers which need to attract readers with interesting editorial content.

3: Set a challenge. With everyone stuck at home, the will to get up to do anything is slowly decreasing; so why not consider a challenge that is relevant to your charity and ask people to get involved? For example, a children’s charity could do a painting challenge for kids, a homelessness charity could challenge people to clear out 10 items of clothing and place in clothing bins or take to a local collection point. The idea can be anything that gets people doing something.

4: Use this time to make sure you’ve got your passive donation mechanics in place. For example, on your Facebook page do you have the DONATE button enabled? If not, do that. Do you have an easy way to donate on your website? If not, this can done via DONATE. Do you have a database of regular supporters?

Can you text them with a donation keyword?

5: Create an SMS raffle. That is super easy to set up and can be very effective. With all the pubs and shops currently closed they will be looking for ways to get their customers back once lockdown is lifted. Why not ask them if you can offer a prize of a free meal for two or a gift voucher and run an SMS raffle with your supporters? Money-cannot-buy prizes are also super valuable.

6: How can what you do help with the COVID-19 outbreak? Is there anything you can do to help with supplying food and medication to the vulnerable, for example? Do you have vehicles or specific equipment that can be repurposed? Any help you can give to the overall effort, apart from being the right thing to do, will help with your visibility during the crisis. Set up a social media campaign to publicise your efforts and to gather nominations for people who need help. These hyper-local campaigns have been working extremely well during the last month or so, as people look to their local community for help.

7: We’ve all seen the success of the Joe Wicks The Body Coach workout videos, and while we’re not suggesting you don your trainers and do a workout video (unless you want to) live-stream videos are a great way to keep in touch with your supporters. You can share stories about the work you do, ask others for their stories and generally maintain the rapport you’d get as if you were face-to-face fundraising.

The National Funding Scheme, operating under the DONATE brand, provides a range of mobile fundraising tools to maximise fundraising campaigns. Launched in 2013, DONATE is a platform that allows the UK public to conveniently donate via touch and SMS text – visit www.easydonate.org.

Latest data show that donations via the DONATE platform increased by 600% in the eight weeks between 1 March and 1 May compared to the same period last year, and increased by 700% from the eight weeks prior to 1 March. The total amount donated to charities raising money for foodbanks and the vulnerable, in campaigns set up specifically to help support people during the coronavirus crisis, was over £47,500. q

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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Daring rescue mission saves dozens of animals

[

AT THE BEGINNING of 2019 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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Do the wise thing – help protect owls [THE OWLS TRUST is a small charity doing a big job – and an

important one. At its headquarters, Bodafon Farm Park in Llandudno, it has one of the best collections of owls on display to the public in the UK, and it is entirely free to visit every day of the year.

The trust became a registered charity in 2001, recognising that there was an urgent need for an organisation to rescue owls and birds of prey in North Wales. Its mission statement is “Saving the world, one owl at a time”.

There are three main strands to the Owls Trust’s work.

Trustee Pam Broughton explained: “Firstly, we provide rescue and rehabilitation for injured birds of prey. We nurse the wild birds back to health, and when they are ready we release them back into a suitable habitat.”

They are often asked to step in to rescue ‘pet’ owls. Those birds are frequently distressed and in poor condition.

Said Pam: “When we can, we give them a permanent home with us, where they can regain a good quality of life in more spacious and appropriate surroundings suitable to their species.”

The trust’s second activity is to educate young people and older groups about our birds of prey, their place in the environment and

how their habitats can be maintained to protect the bio-diversity of our countryside. Each year the trust’s staff visit over 170 schools and institutions with their owls.

Finally, they work with international partners to create and maintain breeding stocks of the world’s rarest owls.

Pam declared: “When imperilled habitats can be restored and protected, we will then be able to enhance threatened populations or even reintroduce new groups.”

The Owls Trust relies on public generosity and support to continue its work in the care and rehabilitation of owls: it receives no public funding.

“So if you love owls as we do,” said Pam Broughton, “please consider remembering The Owls Trust in your will.” q

Making surgery their legacy [

CHOOSING TO leave the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) a legacy in your will can have a direct impact on the future of surgery and on the patients it saves. Past legacies have enabled the charity to purchase essential equipment and support a range of projects in surgical education and research.

One of those legacies has allowed the funding of multiple one-year research fellowships, all costing in the region of £65,000. The most recent fellowship awarded with this generous bequest was to a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon whose project is looking at using augmented reality (AR) gaming to optimise surgical performance.

Delivering expert levels of surgery is a team skill, combining knowledge, technical and non-technical ability. Yet better understanding is needed about how together, the surgeon, their assistant and the scrub nurse acquire and integrate these skills.

The developed augmented reality headsets allow multiple wearers to overlap 3D digital information onto the real world, tracking hands and surgical instruments. Using AR gamification, the project investigates how surgical teams learn, and if enhancing their abilities during simulated and real surgery can accelerate learning, deliver expert-level skill, and thus improve patient care.

The number of excellent fellowship applications received has doubled since the scheme was introduced in 1993 and the RCS are unable to support 80% of applicants. They are always in need of more funding to enable projects that address the health challenges of modern society, supporting the development of pioneering ideas across the NHS. With each small success the RCS takes another step towards the next big breakthrough. q

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Fundraising success is in the mail [NEW RESEARCH by

the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and Royal Mail MarketReach has revealed that four out of five fundraisers still consider mailings to form a key part of their fundraising programme. An overwhelming majority stated that it enhances the supporter experience and builds loyalty and engagement.

A new guide, The Power of Mail in Charity Fundraising, explores how charities can make the most of mail, finding both new and improved ways to connect with their audiences to raise funds and to nurture the all-important supporter relationship. The guide brings together key findings from surveys conducted by both organisations, as well as insight from charities on their success with mail – whether that takes the form of addressed letters, unaddressed door drops, postcards, newsletters, reports, event packs or retail catalogues.

Amanda Griffiths, head of communications planning at Royal Mail MarketReach, said: “Mail enables charities to communicate with supporters directly in a way no other medium can. A mail pack creates that feeling of ‘they cared enough to write to me’ – meaning people feel recognised and valued for their support, closer to the charity and cause and more likely to support it not only for longer, but also in additional ways.”

In its Fundraising Mail Survey, conducted last December, the IoF found that 82% of fundraisers use mail for their fundraising/supporter engagement programme and 93% say that it enhances the supporter experience, building loyalty and engagement.

Meanwhile, 82% of fundraisers value the room mail provides for storytelling.

The findings reinforce those of a survey of the public’s opinion of fundraising mail, carried out between 2017 and 2019 by JICMAIL and Royal Mail MarketReach, which found that 92% of charity mail is engaged with – that is, opened, read, sorted, put aside for later, filed and either put on display or in ‘the usual place’. Moreover, 65% of recipients say they are likely to give mail their full attention and 70% say mail makes them feel valued.

Daniel Fluskey, head of policy and external affairs at the Institute of Fundraising, added: “We’re pleased to have partnered on this guide, giving fundraisers the insight they need to make the most impact with their mail communications. Mail’s tangibility provokes a very different reaction than other channels, and with so much content vying for people’s attention in the digital space, it can be that much more substantive. It can have a particularly strong impact on emotional resonance and engagement.” q

Children’s charity mourns murdered trustee [ ONE CHARITY that was affected more than any by the tragic

death of law student Aya Hachem is the Children’s Society. Aya, who was the innocent victim in a drive-by shooting in Blackburn, was a trustee of the charity, which works with vulnerable children and young people.

The charity has five young trustees from its services who take part in full board meetings.

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods of Lancashire Police said: “Aya was a much-loved family member and friend who was enjoying her studies at the University of Salford.

“She also gave her time to being a young trustee of the Children’s Society. For her life to have been cut short like this is unthinkable and her family are understandably utterly distraught.”

A total of 19 people have been arrested during the police investigation into the event, six of whom have appeared in court charged with her murder.

Mark Russell, chief executive of the Children’s Society, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of our young trustees, Aya Hachem.

“She was a truly remarkable young woman, and an inspiring voice for children and young people. Our thoughts are with her family at this awful time.” q

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Charity Commission appoints new chief operating officer [THE CHARITY COMMISSION has

announced the appointment of its new chief operating officer. Nick Baker is expected to take up his new role in August.

The chief operating officer is a new post the regulator has introduced to strengthen the organisation and drive forward internal improvements that will ensure continued progress against its ambitious strategy.

In his capacity as chief operating officer Nick will lead key corporate functions including HR, finance, governance, risk and assurance, and will be based in Liverpool, the commission’s main office.

Nick will join the commission from Staffordshire Police Force, where he is currently deputy chief constable.

In that role, which he has held since 2014, Nick has been responsible for overseeing people services, technology, corporate services, business services, legal functions, corporate communications, professional standards and force transformation, amongst other functions. He has held a number of other senior leadership roles within the police,

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including as national police chief lead for digital forensics and technical surveillance units, and was also temporary chief constable of the force between November last year and this March.

The chief executive of the Charity Commission, Helen Stephenson CBE, commented: “I am thrilled to welcome Nick to my senior team. His experience of both policing in the public interest and leading the support functions of the force stand him in good stead to lead this new function at the commission.

“Nick’s impressive technical knowledge and skills will equip us well to move forward confidently in delivering on our strategy.

His commitment to helping ensure those who need our services get the best from us stood out, and I am confident Nick will support us in becoming a stronger organisation that can really maximise the benefit of charities to society.”

Said Nick: “Charity relies on good people coming together to make a difference and improve peoples’ lives. I am excited to support this by helping underpin the commission’s work in the public interest. The commission has a very clear vision: I am looking forward to working with my new teams and helping to put its ambitious plans into action.” q

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

Tiggywinkles 6

Pain Relief Foundation 2

Wild Futures 6

Brain Research UK 8

Last Chance Animal Rescue 9

World Cancer Research Fund 13

SongBird Survival 10

CLEFT 20

Forever Hounds Trust 10

Royal College of Surgeons 28

Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue 11

The National Brain Appeal 32

Pet Rescue Welfare Association 14 British Chelonia Group 15 Willows Animal Sanctuary 16/17 Hopefield Animal Sanctuary 18

SUPPORT & ADVICE

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary 19

Nerve Tumours UK 2

Heartbeat Home for Horses 20

Seafarers UK 7

The New European Distressed Donkey Initiative Ltd 22 Three Counties Dog Rescue 23 Animals in Distress Field of Dreams 24

OVERSEAS AID

FOUR PAWS 26/27 The Owls Trust 28

Hope Health Action 8

The Suffolk Punch Trust 29

ZANE: Zimbabwe A National Emergency 24

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

HEALTH & DISABILITY

Hypo Hounds 15

National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom 12

Kidney Kids Scotland 22

Seeing Dogs 30

Youth Cancer Trust 25

MILITARY MEMORIALS National Military Working Dogs Memorial 14

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