Accountants’ conference sees speakers set out future priorities [THE ANNUAL Charity Conference of the Institute of Chartered
As she pointed out: “The pandemic has shown that charities make a vital contribution to public life: whether large, national charities, relied Accountants of England and Wales took place virtually this year – on on to provide life-saving services; or small, local community groups 21-22 January. innovating and helping people, in support of a common cause.” The popular event aims to allow financial professionals access to The main thrust of her address was the role the commission plays in all the vital accounting, governance and taxation updates affecting the regulating the relationship between charities and the public they both charity sector. serve and rely upon. This year’s event brought “I see our job as helping to together figures from the world safeguard what is essentially a of accountancy, charities and covenant between the public, journalism to debate the issues charities and the state. A covenant affecting the sector. founded on a bond of trust which is Among the issues debated why Parliament set us the statutory were vital technical updates on objective to increase – not maintain charity accounting, taxation and – but to increase public trust and governance – given by expert confidence in charity. And we will speakers from BDO UK LLP and strive to change and adapt as a City and Cambridge Consulting, regulator only insofar as it makes us among others. better able to uphold that covenant.” Impact reporting and the use of She was forthright that the digital was also explored, as well commission would take action as wider reporting trends and future where charities fall short. developments in charity reporting. © Gov.uk “That’s why we take charities to Insights were provided task when they have failed to meet into the #IFR4NPO Project “The pandemic has shown that charities the expectations of the law or our – the International Financial make a vital contribution to public life: guidance and in that sense have Reporting guidance for Nonbroken the covenant. And why we Profit Organisations. A public whether large, national charities, relied call out behaviour which, whilst not consultation was launched on to provide life-saving services; a technical breach of the law, goes in January by the Chartered or small, local community groups against the reasonable expectations Institute of Public Finance and of the public that charities should Accountancy and Humentum as innovating and helping people, in behave differently from private or part of the IFR4NPO initiative. support of a common cause.” commercial entities.” The news media were Helen Stephenson, CEO of the Charity Commission On the subject of the work of represented by Sir Martyn the Charity Commission itself, Lewis CBE, former BBC and she pointed to strides made ITN newscaster. He shared the despite the upheaval caused by the pandemic. evidence that shows the gathering momentum of ‘solutions-driven “We have all seen how deep charity runs in our society over the past journalism’. year. How important it is for people of all walks to life to get involved in The keynote speech on day one was delivered by Helen Stephenson, charity – whether by giving their time or their money – and to help find CEO of the Charity Commission. solutions to the challenges their communities face. Her speech, published in full by the commission, addressed a range “Together with our partners in the professions, and with charities of issues facing charities, particularly during the unprecedented times of themselves, that public enthusiasm and trust is what the commission exists the COVID pandemic. As she pointed out, that was not the position she to nurture and protect.” q expected charities to still be in when she accepted the invitation to speak.
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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