Charity Conference 2015: Informing & Educating The Sector - 10 November, Hove

When: 10 November
Where: Sussex County Cricket Ground, Eaton Road, Hove, BN3 3AN
Event Time: 9am - 4pm

Russell New - Business, Taxation & Charity Advisers - are hosting this one day conference. There will be interview sessions with a CEO and Chair of two successful charities; opportunities to network with like-minded individuals; and a choice of breakout sessions covering governance, investments, fundraising and finance.

To reserve your place, please complete this form

09:00 Registration

09:30 Chair's Opening Remarks: Mark Cummins,  Charitis & Education Partner, Russell New

09:45 The Challenges Of Being A Chair of Trustees: An interview with Guy Clinch, Chairman of Trsutees, St Barnabas House

10:45 Morning Break

11:00 Morning Break Away Session: Choose session A or B, details below

12:30 Lunch: a buffet lunch will be provided

13:30 The Challenges Of Being A CEO: An interview with Penny Shimmin, CEO, Sussex Community Development Association

14:30 Afternoon Break Away Session: Choose session C or D, details below

16:00 Close


Session A
Governance - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

This session will be led by Mark Cummins, Charities & Education Partner at Russell New, and Jeremy Mills, Lawyer from Mills Keep.

Good governance is fundamental to any charity which strives to be successful in fulfilling its objectives in an effective and efficient manner. Bad governance can have a detrimental effect on charities, putting the reputation of a charity at risk.

In this session, Mark and Jeremy will discuss the do's and don'ts of good governance, incorporating examples from their work in the sector. There will also be an opportunity for delegates to demonstrate their understanding by looking at a case study.

Session B
Raising Funds from Grant Making Trusts and Foundations

This session will be led by Andrew Devon, Director, Salvia Fundraising.

Andrew Devon is the owner of Salvia Fundraising Ltd, a fundraising and training consultancy based in Hove. Andrew provides services to charities including writing business and fundraising strategies, and researching and making funding applications to grant making trusts and foundations.

In this interactive session, Andrew will help you to improve your skills in writing applications and appeals to charitable trusts and foundations. He will use actual examples and case studies from his own clients.

Session C
Investment - no such thing as a silly question

This session will be led by Gemma Woodward, Executive Director at Quilter Cheviot Investment Management and an independent adviser to three charities' investment committees; and Julie Toben, a charity trustee and chair of a large charity's investment committee.

Whatever the size of a charity's reserves the Trustees have a number of decisions to make as how to best utilise these reserves. The Trustees have fiduciary responsibility for the chairty's finances, but may be faced with a bewildering vocabulary and uncertainty as to how to navigate the investment world.

In this session Julie and Gemma will aim to create a step by step guide of how to make investment simple, what resources there are for Trustees and how there is no such thing as a silly question - only silly answers

Session D
Are Your Financial Systems & Controls Fit For Purpose?

This session will be led by Jonathan Aikens, Charities & Education Manager, Russell New.

All charities must have in place effective financial systems and controls which safeguard the assets of the charity. Often the controls around key areas such as online banking, cash handling and payroll are insufficient.

Jonathan will discuss the key financial systems and controls charities should have in place and using examples from his auditing background cover some common weaknesses amongst charities.

He will also make reference to the latest Charity Commission guidance on the topic.