Welcome to this weeks wrap-up of sector news including the news that Scarlett Johanson has stepped down from Oxfam, reader reactions, social media snippets and popular articles
Hello and welcome to the voluntary sector network's weekly wrap-up - a bite-size run down on sector news, our most popular pieces, your responses, social media snippets, upcoming events and jobs and what to keep an eye out for over the next week.
*What happened*
• Charities have expressed their disappointment after the lobbying bill squeezed through the House of Lords on Tuesday.
• After much scrutiny, Scarlett Johansson has stepped down from her Oxfam ambassador role. The actress made the decision following criticism of her part in an advertising campaign for Sodastream, who owns a factory in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.
• Charities are 'drowning in fundraising data and failing to realise its potential', according to a report by Blackbaud and nfpSynergy. Data Driven Fundraising, says that 70% of charities in the UK said there was untapped potential in the data, Third Sector reported.
• 40% of charities in the North East are hesitant about applying for grant funding as they feel they lack of resources to use it to their advantage, CivilSociety.co.uk reported.
*What you commented*
As part of our 10 years time project, Simon Gillespie - the chief executive of the British Heart Foundation - wrote from 2024. He described the lessons charities have learnt including how impact, transparency and accountability are essential to the success of a charity's work. Carl Allen shared his thoughts.
• 'Greater transparency and accountability may simply become bullet-proof glass. It may shield the sector from observations that their greater efficiency and scale bears no relationship to increased effectiveness in combatting the impact of short-termism in policy approach.' *Carl Allen, comment*
Unlike Simon, Debra Allcock-Tyler argued that nothing much will change in the next 10 years. She explained that stuff will crop up, accompanied by the over-reaction of press, politicians and commentators, but the fundamentals will never change. Juicylicious disagreed.
• 'Charities will become more commercialised and they'll insist it's a necessity due to public apathy and an 'increasingly challenging economy'. Small charities will continue to do the unglamorous grassroots work that the big charities trumpet about. Ad campaigns will become more sophisticated and minimum donations (now set at £2) will raise to £5. Annual and online reports will big up what the charity's doing but you won't see it at local level apart from localised fundraising. Big names will be headhunted from the corporate sector and paid accordingly. The rational will be that in an 'increasingly challenging economy', charities need to 'compete' to attract the best. Meanwhile 'the best' won't get their hands dirty - that'll be left to the small skint invisible charities busting a gut to do what the larger charities could easily do but don't. Instead big name charity bosses will lobby ministers on a one-to-one basis acting (of course) as an advocate for 'vulnerable people who rely on their services' while salaries, lunches, expenses and reserves grow bigger and bigger.' *Juicylicious, comment*
*What you tweeted*
*Where to go*
Is your charity prepared for potential risk and crises? In an environment of fast-paced change, charities must be aware of the risks and plan accordingly. Find out how by signing up to our series of Charity Leaders Live events, where experts will be sharing their advice.
*What are "emerging risks" and why are they important for charities?*
This event will discuss how the risk landscape is changing and help you plan for what's to come. Learn from industry experts about how to balance risk and opportunity, and delve deeper into different areas of risk and the potential impacts on your organisation.
Thursday 27 February 2014 18.00 - 21.30
*Job of the week*
Mothers' Union are recruiting a head of fundraising and communications. The role, which has considerable scope, is a permanent position offering a salary of up to £44,500 depending on experience. To find out more and apply visit the job advert.
*What to look out for*
*• 'How-to' guides for small charities*
Last week, we launched our new series of guides for small charities kicking off with how to lead a small charity by Allison Ogden-Newton. We want to help you every step of the way, so if you have any queries or ideas don't hesitate to drop us an email, tweet us @GdnVoluntary or leave your comments below.
*• Live Q&A: the future of fundraising*
Next Wednesday (5 February) from 12.00 -1.30pm we will be a running live webchat on how fundraising will change in the next decade. The panel, including the European partnerships manager or Movember, the managing director of Zapper any many more, will discuss how technology will change the face of fundraising, how charities need to prepare and what risks will be taken. If you would like to leave a question for the panel, please do so in the comments section below, or come back to ask it live on Wednesday.
*If there's another story you'd like us to mention – or you 'd like to share your thoughts on any of the **voluntary sector** issues in the news – please get in touch by leaving a comment below, **joining the network** or tweeting us at **@GdnVoluntary**.* Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.
Hello and welcome to the voluntary sector network's weekly wrap-up - a bite-size run down on sector news, our most popular pieces, your responses, social media snippets, upcoming events and jobs and what to keep an eye out for over the next week.
*What happened*
• Charities have expressed their disappointment after the lobbying bill squeezed through the House of Lords on Tuesday.
• After much scrutiny, Scarlett Johansson has stepped down from her Oxfam ambassador role. The actress made the decision following criticism of her part in an advertising campaign for Sodastream, who owns a factory in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.
• Charities are 'drowning in fundraising data and failing to realise its potential', according to a report by Blackbaud and nfpSynergy. Data Driven Fundraising, says that 70% of charities in the UK said there was untapped potential in the data, Third Sector reported.
• 40% of charities in the North East are hesitant about applying for grant funding as they feel they lack of resources to use it to their advantage, CivilSociety.co.uk reported.
*What you commented*
As part of our 10 years time project, Simon Gillespie - the chief executive of the British Heart Foundation - wrote from 2024. He described the lessons charities have learnt including how impact, transparency and accountability are essential to the success of a charity's work. Carl Allen shared his thoughts.
• 'Greater transparency and accountability may simply become bullet-proof glass. It may shield the sector from observations that their greater efficiency and scale bears no relationship to increased effectiveness in combatting the impact of short-termism in policy approach.' *Carl Allen, comment*
Unlike Simon, Debra Allcock-Tyler argued that nothing much will change in the next 10 years. She explained that stuff will crop up, accompanied by the over-reaction of press, politicians and commentators, but the fundamentals will never change. Juicylicious disagreed.
• 'Charities will become more commercialised and they'll insist it's a necessity due to public apathy and an 'increasingly challenging economy'. Small charities will continue to do the unglamorous grassroots work that the big charities trumpet about. Ad campaigns will become more sophisticated and minimum donations (now set at £2) will raise to £5. Annual and online reports will big up what the charity's doing but you won't see it at local level apart from localised fundraising. Big names will be headhunted from the corporate sector and paid accordingly. The rational will be that in an 'increasingly challenging economy', charities need to 'compete' to attract the best. Meanwhile 'the best' won't get their hands dirty - that'll be left to the small skint invisible charities busting a gut to do what the larger charities could easily do but don't. Instead big name charity bosses will lobby ministers on a one-to-one basis acting (of course) as an advocate for 'vulnerable people who rely on their services' while salaries, lunches, expenses and reserves grow bigger and bigger.' *Juicylicious, comment*
*What you tweeted*
*Where to go*
Is your charity prepared for potential risk and crises? In an environment of fast-paced change, charities must be aware of the risks and plan accordingly. Find out how by signing up to our series of Charity Leaders Live events, where experts will be sharing their advice.
*What are "emerging risks" and why are they important for charities?*
This event will discuss how the risk landscape is changing and help you plan for what's to come. Learn from industry experts about how to balance risk and opportunity, and delve deeper into different areas of risk and the potential impacts on your organisation.
Thursday 27 February 2014 18.00 - 21.30
*Job of the week*
Mothers' Union are recruiting a head of fundraising and communications. The role, which has considerable scope, is a permanent position offering a salary of up to £44,500 depending on experience. To find out more and apply visit the job advert.
*What to look out for*
*• 'How-to' guides for small charities*
Last week, we launched our new series of guides for small charities kicking off with how to lead a small charity by Allison Ogden-Newton. We want to help you every step of the way, so if you have any queries or ideas don't hesitate to drop us an email, tweet us @GdnVoluntary or leave your comments below.
*• Live Q&A: the future of fundraising*
Next Wednesday (5 February) from 12.00 -1.30pm we will be a running live webchat on how fundraising will change in the next decade. The panel, including the European partnerships manager or Movember, the managing director of Zapper any many more, will discuss how technology will change the face of fundraising, how charities need to prepare and what risks will be taken. If you would like to leave a question for the panel, please do so in the comments section below, or come back to ask it live on Wednesday.
*If there's another story you'd like us to mention – or you 'd like to share your thoughts on any of the **voluntary sector** issues in the news – please get in touch by leaving a comment below, **joining the network** or tweeting us at **@GdnVoluntary**.* Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.