The Charity Pages Issue 20

Once more we come to the first issue of a New Year; and as is always the case with these auspicious events there is a fair degree of retrospection on the year just past, and speculation as to what may come to pass in the next.

As befits this publication’s antecedents as a review of issues regarding legacies, we look at a number of reviews of the performance of that sector last year. The industry benchmark for assessment of the sector is the Smee & Ford Legacy Trends report. In addition to a précis of that report, we offer views from industry experts Legacy Futures and the new head of the umbrella organisation Remember A Charity.

• There are a number of ways in which the best in legacy campaigns are showcased. A new online resource puts together a number of legacy marketing campaigns singled out for praise by leaders in the field, while two awards schemes will reward individuals who have been outstanding in the past year.

• It is perhaps inevitable that the bulk of the stories we carry in respect of legacies – and, indeed, charity legislation in general – are based

on the system in England and Wales. In Scotland, however, two new pieces of legislation affect not only charities’ organisation but also the effect on legacies they will have.

• That’s not to say that affairs in England and Wales are not in a state of flux. The latest tranche of provisions under the new Charities Act run in parallel to new guidance from the Fundraising Regulator and the Charity Commission. That latter august body has addressed issues concerning charities’ use of social media, reflecting the inexorable increase in the use of technology by charities.

• That rise in the use of technology has prompted a warning from GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre regarding the increased level of threats to charities from cyber criminals. That warning comes as new and innovative ways of donating are coming to the fore. The new generation of ‘digital natives’ are more likely to use mobile methods of donating.

• The look ahead to new ways of giving brings us back to where we started: looking back on 2022 and forward to 2023. Two reports give us a similar view of where charities in general see both.

EVERY DAY WE MAKE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO IT WITH YOUR HELP

The photograph on the right of border collie Nipper was taken on the same day that he’d been taken to a vet’s to be put to sleep. Purchased as a ‘surprise’ gift, he was unwanted. The beautiful puppy was just eight weeks old and is just one of over 9,700 animals rescued by Friends of the Animals.

There was a happy ending as –now renamed Stanley – he was rehomed with one of the charity’s voluntary drivers, who adores him.

Friends of the Animals began in March 1990 and had very humble beginnings. Veterinary treatment is invariably the charity’s biggest outgoing and to date they have spayed or neutered 43,000 animals. Thousands more have been wormed and inoculated – often for the first time in their lives!

Founder Helen Sinclair MBE, who was honoured for Services to Animal Welfare in 2014, takes up the story: “There have been many memorable cases, where we’ve saved animals’ lives against all the odds. Animals such as the puppy who slipped under the railings of a balcony – luckily bouncing off the conservatory roof which broke her fall. Then there was the dog who fell down a manhole in the road after someone had removed the cover, and poor Marshall, who had three broken legs and a severed ear.

“Susie, a Labrador/Staffy cross (pictured above), was badly burnt in a house fire, but made a good recovery; and the dear little cat above had everything wrong with him, but survived and thrived.

“When 11 month old Border Collie ‘J.J.’ came into our care, she had a pin / plate poking through

a badly infected front leg, a paw so badly crushed the bones had fused together and a stab wound.

“Her original owner pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and was fined £2,000 and banned from keeping an animal for ten years.

“As you can see from the wonderful photo below, ‘J.J.’ went on to much better things.”

Gifts in wills fund almost one in two veterinary treatments and so legacies are an absolute lifeline to the rescue and spaying/neutering work carried out by Friends of the Animals.

The charity has a policy of non-destruction, unless an animal is sick or injured with no hope of recovery, and they keep admin costs to a minimum. Very importantly, 96% of their staff are volunteers, which ensures as much of your gift as possible is spent on saving animals.

Pitted against that constant battle to save animals was the action of the person who set fire to the front of the Charity's base.

“But, happily,” said Helen, “we're a resilient team and together with the help of supporters, we barely skipped a beat and just kept on going.

“We truly appreciate that people have many choices regarding charities to support, but no one appreciates it more, or tries harder than we do, to get the very best possible use from every penny donated. Thank you for your consideration.”

UNTIL CLEFTS ARE PREVENTABLE, HELP IS AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE

[TODAY, ONE IN 700 BABIES in the UK are born with a cleft lip and palate, the most common form of birth defect.

The impact on a child’s life as they grow is profound. It may affect not only the way they look, but also their speech, hearing and dental development. And it can leave deep psychological scars.

In the developing world, patients with clefts are frequently not operated on until later in life, if at all. As a result, they may be malnourished and unable to talk well or hear properly. Often, they will be social outcasts.

At CLEFT, our vision is of a future where clefts are preventable. Until we get there, we want to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate – in the UK and in poorer countries around the world.

Join the research effort

By funding research, we continue to make headway into understanding why clefts occur and to deliver pioneering new treatments that deliver kinder, more effective and more efficient care for children with cleft lip and palate.

By supporting the development of cleft centres in low and middleincome countries we aim to give children born with clefts in these poorer countries the same opportunities available to children in the UK. Each donation takes us a step closer to reaching our goal. All gifts could have a direct impact on changing the lives of many hundreds of thousands of babies and children around the world.

Please join us and help us prevent clefts for future generations. q

MAKE SURGERY YOUR LEGACY

[ALMOST FIVE MILLION surgical patients are admitted to hospital every year in England alone, so choosing to leave the Royal College of Surgeons of England a gift in your will can have a direct impact on the future of surgery and in maintaining and supporting the enhancement of surgical care for patients.

Legacy gifts: sisters share a vision for the future

Miss Margaret Witt FRCS (1930-2005) was a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. In 2009, her significant legacy founded the Margaret Witt Fund, the income of which is used to award annual scholarships to attend an RCS England course.

Over the next 11 years, Margaret’s sister Lorna was notified of the awards given in her sister’s memory and now in 2022, following the sad news that Miss Lorna Bartlett (1931-2021) had passed away, RCS England are honoured to receive a bequest from her to be placed the same fund.

Margaret’s bequest and then Lorna personally seeing the successful outcomes of the awards inspired her to support them too. Together, these sisters have ensured the award’s longevity for decades into the future.

Sharing your vision

Legacies can support any area of the college’s work; unrestricted contributions can be used wherever the need is greatest and many support an individual project or surgical specialty. Ultimately, RCS England want to understand what their supporters would like their gift to achieve. q

• To get in touch you can email fundraising@rcseng.ac.uk or if you would like an informal chat, please call Nicola on 020 7869 6086.

PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR 2022 SHOW

ANOTHER STRONG YEAR FOR LEGACIES

[ FIGURES PUBLISHED by Smee & Ford ahead of its annual Legacy Trends report show that 2022 was another strong year for charitable gifts in wills in England & Wales. During last year Smee & Ford identified 36,992 charitable estates out of a total of 231,582 estates processed that included a will – meaning almost 16% of wills processed included a gift to charity.

The total value of charitable estates exceeded the prediction of £20bn in the firm’s September update, finishing on £21.3bn: the highest on record. The number of individual bequests within charitable estates granted probate in 2022 was also the highest number ever recorded, finishing on 123,298.

According to a news post from the firm: “The value of legacies continued to be significant for charities in 2022, with 31% of legacy income coming from bequests

worth over £500k. A further 22% came from bequests valued between £100-£250k, meaning over half of all legacy income in 2022 came from high value bequests worth over £100k.

“At the time of writing, not all organisations have yet reported their final accounts to the Charity Commission, so the final legacy income figure for 2022 is not yet confirmed, but as a conservative estimate we predict it may sit at around £3.5bn.”

The full and final statistics will be published by Smee & Ford in its annual Legacy Trends report, which will be free for everyone in the sector to access.

Polly Avgherinos, managing director of Smee & Ford, commented: “It is encouraging to see that 2022 was another strong year for legacy income and that the number of charitable bequests recorded in wills has reached a new record. The Smee & Ford

team look forward to continuing to support the great work that charity legacy teams do and ensuring that legators’ wishes to support causes close to their hearts are realised.”

Her comments were echoed by Allan Freeman, chair of Remember A Charity, who wrote: “In today’s volatile economic environment, it’s hugely encouraging that gifts in wills continue to be such a significant and vital source of income for UK charities.

“More and more fundraisers tell us that legacy income is what’s enabling them to continue delivering services and, perhaps what’s most exciting, we’re seeing growing recognition among senior management of the importance of shoring up legacy fundraising teams and investment to protect their charities’ futures.”

Smee & Ford stresses that their statistics relate to England and Wales only, as Scottish wills have not been included. q

RETROSPECTIVE CONCURS WITH OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF LEGACIES

A MAJOR FACTOR in the continuing boom in legacy income identified by the team at Legacy Futures was the rising death rate caused by the aging baby boomer generation.

Paul Browne, a consultant at Legacy Link, the consulting arm of Legacy Futures, explained: “As this generation ages, the death rate is expected to reach 700,000 per year by 2027. This is significant because this ‘lucky generation’ of baby boomers are relatively financially wealthy and leaving generous gifts i n their wills. But this doesn’t mean that people can rest on thei r laurels – charities need to show why it’s important to leave a gift. And a larger one at that. A higher death rate means more resources will be required to administer the resulting rise in gifts, and charities need to ready for that.”

The rise in deaths and its implications was the subject of a webinar led by Legacy Foresight’s Meg Abdy and Anna Turner.

In Watch Out Boomers, Generation X are coming of age , Anna explained: “We know that, despite being at different life stages, boomers and Generation X are equally open to leaving a gift. Gen X might not have made a will yet, but it is likely on their radar. Tomorrow’s legacy donors will be increasingly demanding, expecting more proof of how their gift will be used, and the va lue it will bring to the cause. Providing transparency, tangibility and a sense of control is crucial to fostering their trust and encouraging legacy giving.”

The issue was one of a number explored by the team at Legacy Futures, which joined other leaders in the sector in concluding that the market for legacies is resilient.

“Legacy giving is undoubtedly one of the big fundraising success

stories in recent years. Over the past three decades legacy income has quadrupled in value and at Legacy Futures we have, as ever, been working tirelessly to drive forward legacy giving for the charities we work with, broadening knowledge and understanding of the areas of legacy and in-memory giving, supporting charities in their legacy development and fundraising programmes, and helping charities to increase income and deliver their services for greater impact.” 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 rehoming centre in Kent, giving hope and a true 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

CONCERN FOR WORKING HORSES’ WELFARE LEADS TO CHARITY’S CAMPAIGNING ROLE

[THE HORSE RESCUE FUND was founded at a time when many deliveries were still being carried out using horses – which at that time were destined for a bleak fate after they finished their working life

That history explains why, as well as rescuing horses, ponies and donkeys in desperate need, the fund has campaigned for improvements at horse sales, in transit and for equine welfare generally. Indeed, they often work in conjunction with their fellow organisations on some of the largest equine welfare cases.

The charity’s byline is: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome

A spokesperson for the charity commented: “All of our rescued horses are treated as individuals and – being one of the smaller welfare charities – our staff get to know the likes, dislikes and foibles of each horse in our care, so their treatment can be personally tailored to their needs.”

After rehabilitation and when they are fit, their animals are placed on loan in private adoptive homes to lead happy, useful lives. Some have gone on to win at prestigious shows, and even appeared on television!

They continued: “We never sell them, so we are able to ensure their wellbeing for the rest of their lives; and if their loaners’ circumstances change, they can always be returned to us. Horses do so much for humans – we try to repay some of that debt; they cannot speak, but we can.”

Funds are urgently needed to continue that work: legacies, covenants, individual donations or corporate funding are all most welcome. Supporters receive a biannual newsletter keeping them up to date with all the happenings on the yard at Woodstock Farm in Norfolk.

For more information visit the website at www.horserescuefund.org.uk or email info@horserescuefund.org.uk q

A new friend for Alan

NEW DIRECTOR DESCRIBES HER FIRST YEAR

[A PERSONAL VIEW of the past year was shared by Lucinda Frostick (right), the new director of Remember A Charity.

The year began, she recalled, on a bright note as the nation –and the legacy sector – looked forward to life after the COVID-19 pandemic. Things soon took a turn for the worse.

“But any relief was short-lived,” she wrote, “as the tragic news unfurled of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Energy bills and living costs rocketed, with inflation reaching 40-year highs. Political chaos ensued alongside a series of budget announcements, punctuated by the deeply sad news of The Queen’s death.”

The ensuing months developed into a ‘rollercoaster’, which saw her first post as director of Remember A Charity. She offered a series of takeaways from the year.

She first addressed the resilience of the legacy sector: it may be a ‘slow burn’, but is able to adapt.

“Across the legacy landscape, fundraisers recognise that what messaging works for people right now might not be the same as it was last year or even last week. Planning legacy campaigns is always important, but we need to be responsive to change too.

“Legacy fundraisers are having to continue to watch and listen. Wider use of digital channels enables them to test, learn and adapt more readily than they might do otherwise. And it’s this agility – a factor not always associated with the legacy world – that has been crucial in the delivery of relevant and timely legacy campaigns this year.”

A second takeaway was the reality of the cost-of-living crisis.

“There’s no shying away from the fact that living costs are rising rapidly and almost everyone will be feeling greater financial pressure to some extent. This impacts people in a range of ways, whether it means newfound fears around putting food on the table and supporting their families, keeping their jobs or businesses going, or longer-term worries about their children’s and grandchildren’s futures.”

Things looked up, however, when the implications for legacies in a climate where property price hikes make the tax breaks of legacies more attractive than ever.

“The rise in property prices in recent years is pushing a record number of estates over the line of the inheritance tax threshold, with IHT receipts rising from £5.1bn in 2019/20 to £6bn in 2021/22 and set to reach £8bn in 2026/27.

“The impact of all this is that the IHT is not only a relevant factor for more estates, but that more people are looking for ways to reduce their tax bills. Tax relief can be a powerful conversation opener for gifts in wills for legal and financial advisers, too, so it seems that now’s the time to dial up that message.”

She concluded that legacies are more important now than ever, so the argument has to be made within charities for more investment in attracting legacies.

“As we move into 2023 the challenge remains for fundraisers to continue to argue the case for legacy budget and investment internally, while there is also the need for more immediate funding. It’s not always easy, but with legacy income underpinning the sector and offering likely returns of over £40bn in the next 10 years, it’s simply too large a pot to be excluded.” q

RESCUE CENTRE OFFERS A LIFELINE TO INJURED WILDLIFE

[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

OESOPHAGEAL CANCER – COULD YOU SPOT THE WARNING SIGNS?

[ DID YOU KNOW that only 2% of people can correctly identify the main oesophageal cancer symptoms?

Despite being one of the least survivable cancers - awareness of symptoms is dangerously low for this killer and early diagnosis is key for the best chance of survival.

But what to look out for?

• Excessive heartburn or indigestion for

• three weeks or more

• Difficulty or pain in swallowing food

• Persistent hiccups and/or ongoing

• weight loss

The best advice is to take action and see your GP for reassurance or treatment.

Heartburn Cancer UK

Heartburn Cancer UK was set up by Mimi McCord in 2003, following the tragic death of her husband Michael from oesophageal cancer.

Michael died in 2002 at just 47 years old. He had been experiencing heartburn for a number of years and antacids had been a regular item in the family shopping basket each week. It was only when he was struggling to swallow his toast one Saturday morning that Mimi suggested he speak with their doctor. He was referred to a gastroenterologist, sent for an endoscopy and diagnosed with cancer. Michael died at home just nine weeks later.

His devastating and untimely death, like many others, may have been prevented if he had known about the dangers of persistent heartburn and its link to oesophageal cancer.

The seemingly harmless symptom is often treated with over-the-counter remedies because people are unaware of the risks. The charity’s mission is to raise public awareness of the dangers of ignoring persistent heartburn and to urge people to seek advice from their GP. If your heartburn is persistent and happens most days for three weeks or more, Heartburn Cancer UK says, you should get it checked.

They also provide information and support to patients and their families living with reflux, Barrett’s oesophagus (a precancerous condition) and oesophageal cancer, and support research to help increase early diagnosis, improve patient outcomes and ultimately help save lives.

to as many people as we can and raising awareness as we go.”

Awareness and support

Around 8,000 people die in the UK every year from oesophageal cancer – that’s 22 deaths every day. It is the seventh biggest cancer killer, with an appalling prognosis of only 15% of patients surviving for five years.

Early diagnosis

Oesophageal cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in males. Currently, 70% of cases are discovered too late for curative treatment with the most common early symptom being persistent heartburn: Heartburn Cancer UK hopes to be able to change that with the help of its supporters.

Mimi told us: “The key to challenging these appalling stats is early diagnosis. Excitingly, we are currently partnered in a pilot project which introduces an innovative screening test, the CytospongeTM, into primary care: initially in East Anglia, Essex and Suffolk where the project will screen 1,500 at-risk patients with the use of a mobile diagnostic unit supplied by Heartburn Cancer UK.

“The CytospongeTM test is 50% less costly than the current hospital-based alternative, the endoscopy, and has been shown to identify 10 times as many cases of concern as current primary routine care. It is our aim to help introduce a wider screening service, in a variety of geographical areas, bringing access to this potentially life-saving test

Your support

Heartburn Cancer UK are delighted to be celebrating 20 years as a charity in 2023, with Mimi just as passionate about raising awareness and helping to save lives today as she was 20 years ago.

Donations from supporters are more important than ever to help continue their vital work and there are lots of ways people can make a difference.

Said Mimi: “Help us celebrate our 20 years as a charity in 2023 and participate in a challenge – maybe something that’s been on your bucket list for a while – and you can help raise funds for us at the same time. Consider a donation, setting up a regular payment to us or a legacy gift. You could even do something as simple as select us as your charity on Amazon or Easy-Fundraising and every time you shop you could help support us by just buying something and not spending a penny more.”

No matter how large or small, said Mimi, every penny can help make a difference.

She added: “After 20 years of seeing no change in earlier diagnosis, the CytospongeTM could really make a difference and we want to continue to support its journey into everyday care in any way we can. Along with vital awareness about not ignoring persistent heartburn problems that trouble you regularly, we are determined to continue making a difference and help save lives.

“If you have persistent heartburn, getting checked by your doctor will help give you peace of mind or put you on the path to a far better prognosis if there is a problem.” q

• For more information about the charity, or how to donate, visit the website at www.heartburncanceruk.org

A SMALL CHARITY WITH A HUGE HEART

[

KIDNEY KIDS SCOTLAND, a very small charity with a huge heart, has for the last 23 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

STAND-OUT LEGACY CAMPAIGNS SHOWCASED ON NEW WEBSITE

[ A NEW FREE ONLINE RESOURCE has been launched by Legacy Futures, in collaboration with Remember A Charity and SOFII – the Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration. The Legacy Showcase – Campaigns We Love! shares some of the most inspirational examples of legacy creativity and innovation from around the world, championing legacy fundraising to inspire and encourage fundraisers in the creation of campaigns, now and into the future.

At its launch in January the showcase comprised 18 short videos, each just a few minutes long and presented by champions from the field of legacy fundraising. Talking viewers through their favourite legacy campaigns from the UK, Ireland, Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands, they explain why they find their chosen campaign so powerful, innovative and inspirational, sharing their tips and lessons to pass forward.

The organisers are now calling for fundraisers everywhere to nominate for inclusion a legacy campaign that they love. Nominations can be made via a button at the top of The Legacy Showcase page at www.legacyfutures.com/legacy-showcase Campaigns already covered are diverse in their content – from funny to emotional and breathtaking. They demonstrate the breadth of ingenuity and originality, creativity and the range of media used in legacy fundraising to date, providing legacy fundraisers with a wealth of ideas to draw from.

Ashley Rowthorn, CEO of Legacy Futures, explained why the initiative has been launched: “The legacy market is growing fast, with more charities than ever recognising the value of this form of income for a sustainable future. So, too, the market is becoming increasingly competitive and legacy campaigns will need to work harder and harder to gain cut-through.

“With this Legacy Showcase we want to champion great campaigns created by legacy fundraisers all over the world to in turn inspire more creativity and innovation in the future. I hope this collaborative effort will provide an invaluable resource that many legacy fundraisers will turn to for ideas and lessons to inform their own work.”

The Legacy Showcase is hosted by Legacy Futures, while SOFII will feature it on its website and in its email newsletter, sharing with an audience of over 10,000 fundraisers around the world. Among the champions and their chosen campaigns to appear in the first batch of videos were:

• Craig Fordham, director of legacies at Macmillan Cancer Support, talking about a ‘beautifully simple’ campaign from Dogs Trust as a lesson in authenticity and real stories.

• Emma Hazlewood, head of legacy development at the National Trust, who praised Centrepoint for including beneficiaries in the building of their campaign, resulting in powerful messaging

SAVING LIVES ONE SNIFF AT A TIME

HYPO HOUNDS provide a viable health care alternative for children and their families by training a Diabetic Alert Dog to detect the subtle changes in the child’s blood sugar levels.

The dogs are trained to alert 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

that challenges perceptions and builds strong empathy from the outset.

• Dr Lucy Lowthian, gifts in wills consultant at Legacy Voice, shared her thoughts about using positivity and upbeat energy, citing a Battersea Dogs & Cats Home TV ad as a great example with its ‘life rather than end of life’ messaging.

SOFII’s chair Meredith Niles said of the collaboration: “SOFII is thrilled to be working with Legacy Futures on this project: it aligns perfectly with our mission of providing free inspiration for fundraisers, and we know that SOFII readers are always looking for ideas when it comes to developing or improving their legacy programmes. We hope that this evolving collection will spark joy, interest and innovation for legacy fundraisers the world over.”

Remember A Charity, the consortium of over 200 charities, which also serves as a hub of useful information on legacy giving and fundraising, is to feature the showcase on its website’s members’ area.

Its director Lucinda Frostick added: “One of the things that’s so inspiring about the legacy fundraising community is the willingness to collaborate and share learnings; and that’s surely the best way we can accelerate growth and innovation in the field. The Legacy Showcase is a hugely positive resource and we’re delighted to support another key project that champions the wonderful world of gifts in wills.” q

TRUST WORKS TO SAVE ICONIC WORKING HORSES

[THE SUFFOLK PUNCH TRUST is a registered charity, whose aim is to ensure the survival of the famous horse breed. It was founded in 2002 to save the historic Hollesley Bay Colony Stud.

That stud brought a rich legacy of equine and agricultural history which deserves to be saved for future generations to enjoy. The trust aims to achieve that through a successful breeding programme, supported by funding, education and the outreach facility of its visitor centre.

The Suffolk Punch is the oldest English breed of working horse, dating from the 16th century. Every Suffolk horse can be traced back to a stallion, known as Crisp’s Horse of Ufford, foaled in 1768. The Suffolk horse was developed for farm work and gained popularity during the early 20th century. As agriculture became mechanised, however, the numbers fell and the breed almost disappeared completely.

The aim of the trust is to help save the iconic breed from extinction through its established breeding programme. It is working towards increasing the numbers of horses through normal breeding processes and an artificial insemination programme.

It also works to raise public awareness and is training a new generation of professionals to work with and understand the needs of the breed. The Suffolk Punch is incredibly versatile and is now often employed in forestry and ridden work.

The Suffolk Punch Trust can only continue its work with the help of donations and legacies. As David Clarke, one of the trust’s directors, explained: “Your legacy, large or small, will make a huge difference to the work we carry out, enabling us to care for our horses and continue the breeding programme to secure this wonderful breed.” 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

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

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ANNUAL BURSARY AWARDS

[IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN and applications are open for the 2023 Legacy Futures Bursary Awards. The awards were launched in 2020 by Legacy Futures to ‘reward and recognise those working in the legacy and in-memory sector’.

“We believe in the power of legacies and want to help our community flourish and felt that there was no better way to achieve this than by investing in the people who will be taking our sector forward,” Legacy Futures said in a post.

This year the awards programme has been refined to focus on the areas that are most valuable to the sector: developing the people who support and grow the impact of the legacy sector.

The three bursary award categories are:

• The Crispin Ellison Bursary – furthering professional development

• in legacy administration. Two winners receive Institute of Legacy

• Management (ILM) training to the value of £1,000 each.

• The Future Leader Bursary – a mentoring pathway for those new to

• legacy or in-memory roles. Three winners receive six-month mentoring

• programmes with the Legacy Futures team

• The International Bursary – supporting organisations outside the UK

• who want to grow through legacy giving. One organisation will receive

• a design thinking workshop with the Legacy Futures team.

This year’s judges are Matthew Lagden of the ILM, Lucinda Frostick of Remember a Charity and Elly Lont of Legacy Giving EU.

Ashley Rowthorn, CEO of Legacy Futures, said: “Whether you are new to the sector, or looking to make the next step in your legacy giving journey, there is a bursary award for you. I hope you apply and good luck!”

Applications close on 31 March. q

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN NEW LEGACY AWARDS

[ON 20 FEBRUARY the finalists were announced for the inaugural Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards. The awards, which will be presented at a ceremony at the Hilton London Bankside on 27 April, will bring together legacy professionals from across the charity sector to recognise and celebrate the significance and contribution of legacy income for charities and their beneficiaries.

Organisers Smee & Ford described the awards thus: “These awards shine a light on the successes and achievements of legacy administration and legacy fundraising individuals and teams who go over and above. Often overlooked within charities and across the sector, there has never been a better time to reward the hard work and dedication of the people behind legacy giving.”

The event in April will be a day to raise the profile of legacy giving and highlight best practice – showcasing innovation and inspiring excellence.

In the morning, the Legacy Giving Excellence Forum will be an opportunity to join the 200 shortlisted finalists and judges to examine the factors and techniques that are driving excellence, innovation and impact across the legacy sector.

Following that, pre-ceremony networking will commence with welcome drinks and a seated three-course lunch with wine, followed by the awards ceremony.

The afternoon ceremony offers an opportunity to salute the rising stars: with 13 award categories covering the many aspects of legacy administration and legacy fundraising.

After the awards, in May, an online webinar will allow visitors to hear directly from the winners, and discover what made them best in class, and how they impressed the judges.q

ANOTHER MONTH FACING A £40,000 VET BILL

[OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS Hope Rescue in South Wales have consistently faced extraordinarily high vet bills due to the number of very poorly dogs entering their care, many of which require ongoing investigations, treatments and surgeries.

Unfortunately, this is a pattern likely to continue and the charity’s outgoings are set to rise due to the constant influx of abandoned and stray dogs coming through their doors – as well as trying their hardest to help owners who can no longer care for their dogs. Not to mention the increasingly high numbers of dogs seized from illegal and low welfare breeders.

Hope’s initial fundraising appeals often only cover a fraction of the total costs incurred in nursing dogs through

to recovery. Ensuring each individual dog gets the very best vet treatment – which is often not the cheapest option – will always remain a priority for the team at Hope.

Supporting this charity through promoting gifts in wills will help them to plan and will be

the reason they can continue to say ‘yes’ to vulnerable dogs and their owners. q

• Find out more about Hope Rescue at www.hoperescue.org.uk or get in touch enquiries@hoperescue.org.uk

CARING FOR CANCER WITHOUT ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS IS THIS TRUST’S AIM

[ANIMAL-FREE CANCER RESEARCH

is the ethos of the Caring Cancer Trust (CCT), which funds groundbreaking, ethical, animal-free research into cancer, its non-invasive treatment, cure and prevention.

CCT has its own ‘Stopcancer’ laboratory research programme that does not use live animals or embryonic stem cells. Over the past 20 years CCT-funded oncology researchers have discovered potential new causes of children’s cancer, developed new treatments for earlystage cervical cancer and are now advancing knowledge for the prevention of cancer.

Cancer prevention

Humans are now living longer than ever before. Unfortunately, this increased life expectancy has been accompanied by an increase in many age-related disorders. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted age-related increased susceptibility to viral infections, which occurs in older people.

Age-related damage to cells has by far the greatest influence on human health promoting the development of not only cancer, but cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases.

Current opinion is that novel treatments which inhibit cellular ageing have the potential to reduce the development of cancer and all these ailments simultaneously rather than having to treat each separately. Most notably, such treatments will not just be for the benefit of older people. They will also find use in children and younger adults since the use of chemicals and radiation for cancer therapy artificially accelerates the ageing process. Furthermore, it is known that some infections, such as HIV, also accelerate the ageing process.

Cancer support

CCT also provides special ‘Youth2Go’ Healing Holidays of creative adventure for children recovering from cancer, enabling them to regain their self-confidence and re-ignite their passion for life after the trauma of their illness and lengthy treatment. In addition, they provide financial support for adult cancer sufferers to ameliorate their sickness, improve their quality of life, limit their stress and, where possible, help their recovery.

A cancer-free future

CCT-funded research aims to increase understanding of how silent infections, lifestyle, diet, genetic predisposition and environmental pollution lead to different types of cancer in children and adults. Indeed they have identified simple changes in lifestyle and diet which, combined with avoidance of exposure to environmental contaminants, will reduce the incidence of cancer in all age groups.

The CCT aims to identify and understand hitherto-unknown cause-and-effect relationships to either limit exposure to such carcinogenic factors or devise therapies which suppress their effects before a cancer has developed.

Prevention now saves treatment later

The CCT research mission for cancer prevention involves:

• New lifesaving cancer prevention medicines

Funding

Caring Cancer Trust’s Stopcancer programme is entirely managed and run by unpaid volunteers and financed by legacies and donations. A gift to them funds animal-free research into cancer treatment and prevention as well as Youth2Go creative adventure holidays for children recovering from cancer.

In short, they aim to create a cancer-free tomorrow for the children of today. q

For the last 12 months, the CCT has been funding the University of Manchester spinout company Ravan Bio Ltd to develop a novel antiaging treatment to prevent cancer and the other age-related diseases. Ravan’s new therapy is taken orally, has no side effects and is very safe. Furthermore, indications are it is extremely successful resulting in a >80% reduction in the biological age of test subjects and it is anticipated this work has great potential for the prevention of cancer and other age-related ailments.

• New therapies for cancers in their early

• stages

• Analysis of the role of microbes in causing

• cancer

• New therapies for later-life cancers

• Heightened cancer awareness by GPs and

• public

• Lifestyle, diet and environmental changes for

• cancer avoidance

• Dissemination of trial results relating to

• cancer treatment and prevention

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 around 560 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 4,500 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

PRACTICAL SUPPORT HELPS TO ALLEVIATE THE IMPACT OF SIGHT LOSS

[THERE ARE TWO MILLION people in the UK living with sight loss and by 2050 the figure is set to double. Being diagnosed with any form of sight loss is lifechanging and devastating for both the individuals concerned and their families.

The Partially Sighted Society is a national charity that understands this; it has been providing help and support to anybody living with sight loss for over 50 years.

The society’s range of services includes the design, printing and provision of bespoke school exercise books for children, a specialist low-vision and sight test service, and the provision of aids and equipment to assist those living with sight loss to continue to live full and independent lives.

They are there to offer support for both the practical and the emotional impact of sight loss, by phone and in person. They also offer a range of social and support activities to alleviate the social isolation that comes with sight loss.

Leaving a gift in a will is a meaningful way of helping The Partially Sighted Society to help others. Legacies leave a lasting impact on transforming the lives of those living with sight loss. q

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT CONSULTS ON CHANGES TO LAW ON TRUSTS AND SUCCESSION

[ THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT’S Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has launched a consultation on the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill, which is aimed at modernising the operations of trusts in Scotland – and also the rules surrounding succession.

The Bill will alter how trusts are administrated and managed and would also change the order of who has a right to inherit when someone dies without a will.

The Scottish Charity Regulator, OSCR, explained: “A trust is a legal device which allows assets to be owned by one person or organisation, while a different individual, organisation or section of the general public benefits from those assets in practice. The Scottish Government's Policy Memorandum notes that the Bill aims to modernise the law in relation to trusts, a way of managing assets which has been in use since the 17th century.”

In its introduction to the consultation, the committee said: “Trusts are used for a wide range of legal purposes that impact on families, businesses, charities and financial institutions.

“The Scottish Law Commission has recommended that both trust law and succession law be updated. Currently Scots law around trusts is largely based on an Act passed in 1921. It is now believed that there are £500bn worth of assets held in trusts in Scotland today.”

The commission completed a comprehensive review of trust law in 2014, which identified a number of outdated areas of law in need of modernisation. Furthermore, changes to succession law were recommended by the commission following extensive reform work and public consultations over many years. The Scottish Government is now seeking to change the law around both trusts and succession with this new Bill, introduced into the Scottish Parliament in December.

Stuart McMillan MSP, Convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee, said: “Trusts are long established in Scotland. It is thought that assets in trust may hold a combined value of £500bn in Scotland, yet their significance is not recognised in wider society.

“We would like to understand more about how trusts are used in Scotland and what impact the changes in this Bill might have on Scottish individuals, businesses, charities and institutions.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from professional trustees, whose commercial business includes handling trusts for other people, and lay trustees, who are not acting in a professional capacity in their role.”

The Bill aims to clarify:

• What kind of investments can be made by a trustee

• A trustee’s duty of care in relation to their role

• Whether a person can be a trustee or not

• How someone would stop being a trustee by resigning or being removed

• What type of information a trustee must provide to other people, including to beneficiaries – the people who will benefit from the trust – and how often

• The management of private purpose trusts

In addition to changes to trusts, the Bill proposes a new order as to which family members inherit a person’s money or property where that person has passed away without a will.

The current law in Scotland stipulates a complex hierarchy of

who inherits what proportion of a person’s estate if they die intestate. It allows for the spouse to inherit a fixed list of sums plus a proportion of the remainder with the rest going to children (or grandchildren where the children predecease the deceased person), parents and siblings in a set order.

The new Bill puts the deceased’s spouse in a more prominent position in terms of inheriting what remains after the ‘prior’ and ‘legal’ rights, ahead of parents and siblings.

While on the face of it the system appears fairer and more in tune with modern thinking, legacy umbrella group Remember A Charity has identified an ‘unintended consequence’.

As it explains in a news post: “For charities who rely on gifts in wills, the challenge around such a system of prior rights and succession laws is that it can deter people from feeling they need to write a will if their main beneficiaries are already accounted for when they pass on. While this may well be a more sensible order for beneficiaries, it might create the perception that it is now less important to make a will. That could reduce opportunity for legacy giving. Saying that, even with the order of succession being changed, there are many other reasons why having a will is important. It remains the case that relying on the laws of intestacy is not to be recommended.”

In addition to its consultation, which closes on 17 March, the committee will hold a series of public evidence sessions on the Bill in the spring. q

THEY RESCUE ANIMALS –AT HOME AND ABROAD

[MAYBE YOU LOVE ANIMALS: maybe you have given a loving home to dogs or cats in need. Perhaps the suffering of animals through neglect, abuse or abandonment causes you pain. If you would like to help create a world that is kinder to all creatures, remembering Paws2Rescue in your will means you will help to alleviate the suffering of animals for years to come.

The mission Of Paws2Rescue is simple: to help animals in need wherever they are. As they are entirely staffed by volunteers, every penny they raise enables them to fulfil that mission over and over again.

Paws2Rescue’s Alison Standbridge explained: “Although we are a UK- based charity, we recognise that too many animals overseas suffer appalling neglect and cruelty. That’s why, as well as finding loving UK homes for unwanted dogs and cats, we undertake a variety of international projects to reduce the suffering of animals, with a particular focus on Romania and Moldova –countries where animals continue to suffer the most distressing abuses.

“We aim to alleviate the day-to-day misery of these unfortunate animals by meeting their basic needs – food, medical treatment and sanctuary – and by supporting shelters in rural areas where resources are desperately needed.”

But the key to truly ending the misery is to tackle its root causes. Therefore, Paws2Rescue also provide free neutering services for both stray and owned animals, encouraging owners to take responsibility for their pets’ health by preventing unwanted litters of kittens and puppies. Their Veterinary Scholarship Programme funds young people through their university studies to encourage more local vets to work in rural areas in Romania where the need is greatest.

Bobi before and after being rescued

programme uses purpose-made educational materials to foster compassion, teaching children to love and respect all living things.

“So, although our current aim may be to help animals in need wherever they are, our dream is to create a world where no more animals need our help.

Alison continued: “Education is crucial to our mission: if future generations are brought up to hold the same antiquated, cruel attitudes towards animals as many of their elders, then the horrible abuses will continue. To break this negative cycle, our successful schools

“By leaving a legacy to Paws2Rescue, no matter how small, you can rest assured every penny of your kind donation will be helping dogs, cats and other animals in desperate circumstances both now and in the future. Thank you.” q

BILL AIMS TO STRENGTHEN SCOTTISH CHARITY REGULATOR

[PROPOSALS THAT WOULD SEE the powers of Scotland’s charity regulator strengthened are to be considered by the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee.

Under the proposals in the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), would have wider powers to investigate charities and charity trustees. Rules around who can be a charity trustee or senior office-holder in a charity would also be tightened.

The proposed changes to the law were developed following suggestions from OSCR. Some of the changes are intended to ensure Scottish legislation is in line with updated legislation in England and Wales.

The new powers would enable OSCR to:

• Publish annual accounts for every charity

• Include the names of all charity trustees in the

• Scottish Charity Register

• Remove charities that fail to provide accounts and

• don’t respond to OSCR’s communications

• Create a publicly searchable record of removed charity trustees

The proposed legislation would also give OSCR new powers to issue positive directions to a charity to take action, such as managing a conflict of interest where it identifies a risk to the charity.

In order to understand what impact the changes in the Bill might have, as well as to get an insight into how the charity sector has changed since the Charities Act was passed in 2005 and get a better idea of how the updated laws might impact the Scottish public, the committee held a public consultation earlier this year.

Natalie Don, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “Charities are a cornerstone of public life in Scotland, with millions of people across the country supporting, or benefitting from their work. It is important that the public can have faith in the often vital work that they do. We’re keen to understand the extent to which the Bill might strengthen that accountability and transparency.

“We also want to understand what administrative impact the Bill might place on charities and their trustees. We understand that many people volunteer for charities and we want to know how these changes might impact on the way that they are able to perform these roles.”

Following the closure of the consultation on 3 February, the committee is to undertake several public evidence sessions before producing a report commenting on the principles of the Bill in the spring.

The chair of the OSCR, Marieke Dwarshuis (pictured right), welcomed the introduction of the Bill into the Scottish Parliament in November.

She commented: “This legislation will enable OSCR to increase public trust in Scotland’s 25,000 charities by increasing transparency around their management and the activities they carry out. It would also enable us to take more effective action against the very small minority of charities who don’t follow the rules.

“I look forward to working with both the Scottish Government and our Parliament to ensure the Bill meets the needs of the people of Scotland and enables OSCR to regulate even more effectively.”

The positive implications of the Bill for legacies was explained by Remember A Charity: “Working in a similar way to the legal framework in England and Wales, the intention here is to ensure that

charities named in a will can still benefit from legacies intended for them even when one organisation has merged into another.

“The Bill indicates that OSCR will house a record of charity mergers. The onus then lies with charities to ensure the regulator is updated of any relevant change or developments, enabling gifts in wills to be transferred through to them as the intende d beneficiary.” q

Scottish Parliament building

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GREEN CHAMPIONS

[THE WORLD is facing huge environmental challenges: from climate change to plastics in our oceans. We need a new generation of ecological scientists to search for the solutions; however, getting a start in ecology is not easy, particularly if you are from a lowincome background. Thankfully, the British Ecological Society (BES) – the world’s oldest ecological society – is doing something about it. Every summer BES takes 35 motivated young people from low-income backgrounds on their first residential ecology field course.

The Ecology – the Next Generation summer school lasts five days and the young people are taught by leading ecological scientists. Successful applicants pay nothing to attend and they learn vital skills to help them build a career in academia and the green economy. The leading academics and consultants who teach the young people provide their services free of charge.

Hard work – raised aspirations

“We take talented students from low-income and black and minority ethnic backgrounds and expose them to the relevance of ecology in our world and the breadth of opportunities and careers open to them,” explained Karen Devine, BES Director of Education and Community Engagement.

“We help give them the support and mentoring they need to launch their career, including research or working as an ecological consultant, having never considered taking a degree in ecology or the natural sciences or understood the rewarding careers on offer after they graduate.”

The Ecology – the Next Generation summer school is not a holiday. A 6.00am start for bird watching is followed by a day spent out in the field and in the lab. A researcher might lead the group through an area of freshwater ecology, then Environment Agency staff will set a hands-on task about mapping flooding locations locally. The students will then make decisions on where to build houses and flood defences. Evenings are spent discussing all they have learnt: then out into the night – bat detector in hand.

Expertise from the experts – support from mentors

The young people get to work alongside experts who are world leaders in their field and with support from mentors who are from similar backgrounds. They spend time with ecologists who are passionate about what they do.

The young people then think: I could be that person! “That changes everything,” said Karen Devine.

From council estate to director and ecology champion

“It’s inspirational, really,” said John Condron, MD of ecological consultancy Ecology Resources Ltd – which he founded with his wife Naomi. John grew up on an Inner London council estate and is now a sponsor of this year’s summer school. John and Naomi have provided a £2,500 bursary for one of the participants to invest in equipment, books and field courses.

John continued: “It’s great to see a lot of diversity at last. Ecology can be a very white, middle-class profession. From my visit I can see that the Ecology – the Next Generation summer school reaches out to young people who otherwise would not have the same access to support as some of their peers. That is very important: it can open up the eyes of kids to nature, ecology and wildlife.”

Please donate today to help nurture the next generation of ecologists

• By Card: britishecologicalsociety.org/donate

• Facebook: Visit BritishEcolSoc and click on the donate button

• By cheque: British Ecological Society, 42 Wharf Road,

• London N1 7QS.

• By BACS: British Ecological Society, Barclays Putney UK Sort

• Code 20-90-69. Acc. No. 70208736.

• SWIFT/BIC BUKB GB22. IBAN GB59 BUKB 2090 6970 2087 36.

• Your ref: NxtGen. q

• Founded in 1913 The British Ecological Society is a Registere d Charity No 281283.

THEIR PROJECT IS TO REINTRODUCE FOXES TO THE WILD

[IT WOULD BE TEMPTING to try to explain all that is The Fox Project, but that would look a little like a shopping list: wildlife information bureau, humane fox deterrence consultancy, wildlife ambulance service, wildlife hospital etc.

Instead, it would be more straightforward to concerntrate on what’s going on right now, as we enter the annual UK red fox breeding season, with an expectation of anything up to 300 sick, injured and orphaned fox cubs being receieved by the Fox Project. How does that work?

Wynn was one of the first cubs the project received in 2021. He is pictured gazing thoughtfully out of his pen at the setting sun, perhaps quietly wondering how he can get out into the big, wide world and do what he wants, rather than what we want.

Founder of The Fox Project Trevor Williams takes up the story: “Wynn was picked up next to a dead sibling by a passing dog walker and we assumed they had crawled out of the den in search of a mother that, for whatever reason, had failed to return. He was a keen bottle feeder, and because baby animals need the company and warmth of others, he was grouped with Wendell, Wilfred, Calvin and Bertie.

“Cubs grow fast and a brooder will only hold them for so long before their accommodation needs to be upgraded to steel vet cages. And they, too, are soon inadequate for curious, active youngsters who are developing speed and agility – albeit wobbly speed and agility!

“The next step was day release in a two-storey chicken run and back in the warm at night for a bedtime bottle and a bowl of dog food. They loved that! And then they were moved to a larger foster pen, where muscles could develop and they could feel the weather.

“As soon as Wynn and Co were weaned off the bottle, the bond with their feeder was broken and they were transferred to one of our team of fosterers. These volunteers have pens in their gardens where they can look after the needs of a litter of cubs without getting directly involved with them.

“And that is where the serious work begins in encouraging cubs to revert to wild in preparation for late summer release. Given all the changes, our cubs should be growing suspicious of people in general; and their first instinct when a fosterer approaches is to run into the hutch provided. If they begin to get ‘waggy’ with the fosterer, we move them to another. And we keep doing that right through the summer.

“From mid-June, we start to move them onto pre-arranged rehab sites – no more than five cubs per site. Those are predominantly rural: often farms and smallholdings.”

The cubs are now the responsibility of the rehabber that owns the property. Their job is to feed, water and clean out the pen and never to speak. A cautious cub is a cub that will live the longest: if you’ve made a cub tame, you’ve undermined their potential for a safe and long life.

After four to six weeks on site the cubs are used to the sights, sounds and smells of every other animal in the area and vice versa. That means they can safely be released without danger of attack. Come the night of release, the rehabber simply leaves the door open and walks away.

Trevor continued: “Timing for this final part of the procedure is governed by nature. Just as the breeding season fluctuates a little every year, so does natural dispersal, when wild-raised cubs – by now around five months old – will fan out from their home territory to locate their own: a vital process to avoid in-breeding and necessary if they’re ultimately to find a mate. Release of our cubs is timed to coincide with that point.”

Wynn and his chums were released from a smallholding in East Sussex. Initially, they all returned for support feeding, but it’s seldom needed for long. As they begin to use the instincts nature provided them with, the cubs return less and less frequently

“When they no longer return,” said Trevor, “we must hope they’re doing well. And we generally know they are, because we often see them around for months, or even years. Not that it’s any of our business. We’ve given them that all-important second chance and whatever befalls them, good or bad, is down to them.” 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 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 it receives every year as a result of road traffic accidents, mishaps, 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. is regenerating its wild owl nest box scheme that includes building, locating and curating long-lasting, environmentally-friendly nest boxes in appropriate locations to replace the gradual erosion of natural nesting sites.

S.O.S. is funded purely by donations, and as a small charity the legacies it receives play an important role in enabling it to continue developing its resources in the interests of conserving owl and other bird of prey wildlife in the UK. 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 07768 025128. Heartbeat Homes for Horses, Sink Farm, St David’s Lane, Hollesley, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3JR

CHARITY ACT 2022: SPRING WILL SEE MORE PROVISIONS COME INTO FORCE

[ THIS SPRING will see a second tranche of provisions of the Charities Act 2022 come into force. They are:

• Sections 9-14 and 35(a): Permanent endowment

• Sections 17-23: Charity land

• Section 24 and Sch 1: Amendments of the Universities and

• College Estates Act 1925

• Sections 25-28: Charity names

• Section 38 and 39: Connected persons

• Part of Section 40 and Schedule 2: Minor and consequential

• amendments

Law firm BDB Pitmans explained why all charities should be aware of the changes: “The spring 2023 implementation should include provisions to streamline the statutory regime applying to disposals of charity land, as well as some simplification of

the statutory rules for permanent endowment.

“Charities planning land disposals over the next few months and/or considering making changes to their permanent endowment (such as to release capital restrictions to aid cashflow) should be aware of these provisions so that they know which rules will apply and can act accordingly.”

A number of law firms have published detailed analyses of how the forthcoming elements of the Act will impact on charities. They include Trethowans, which has posted detailed analysis of the various sections.

It is expected that the Charity Commission will publish guidance on the implementation of the new sections, similar to the guidance published last autumn following the implementation of the first tranche of provisions q

FIRST STUDY REPORTS ON CHARITY STAFF WELLBEING

IN FEBRUARY the Charity Excellence Framework published its first annual survey of the wellbeing and motivation of charity staff and volunteers. It included their views on what they want to be done to make life better, with an analysis of the key issues and recommendations for charities and the wider sector.

The survey used the Charity Excellence Herzberg 2-factor model to evaluate the key factors affecting employees' job satisfaction, augmented with Charity Excellence Big Data. In terms of people feeling that their salaries had kept pace with inflation, almost all were negative – with a third rating it the minimum 1/10. Salary was the single biggest standout issue, but being well paid does not appear to be a significant motivational factor.

While some rated their appraisal and

development very highly, at least as many rated it equally lowly, with 20% rating getting constructive feedback and having a personal development plan as extremely poor.

In response to the statement ‘I expect to still be working for my charity more than a year from now’, about a quarter scored it an 8 or 9, but 10% scored it as a 1.

In response to ‘Given the current conditions in the charity sector, I am confident my job is secure’, the majority were confident, but a significant number were unsure and 10% rated it 1/10.

The report included some good news.

‘I'm passionate about our charitable cause’: 66% rated that as 10/10, with fewer than 1% rating it 1/10.

“And whilst we appear to be beset by endless scandal and abuse,” the summary

HELP FOR THOSE WITH FAILING SIGHT

[FAILING EYESIGHT is nothing short of a personal catastrophe. Do you have a family member, friend or neighbour who is gradually losing their sight?

Reading, recognising friends and living skills are all affected as your sight is going – and it’s much harder if you live alone.

The National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK) keeps its members in touch with general information, help and updates on what’s going on.

The charity produces bi-monthly news magazines and circulars in audio, braille or electronically, which members can read independently. It also encourages blind and partially sighted people to play a fuller part in society. q

• For further information contact NFBUK on 01924 291313, email admin@nfbuk.org or visit www.nfbuk.org

from Charity Excellence said, “the feedback told a different story. The charity has robust policies on bullying and other unacceptable behaviour.”

It wasn’t all good news on that score, however. “Nonetheless, there is abuse, with an admittedly small number of respondents specifically stating that they, or others, were being bullied.

“The Charity Excellence Big Data shows charities reporting that we perform poorly in having a trustee or committee leading on safeguarding and whistleblowing, including regular reviews of compliance and reports of any breaches in safeguarding practice. Boards not doing so, should act to ensure their people are protected from abuse.”

Read the full report on the website at www.charityexcellence.co.uk q

CARERS NEED SOME TLC, TOO

JOANNA LUMLEY, Patron of The Respite Association (TRA), recently paid this tribute to carers: “Carers are my heroes: ca ring 24/7, week-in and week-out, often for years on end, with no bre aks or holidays and no complaints.”

Across the country there are thousands of unpaid carers; and since its formation in 2001 TRA has been supporting them to get a desperately needed break.

John Turner, one of the charity’s two part-time staff, explained: “It doesn’t take a great deal to have an enormous impact on the liv es of carers. They don’t see what they are doing as a burden because they are caring for someone that they love; but they just need a little rest.”

“One lady, whose son is on the autistic spectrum, explained that he only sleeps for two hours per night, so that is all the sleep she gets, too. That lady just wanted a normal night’s sleep to catch up – while a gentleman in his seventies, caring for hi s wife who has dementia, wanted a weekend so he could go to his granddaughter’s first piano recital.”

TRA also have two holiday facilities – in Cornwall and Wales – where they give carers a week-long break by the seaside. A carer who had a break in the charity’s caravan at Rhyl wrote: “We had the most

amazing time on holiday – gutted to be home in fact. Whilst I was there I couldn't help thinking of you and what an amazing opportunity you gave us. Me and my family are extremely grateful and always will be.

“The caravan was filled with lots of board games and books for both adults and children and we loved it. I usually don’t have time to read with my children or sit and do a jigsaw with them, but on holiday I did – everyday. And instead of dishing out medication of an evening I spent that time in the park with my family.

“It was so good to just be out in the fresh air and actually taking in the sky! You allowed me to have uninterrupted quality time with my children and for that I’m truly thankful.”

John explained “TRA offers something that you and I take for granted: a little bit of normality; enough to recharge the batteries and carry on caring. We have been incredibly fortunate that people have been very generous to us over the years, which has helped us to support thousands of carers and their families, and has provided a legacy of hope.” q

CHARITY CAMPAIGNS AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSE

[INVESTIGATING AND CAMPAIGNING against environmental crime and abuse is the 35-year struggle of charity Environmental Investigation Agency UK.

Its undercover investigations expose transnational wildlife crime – with a focus on elephants, pangolins and tigers – and forest crimes such as illegal logging and deforestation for cash crops such as palm oil. The charity works to safeguard global marine ecosystems by addressing the threats posed by plastic pollution, by catch and commercial exploitation of whales, dolphins and porpoises.

More generally, they help to reduce the impact of climate change by campaigning to eliminate powerful refrigerant greenhouse gases, exposing related illicit trade and improving energy efficiency in the coolant sector.

The findings of their investigations are used in hard-hitting reports to campaign for improved governance and more effective law enforcement – such as its latest Running Out of Time report, which examines the fast-growing role of Vietnam as a hub for illegal wildlife trade and the country's failure to respond to the crisis.

Their field experience is used to provide guidance to enforcement agencies and they form partnerships with local groups and activists to support their work through hands-on training.

The scale of the problems they face can be disheartening and the truths they uncover can be shocking. Their programmes of work build on decades of campaign successes and nail-biting undercover investigations by a small group of tenacious activists, from documenting

the slaughter of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands, to securing a global ivory trade ban at CITES, contributing to the Montreal Protocol on climate change and the adoption of the EU Timber Regulation to protect forests. A gift to EIA in your will is an investment in wildlife and habitat conservation. They have already achieved so much, with your help they will continue to keep the pressure on for generations to come. q

• For further information tel 0207 354 7960 or visit the website at eia-international.org

REGULATOR UPDATES REPORTING GUIDANCE FOLLOWING REVIEW

[THE FUNDRAISING REGULATOR has issued updated guidance to support compliance with the fundraising reporting requirements in the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016.

The Act requires charities in England and Wales with an income of over £1m to provide statements on specific areas of their fundraising in their annual report, which is submitted to the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

In July the regulator reviewed the annual reports of 198 charities with an income of over £1m so it could provide a benchmark for the charity sector, highlight good practice and identify areas for improvement in the reporting of fundraising activity. The review followed previous research conducted in June 2020 and April 2019.

According to the regulator: “While comparison between the three pieces of research is limited due to a differing scoring system, there are signs of improvement in reporting – though more action is required overall by charities to fully meet the requirements. In addition, we found that the sample charities which did not pay

the [fundraising] levy were less likely to meet the requirements in comparison to levy-paying charities.”

The review found that, of the levy-paying charities, only 33% (47 of 144 reports) included a statement on each of the requirements a, b, d, e and f of the Act and 9% (13 of 144) reported on none of the requirements. In contrast, of the levy-refusing charities, overall only 13% (5 of 38 reports) reported on all the requirements and 32% (12 of 38) reported on none of the requirements.

Charities with an income of below £1m do not have a legal duty to meet those fundraising reporting requirements.

“However,” the regulator said, “we consider it good practice for all charities that produce an annual report to include these statements. This promotes openness and transparency and gives assurance to the reader that key issues, such as protecting vulnerable people, are being addressed. We have updated our fundraising reporting requirements guidance to help charities to understand the importance of reporting on the requirements, alongside meeting their legal duties.” q

TRUSTEES ARE BEING URGED TO CONSULT THE 5-MINUTE GUIDES

[THE CHARITY COMMISSION has embarked on the next stage of its campaign to raise awareness of core trustee duties and the guidance available to charities. It is seeking to increase awareness and use of its collection of short guides featuring YouTube videos with accompanying notes on a range of issues. Dubbed the 5-Minute Guides, the collection serves as a basic toolkit for trustees who are managing the many demands of running a charity.

The commission’s latest research shows that around 98% of trustees feel ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ confident in managing or governing their charity; but, when questioned on basic role requirements, on average trustees answered just seven out of 10 questions correctly, demonstrating a knowledge gap that could lead to unintentional governance failings.

The suite of 5-Minute Guides cover seven subject areas:

• Delivering purpose – advice on how to use a charity’s governing

• document and how to deliver on that charity’s purposes and the law.

• Managing finances – advice on how to ensure a charity’s money is

• safe, properly used and accounted for.

• Conflicts of interest – advice on how to identify and deal with

• conflicts of interest in a charity.

• Making decisions – advice on how to make valid trustee decisions

• that are in the charity’s best interests.

• Reporting information – advice on how and what trustees need to

• report to the commission.

• Safeguarding people – advice on responsibilities to keep everyone

• who comes into contact with a charity safe from harm.

• Political activity and campaigning – advice for charities that want to

• support, or oppose, a change in government policy or the law.

Paul Latham, director of communications and policy at the Charity Commission, commented: “When approaching difficult decisions, we want trustees to feel certain of the rules in these uncertain times. Our 5-Minute Guides act as a core syllabus – offering trustees engaging, informative content covering the basics all trustees should know With advice readily available, we encourage trustees to refresh their knowledge and fill any gaps so that they can best serve their charities –and those who rely on them.”

The commission’s guidance is not yet the first port of call for many trustees. Research shows that they often first seek advice from a fellow trustee or colleague (70%) or look online (59%). However, an overwhelming majority of trustees who use the regulator’s guidance find it helpful (94%) and most (89%) trustees who have used the 5-Minute Guides would recommend them to others.

The full collection of 5-Minute Guides can be found at beingacharitytrustee.campaign.gov.uk q

GIVING HORSES AND PONIES THE LIFE THEY DESERVE

horses and ponies they can with meagre resources.

“We have been a charity since 1991, but our team has been doing this work since the 1960’s,” explained the charity’s founder Roy Peckham.

“We found pit ponies still at work in the small private mines in Wales and became their salvation by creating The Pit Pony Sanctuary.

“Over the years we have taken in numerous needy horses and ponies, including some old pit ponies. Our only surviving pit pony ‘Spike’ toiled in several small mines in the Swansea Valley. Although elderly, and needing tender loving care, he is in good health now and enjoying his life at the centre.

“Help us make success stories like Spike’s. Our donors change lives, and you can, too!” q

• For further information visit www.pitponies.co.uk

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

FFOREST UCHAF HORSE & PONY CENTRE – aka The Pit Pony Sanctuary – are a small group of volunteers in Wales who help all the needy

COMMISSION CONSULTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDANCE

[ THE CHARITY COMMISSION is currently consulting with charities, sector organisations and the public to develop new guidance for charities when they use social media. The regulator is seeking views on new draft guidance, which is intended to help trustees use social media appropriately and with confidence.

The new resource is designed to help trustees understand their responsibilities and manage the risks. It encourages them to adopt a social media policy for their charity and outlines what can be included in that policy. It also aims to help trustees understand what to do if issues occur, for example if problematic content is posted either by the charity or by someone connected to the charity.

The guidance emphasises that those employed by, or working with, charities are free to use social media in their own right; however, sometimes there are risks

that an individual’s posts are interpreted as reflecting the views of the charity and the draft guidance therefore says trustees should consider setting out what their rules are and how they would respond if such activity brings negative attention to the charity. As part of its consultation the commission is inviting comments on how the draft guidance currently frames that.

The draft guidance does not introduce new trustee duties, but seeks to make clear how existing duties apply to charities’ use of social media. It is a response to the ever-growing relevance of social media to many charities’ work, the increasing levels of complaints to the commission and resulting commission casework, and demand from within the sector to produce clear guidance.

Paul Latham, director of communications and policy at the Charity Commission, explained: “Social media is a powerful

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 o n the work of chelonia conservation – such as zoos, universities, zoologists and students in this country and overseas. q

communications and campaigning tool for charities, but it comes with its own risks. We know from our work that some trustees have limited oversight of their charities’ use of social media and can have limited understanding or confidence when it comes to digital channels.

“Whilst it is reasonable for trustees to delegate day-to-day operation of social media, as with other matters, we want to ensure they feel empowered to take charge of their charity’s approach by adopting a suitable social media policy, and know what to consider should issues arise.

“We appreciate that this can be tricky territory, and one where personal and professional lives and opinions can overlap, which is why we are consulting widely to make sure we get this right.”

The consultation closes at 5pm on 14 March, with the final guidance due to be published in the summer. q

DONATIONS FUND RESEARCH INTO DEBILITATING CONDITION

[THERE ARE OVER 130,000 people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the UK today; and nearly 7,000 newly-diagnosed cases each year.

Life with MS can be tough. It’s unpredictable and different for everyone. It’s often painful, exhausting and can cause problems for people in how they walk, move, see, think and feel. But thanks to support from kind people who donate to the MS Society, research into the disease has made huge leaps forward.

Nick Moberly, CEO of the MS Society, commented: “We still have a long way to go, but today there’s so much more we can do to treat symptoms, manage progression and ease anxiety.

“

Raphael, London

“Right now we’re funding over 40 projects to help improve diagnosis and treatments. And our scientists are making some tremendous breakthroughs. There are groundbreaking discoveries and new knowledge on potential ways to repair myelin and protect nerves; and there are new projects and clinical trials underway. So there’s real momentum and hope on the horizon.

“We’re investing in research to help find treatments that could stop and, maybe one day, reverse the progression of MS. We can’t stop now. Our goal of stopping MS really is within reach. Now, with a gift in your will, you can help make it a reality for the next generation.”

Raphael lives in London with his wife Lucy.

They have a four-year-old daughter, Tali, and one-year-old son Asa. Raphael has lived with MS for many years and says the treatment he takes makes a huge difference. It helps him get on with his life with less disruption.

“I want to continue being a supportive father and role model to my kids, and husband to my wife,” he said. “To me, stopping MS would mean certainty over a large part of mine and my family’s future. It would take a huge weight off my mind.”

Gifts in wills help fund MS research and search for treatments that can give people like Raphael hope for the future. Including a legacy gift to the MS Society can be one of the easiest and most thoughtful ways to be part of a community of people taking us from a world with MS to a future free from its effects.

Nick Moberly continued: “I truly believe we’re closer than ever to stopping MS – and to a world where no one has to face it alone. By including the MS Society in your will, you can help us get there.

“We’ve achieved so much in recent years, but we cannot and will not rest. Our scientists have pioneered ground-breaking work to bring us closer to stopping MS. And now we’re determined to finish the job.”

• For more information related to gifts in wills and the services the MS Society offers, call 020 8827 0374, email legacies@mssociety.org.uk or visit legacies@mssociety.org.uk/gifts-in-wills

”

I am so grateful to people who help fuel research into stopping this life-changing illness.

FAIRNESS IN THE FAMILY COURT MAY HELP REDUCE CHILD SUICIDE RISK, CHARITY FOUNDER BELIEVES

[ PROMOTING AND ASSISTING in access to justice in the Family Court is the aim of Parenting Together, a charity set up by former youth worker Gerry Hannah.

Gerry points out suicide is the most common cause of death among young people – often prompted by the depression caused by family break-up. He believes that in many cases the break-up of the family is avoidable if parents are able to present their version of events.

Said Gerry: “British Family Courts sit in private and they convict parents merely on the ‘balance of probability’. In some cases a judge is persuaded to make a misinformed decision based on race, gender, heritage, beliefs and social status – often causing serious depression which can have lethal consequences.”

Gerry formed his association with humanitarian experts and professionals to ensure low-income, disadvantaged parents involved with social services or Family Court proceedings receive fair and equal justice.

He added: “We mostly provide specialist legal services, advocacy and reports for disadvantaged parents in Family Court proceedings. Our experts, professionals and associate solicitors often work pro

bono to help us resolve exploitation and unlawful abuse of the family law and child protection systems. We framed our projects on the government’s Every Child Matters report, published in 2003, that recommended engaging families in the care and protection of children.”

He points to cases of parents with learning difficulties asking people on social media for advice when they cannot understand the legalese, acronyms and procedures.

“They are usually misguided, posting views and comments that go against them in court. Their social media ‘friends’ are often predators who exploit single parents with young children. We recently submitted evidence to the CPS against a few of these sexual predators targeting our vulnerable parents and their children.”

The current project is a continuation of Honeypot Families , a work-in-progress study comparing families in the safest happiest regions of the UK with families in what Gerry describes as ‘the most dangerous city in Europe’.

“We concluded that Judeo-Christian families functioned efficiently to provide the best outcomes for everyone because they are based on a mutually agreed contract where adults vow to love, care and respect each other until death.” q

NEW REPORT UPDATES CYBER THREATS TO CHARITIES

[ GCHQ’S National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued charities with updated advice on the emerging threats from cyber attackers and the steps they can take to protect themselves.

The NCSC’s latest Cyber Threat Report: UK Charity Sector, published on 20 January, outlines the key threats charities face in 2023 and beyond. It reflects the on-going threat to the sector as more charities run services and fundraising online and highlights how the sector is particularly attractive to attackers seeking financial gain.

The report provides case studies showing how disruptive and costly incidents can be, including a ransomware attack on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society costing £95,000 and a business email compromise incident which cost a hospice in the West Midlands £17,000. The report also warns about the threat from cyber criminals taking advantage of public generosity during times of hardship by masquerading as charities to receive donations. That has been observed recently following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Charities are encouraged to follow the NCSC’s guidance to help improve their cyber resilience and sign up to free Active Cyber Defence tools to help mitigate the highlighted threats.

NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron said: “The UK’s charities are doing fantastic work every day, and digital services and online fundraising are now playing a crucial role in this. While it is right that technology should play a part in helping charities, this does open up the possibility of cyber attacks and it is important they understand the risks.”

Minister for Civil Society and Youth Stuart Andrew echoed her call: “As charity fundraising and services increasingly move online, charities are more susceptible than ever to cyber attacks and it's vital they’re aware of how to stay safe and mitigate against risks.

“This new report from the NCSC provides crucial guidance when it comes to protection from cyber harm and I’d urge all charitable organisations to follow the advice.”

The report aims to highlight the overarching cyber threats to the sector and equip UK charities with the information they need to take action and boost their cyber resilience. It outlines how charities are

vulnerable to the same cyber risks as commercial businesses, but might be seen as attractive targets.

The key threats for charities to stay vigilant against include phishing, ransomware, business email compromise and fake organisations and websites.

Helen Stephenson, chief executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, said: “Charities play a crucial role in our society and in every community – they save lives and they provide many of the services that make life worth living. All charities ultimately rely on public trust and continued public generosity.

“So the impact of any cyber attack on a charity can therefore be devastating, not just for the organisation and those who rely on its services, but also in undermining public confidence and support.

“Taking steps to stay secure online is not an optional extra for trustees, but a core part of good governance. We welcome this report and urge trustees to take early action to protect their charities from cyber harm.”

The NCSC has published a range of free guidance and advice to help charities improve their cyber defences, including the Small Charities Guide and free online training for small charities.

Charities are also eligible to take up some services offered as part of the NCSC’s Active Cyber Defence programme. That includes free tools and services, including Web Check, Mail Check and Exercise in a Box.

Organisations looking to ensure they have baseline cyber security protections in place should consider taking up Cyber Essentials, a government-backed certification scheme, to help mitigate the majority of cyber attacks.

Smaller organisations in the charity sector can now access free support with putting these controls in place under the new Funded Cyber Essentials Programme, which the NCSC launched in December. Lindy Cameron concluded: “The NCSC is here to help and I urge all charities to reduce their vulnerability by reading our latest report, following our guidance and making use of the tools available to them.” q

GIFTS PROVIDE A LIFELINE

Since its founding in 1883, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has relied almost entirely on gifts in wills to keep its doors open.

The home costs nearly £3m a year to run, and in the absence of any regular government funding, they are left almost completely dependent on donations and fundraising initiatives to keep going.

One of the most powerful ways that the community has supported the charity is by leaving gifts in their wills. An astounding one in three animals that reside with them each year has had their care funded by legacies.

Legacies and Individual Giving Manager Ella Wilson explained: “We simply couldn’t keep going without this lifeline and there really are no words to describe what it means to us when we discover that someone has made that decision to include us in their will.

“This support can transform the lives of the hundreds of vulnerable animals who need our help each year – for as long as they need it. By leaving a gift, your love and compassion for animals can live on.”

To find out how to make a lasting contribution, please visit edch.org.uk/legacies or contact Ella Wilson, Legacies and Individual Giving Manager on 0131 609 0621 or by emailing fundraising@edch.org.uk

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

MOBILE DONATIONS COULD BE THE WAY FORWARD, RESEARCH FINDS

[AN EXAMPLE of the generation gap that has opened up as a result of the digital revolution has been provided by recent research by MobiCash, the mobile payment app. MobiCash recently conducted a UKwide survey of over 1,000 people to get a snapshot of the nation's giving habits when it comes to charitable behaviours, the channels available to them, and their donation preferences.

The findings of the survey are released in a report issued in conjunction with Charity Digital, Understanding the generation gap in giving, which suggests that charities are not doing enough to engage younger donors.

The research found that traditional giving methods fail to resonate with the mobile-first social media-focused audience and a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer the answer. Charities need to adopt a more flexible donation strategy that encompasses different age groups and subsequent behaviours to ultimately ensure repeat donations for their cause.

In its introduction the researchers state: “The charity sector has been through a turbulent few years, with the arrival of COVID significantly impacting fundraising and collection activities. According to IBIS World, in 2020 alone, charities suffered an alarming 40% reduction in income, with 34% of charity leaders expecting to generate less revenue from fundraising and donations going forwards.

“As we fully emerge from COVID and move into times of economic crisis, there has never been a more pertinent time for charities to analyse and adapt their strategies to ensure they can future-proof their organisations and continue with their vital work.

“It is essential for charities to understand their donors’ behaviours and what compels them to give, in doing so they will be able to ensure their strategy properly utilises and leverages the channels available to them in order to maximise the frequency of donations, and in turn increase revenue.”

The report’s authors argue that traditional giving has evolved and is unlikely to return to ‘normal’, so it is time for charities in the UK to explore alternative ways that donations can be made and collected and to digitise their strategies to attract and ensure the loyalty of the next generation of givers.

Charity Digital’s Laura Stanley argues in a blog: “In order to bring new audiences on board, the report calls for a more flexible fundraising strategy that suits everyone. Two thirds of respondents under 45 said they would like to donate via mobile, for example, with 47% adding that it would make them more likely to give more often. Almost four in 10 young donors see mobile as their main donation channel for the future.

“However, for donors over the age of 55 the outlook is a little different. While 44% believed mobile should be offered as a donation channel, only 15% think it would make them give more frequently. One in 20 of over-55s could see this as their main donation method in the future, instead preferring to donate via cash and direct debit.”

The report concludes that offering younger generations the channels they prefer to donate could be a lifeline for charities post-COVID. With the cost-of-living crisis causing more concern for charities, and some forecasts warning of charity insolvencies, tailoring the donor experience is crucial.

“The main problem is that many charities are simply not doing enough to engage the younger generations, who are not cash-reliant, but instead are digital natives and traditional methods of engaging with donors will fail to resonate with this mobile-first, social media-focussed

audience,” says the report, adding: “The key playing field is the sociallyconscious younger generations who are yet to set their giving patterns and behaviours.

“Actively engaging and communicating with them on the platforms they consume and offering them the channels by which they would be more likely to give is imperative.” q

GIVING HOPE TO THE ONE IN SIX

[ONE IN SIX PEOPLE in the UK has a neurological disorder: that amounts to 16.5 million mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends and colleagues. Improving the outcome and quality of the lives of those affected is the driving force behind The National Brain Appeal, which funds pioneering research and provides access to the very latest technology for clinicians and researchers working in this field.

The charity dedicated to raising funds to advance treatments and research at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery and the Institute of Neurology – together known as Queen Square – is The National Brain Appeal.

The driving force behind the charity’s work is the aim to improve the outcome and quality of life for everyone affected by a neurological condition. They include brain tumours, stroke, epilepsy, dementias, MS, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s disease: all of which have no cure as yet. They look to achieve that vision by funding state-of-the-art equipment, major building programmes and life-saving research – over and above what the NHS can provide.

Legacies represent up to one quarter of The National Brain Appeal’s annual income. “They are crucial to the fundraising work we do,” said chief executive Theresa Dauncey (right). “We’re extremely grateful for every legacy left to us. Leaving just 1% of your estate can make a very real difference and is an investment in the future. The more money we receive, the more support we can give to the National Hospital, which in turn improves the prospects for those affected by neurological disorders.”

Penelope pictured (below) was diagnosed with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) in 2004 at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery and attends a day care clinic run by a team of specialist nurses.

“My own personal journey with MMN makes me want to give back in whatever way I can,” she said. “That is why I have left a gift in my will to The National Brain Appeal. I want to help to fund crucial research into all neurological conditions going forward.”

Meta Wells-Thorpe (above right) is a former National Hospital patient. She had successful surgery for a benign brain tumour there in 1988. Since then both her

husband and sister have died of neurological conditions.

She explained: “My husband had Parkinson’s and my sister had multiple sclerosis – these are cruel diseases for which there is no cure and little hope.”

With that in mind Meta has made The National Brain Appeal a major beneficiary in her will. “The lack of a cure for so many debilitating neurological conditions is a strong motivator for me to want to help,” she continued, “and by leaving a legacy I can be part of something that will provide hope for others.”

You choose

Now more than ever, benefactors to The National Brain Appeal can control where they would like their money to go. There are six specific funding areas for which individuals can make a legacy pledge:

• Neurology: funding initiatives to improve diagnosis and treatment, and

• provide facilities for those with on-going neurological conditions

• Neurodegeneration: supporting projects which help people with

• conditions where there is progressive degeneration

• Neurosurgery: providing state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for the

• UK’s largest neurosurgery unit

• Technology and innovation: supporting projects which translate

• groundbreaking ideas into better results for patients

• Education and staff development: investment to provide the best

• opportunities and attract the best people in the field

• Queen Square: new facilities and staff-led projects at the National

• Hospital and the Institute of Neurology

For those who do not specify a funding area, their gift can be put towards an area with the most urgent need. q

Without the generosity and foresight of those who leave a legacy, we simply could not support the number of vital projects that we are currently able to.

• For more information about legacies and the National Brain Appeal, contact info@nationalbrainappeal.org or view the legacy section of the website at nationalbrainappeal.org/legacy

BROTHERLY LOVE...

[INTRODUCING chimpanzee brothers Fergus and Twmi – they are the reason Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary began back in 1998.

Even though they are brothers, their personalities are quite different!

Fergus (36) is very mischievous and loves the camera – and apart from hoarding bananas and eating onions, winding the other chimps up, he loves to be in every single photo you try to take.

Twmi (38) is more cool, calm and collected. He likes to oversee and watch what the other chimps are getting up to but also makes his presence known if needed. He loves head bopping to Queen – his favourite band –

and loves his food. Iceberg lettuce and grapes are a firm favourite.

Fergus and Twmi have a great relationship with Nakima, Bili and Ronnie, the other chimps they live with. You will see them on sunny days relaxing in their hammocks and grooming each other.

The brothers are both very popular amongst visitors. Children often get smiles from Fergus which makes their day! q

• For more info call 01639 730276, email info@ape-monkey-rescue.org.uk or visit the website at www.ape-monkey-rescue.org.uk

TWMI FERGUS

CORPORATE DONATIONS AND PAYROLL GIVING

CAN PAY DIVIDENDS IN ATTRACTING TALENT

[ BUSINESSES SHOULD BE more open and transparent about their charitable donations, new research from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has shown. The research found that almost half (46%) of employees do not know whether their employer donates a proportion of its profits to charitable causes, while 35% believe they don’t donate at all.

Furthermore, HR teams could potentially be missing out on new talent, as nearly half (47%) of people say they’d be more inclined to work for a business if it donates to charitable causes. With the cost-of-living crisis taking its toll across the nation, 68% believe businesses have an obligation to support the local communities in which they operate.

Published to coincide with Payroll Giving Month in February, CAF’s research revealed that two in five (41%) of employees don’t even know if their employer offers the service. A similar number (40%) believe their employer doesn’t offer payroll giving, while only 18% of people say it’s available at their workplace.

As the UK’s biggest payroll giving agency, CAF has granted more than £1.6bn in employee donations to over 40,000 charities through their payroll giving scheme Give As You Earn, since it launched in 1987. But with many people still unaware of the service, that figure could be much higher.

Payroll giving is tax effective, the CAF says, as

charitable donations are taken from pay before income tax is deducted. For a charity to receive a £25 donation, it effectively ‘costs’ a base rate taxpayer £20 or a higher rate taxpayer £15. Charities receive a reliable and regular income, and reduced administration and fundraising costs. Many employers match their employees’ payroll giving, which can double the donation a charity receives, and it can be easily integrated into a benefits platform for simple sign-up. Employers can also work with professional fundraising organisations who are dedicated to driving employee engagement in payroll giving.

Mark Greer, managing director for philanthropy services at the Charities Aid Foundation, said: “Working for a business that has a social purpose matters to employees and jobseekers. How a company supports its communities, whether local or global, is increasingly seen as fundamental to attract and retain talent in a world where competition is high.

“However, corporate responsibility needs to be authentic and transparent. Embedding purpose by engaging employees and partnering with charities can help a business to have a positive impact on society and meet its strategic goals. Payroll giving is an accessible and affordable way for employees to engage with their employer’s responsible values. By matching your employee’s donation, you can work together to have a positive impact on society.” q

A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO ANIMAL WELFARE

[ MOST OF US care deeply about animal welfare and want to do the right thing for animals, be it those we eat, those we experiment upon, or our much-loved pets. But simply caring about animals isn’t enough; to guarantee their welfare we also need to know what makes animals’ lives better or worse.

At the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) their vision is a world where the welfare of every animal affected by humans is maximised through a scientific understanding of their needs and how to meet them. They strive to answer such fundamental scientific questions about animal welfare through funding innovative research as in the examples below.

Welfare impacts of rat control methods

Every year, it is estimated that millions of rats and mice are killed as ‘pests’ in the UK alone. Despite the large number of animals affected, until now very little information has been available on the welfare impacts of common control methods being used in the UK.

A study, co-funded by UFAW, found that glue traps and chemical rodenticides were amongst the worst methods of rodent control in terms of animal welfare impact. The research findings provided vital evidence at an opportune moment as the Glue Traps (Offences) Bill was being debated in parliament. Subsequently the Bill has been passed and glue traps will be banned for public use in England.

Comfortable environments for laboratory mice

Traditionally, laboratory mice have been kept in barren cages and are housed at about 21ºC – but they actually prefer to be much warmer. UFAW-funded research showed that rather than turning up the temperature, the best way to allow mice to keep warm and enliven their environment was to provide materials like shredded paper so they could build a nest. This provided enrichment and allowed them to regulate their temperature just as they would in the wild. The work has improved the lives of millions of mice who are now routinely given nesting material. These and other projects also provide invaluable PhD training for researchers around the world, demonstrating UFAW’s commitment to developing the next generation of animal welfare scientists. The charity is also passionate about spreading the animal welfare science message. For instance, many breeds of companion animals suffer inherited conditions. UFAW compiled a database of these issues which is invaluable to professionals and pet owners alike in understanding which conditions affect which breeds – visit the website at www.ufaw.org.uk/genetics

UFAW is funded solely by donations and legacies from members and supporters. You can support science in the service of animal welfare by donating to support their work or leaving a g ift in your will.

© Brianna Gaskill

PROMOTING ANIMAL WELFARE BEYOND THE FARM GATE

[GROWING NUMBERS of us are concerned about the welfare of animals that provide us with food. While many people recognise the importance of a good life on the farm, animals may also face welfare challenges ‘beyond the farm gate’.

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) plays a vital role in promoting the welfare of animals in markets, during transport and at slaughter, by providing funding and support for essential research.

Protecting crab and lobster welfare

At present, crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) are often killed by boiling or carving without first rendering them unconscious or ‘stunning’ them. Some electrical stunning devices are available, but they have not yet been thoroughly validated. For other animals such as octopus and squid (cephalopods), the situation is even more dire with no routine stunning methods available.

The UK recently recognised that these species are sentient – in other words they are capable of both negative and positive experiences. Therefore, it is vital that we protect their welfare and minimise suffering. To achieve this, the HSA has provided funding to support two research projects which aim to identify and scientifically validate humane stunning methods for these species.

The pig issue

In collaboration with Defra (the UK Government agriculture department) the charity recently funded a project to develop a more humane method for stunning pigs in commercial abattoirs. High concentrations of carbon dioxide are commonly used for stunning pigs at slaughter, but there has

been some concern that this can cause pain and distress.

An alternative method – Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) –was proposed to be more humane, but the research found that LAPS is unlikely to be a humane alternative to carbon dioxide. Whilst disappointing, this provides crucial evidence to protect the welfare of pigs at slaughter and to shift the focus of future research to find other potential improvements.

Practical and international

The HSA is dedicated to bringing practical and lasting improvements to the welfare of food animals around the world. They work with the livestock industry and animal welfare scientists globally to deliver training and advice on the welfare of animals during transport and at slaughter. They are currently working with colleagues in China, the largest consumer of meat in the world, to deliver training and advice to undergraduate students and those currently working with food animals, to improve the welfare of millions more animals.

The HSA is funded solely by donations and legacies from members and supporters. With your help, they can continue to make practical and lasting improvements to the welfare of all food animals. q

RESEARCH OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO 2022 AND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

[THE NEW YEAR saw the publication of a brace of reports looking back at charities’ performance during last year and looking forward to the next 12 months.

At the end of January, Enthuse published the second in its series of annual Charity Pulse reports. Available to download from www.enthuse.com, the report recounts charities’ views on how fundraising has been in the past year and what they anticipate for 2023 and beyond.

Chester Mojay-Sinclare, CEO and founder of Enthuse, says in his foreword: “The cost-of-living crisis is dominating thoughts. It means charities need to work incredibly hard to keep up with fundraising plans to deliver their vital services.

“Despite this challenging backdrop, it’s encouraging to see that the sector is cautiously optimistic about the year ahead. Around three quarters (72%) of charities say they feel either fairly or very optimistic about the year ahead.”

One of the major trends he pinpointed as a cause of optimism was mass events. More than half of charities are anticipating a rise in income from fundraising events, and more than four out of five good causes are planning mass events either with partners or on their own.

“This is a crucial area for income through 2023 and it will be important for charities to find the right mix of tactics to help their participants make the most of their event entries,” he added.

Technology was also identified as a big issue – particularly the use of AI.

“There have been some interesting discussions about this in the Enthuse office over the last few months,” Chester wrote, “and how it can potentially really help charities to turn communications around more quickly and deliver more effective donor journeys. There’s a long way to go in this area but it’s one Enthuse is watching closely to see how it can help deliver the best donor experiences.”

Finally, he identified high morale as a cause for optimism, with 83% of charities rating it as good or excellent.

The following month, Blackbaud released its Donor Behaviour Insights report, which it compiled in collaboration with marketing intelligence experts Nepa.

The research looked at preferred methods of donation, expectati ons around follow-ups after a donation, the difference in preferences among age groups and different giver profiles. Over 200 leaders at UK charities gave their views on how organisations fared in 2022, reasons for fundraising opt imism and potential challenges in 2023, as well as insight into how good causes are embracing technology.

Nearly two thirds (64%) of charities managed to maintain or build on their fundraising income in 2022 despite cost-of-living pressures. However, that was tempered by the fact that 29% said their income has decreased since 2021.

The report also compared performance between different sizes of charities. Small charities fared the best, with 70% saying their income stayed the same or rose. That was followed by larger charities at 64%. The research revealed that it was mediumsized charities who faced the greatest challenges, with nearly two in five (38%) seeing either volatile or lower fundraising. However, that is a better picture than last year, when the figure was 45% for medium-sized charities. q

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 1971 and since then they have improved the lives of over 7,600 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. They now provide boarding and cremation services with profits supporting the Rescue. 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

ANIMAL WELFARE

Catholic Concern for Animals 2

Friends of the Animals 4/5

Last Chance Animal Rescue 8

The Horse Rescue Fund 8

Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue 9

The Suffolk Punch Trust 14

Wild Futures 14

Hope Rescue 15

Paws2Rescue 20

Shire Horse Society 21

The Fox Project 24/25

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary 26

Heartbeat Home for Horses 26

Environmental Investigation Agency 30

The Pit Pony Sanctuary 32

Tiggywinkles 32

British Chelonia Group 33

The New European Distressed Donkey Initiative Ltd 38

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home 38

Marine and Wildlife Rescue 39

Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary 42

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare 44

Humane Slaughter Association 45

Three Counties Dog Rescue 46

ECOLOGY

British Ecological Society 22/23

MEDICAL RESEARCH

Prostate Cancer Research 1

Cancer Prevention Research Trust 2

CLEFT 6

Royal College of Surgeons of England 6

Heratburn Cancer UK 10/11

Caring Cancer Trust 16/17

MS Society 34/35

The National Brain Appeal 40/41

Pain Relief Foundation 43

FRAME 48

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

Kidney Kids Scotland 12

Hypo Hounds 13

Parenting Together 36

HEALTH & DISABILITY

Blood Pressure UK 12

The Partially Sighted Society 18

National Federation of the Blind of the United Kingdom 27

The Respite Association 28/29

OVERSEAS AID

ZANE: Zimbabwe A National Emergency 18

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.