Monday 13 September 2010

Welcome to the WYCAS E-Bulletin

This is a regular ebulletin to keep you informed of news and developments that may affect your organisation. If you would like further information on any of these topics, do please contact us on info@wycas.org.uk.

Please let us know if we need to change your contact details or if you would like us to send the ebulletin to more people in your organisation. We are happy to send it to treasurers or other trustees – just send the additions or changes to info@wycas.org.uk or invite them to subscribe on our website .  Do also let us have your feedback on this format and its contents. The information contained within this e-mail is necessarily of a general nature. Specific advice should always be sought for specific situations.

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WYCAS Birthday event

WYCAS celebrates 10 years of supporting voluntary and community organisations to thrive.

Come and join us on 13th October.  Click here for more details.

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A stunning return

Thank you!  We were delighted that so many of you responded to our 2010 evaluation questionnaire on the quality of WYCAS services – we received almost 200 back, which is a stunning 30% return.

You said that 98.5% of our services are excellent or good (mostly excellent) which is 1% up on last year. We are delighted to hear this and will strive to maintain the quality of our services and at the same time respond to your new or emerging financial management requirements.

Your suggestions for new services will be discussed and implemented if at all possible over the next year.

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Round table discussion: The role of scenario planning in an age of austerity

After 15 years of unprecedented growth, the voluntary sector now faces potentially devastating cuts. But is it all bad news?

Is the sector sharing the doom and gloom being spread by the media, and what plans should forward-thinking organisations be making to best manage in a worst case scenario?

Visit http://www.unity.co.uk/about-us/round-table-event-2010 to see a write up of a round table discussion on this subject and to listen to the podcast.

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Is your charity safe?

Former finance chief of Prince Charles's charity jailed for theft
Director of Prince's Foundation for Integrated Heath stole more than £250,000

Related Articles

Police investigate fraud allegations at one of Prince Charles's charities

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The end of cheques as we know them!

In mid September Jill Jones the WYCAS manager is attending a consultation specifically for charities on the phasing out of cheques by 2018. If you have any views on the questions below please email Jill before 15th Sept and she will relay your views. The questions being asked are as follows:

• Your use of cheques - how your charity or voluntary organisation uses cheques for the payments you make and receive
• Potential alternatives to cheques - what alternatives to cheques you may already have available and the features you need in alternatives to cheques
• Your organisation’s needs - what you would need to change the payment methods your organisation uses.

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Resources

Unity Bank’s topical newsletter, Social Economy has reached its 100th issue! This quarter's bulletin providing information for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises is now available and covers a wide range of subjects relevant to us all.

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Surviving cuts in government spending

New Philanthropy Capital has just published a paper about how charities can prove their worth to Whitehall.

HM Treasury has asked all government departments to prioritise their main programmes against a tough set of criteria to ensure value for money in public spending.

The questions posed may be just as relevant for charities assessing the future chances of government funding:

• Is the activity essential to meet Government priorities?
• Does the Government need to fund this activity?
• Does the activity provide substantial economic value?
• Can the activity be targeted to those most in need?
• How can the activity be provided at lower cost?
• How can the activity be provided more effectively?
• Can the activity be provided by a non-state provider or by citizens, wholly, or in partnership?
• Can non-state providers be paid to carry out the activity according to the results they achieve?
• Can local bodies, as opposed to central Government, provide the activity?

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Are you thinking of trading your way through the recession?

Many charities worry that they are not permitted to undertake any trading activities, and many people believe that charities are not permitted to make a profit on activities. The rules on trading by charities are explained in the Sayer Vincent guide Trading issues made simple which can be downloaded free from their website.

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Events

Charity Accountants’ Conference 23-24 September 2010 Bristol
This conference provides training and updates to help charities tackle the many challenges that lay ahead. As well as updates on finance, legal and tax issues the conference offers longer training sessions on core finance topics, advanced finance skills and management skills. There will be a stream offering introductory sessions for those new to the charity sector which includes free “made simple” guides. As the charity sector’s largest residential finance conference it offers an unrivalled opportunity to network and share ideas with your peers. Further details, including the programme content and a booking form are now available.

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