Policy Briefing: Potential impact of Brexit on UK Charities

Produced by the Charity Finance Group (CFG) the briefing, written shortly before the EU referendum result provides a technical analysis of possible financial and regulatory consequences for the charity sector on a vote to leave the EU.  The briefing covers employment law and HR, Pension law, EU funding for charities, Procurement, VAT and tax, accounting and reporting, and data protection. (19 pages).

Charity Finance Group Policy Briefing: Potential impact of Brexit on UK Charities.  May 2016.

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Report: Untapped potential: bringing the voluntary sector's strengths to health and care transformation

The value charities can bring to the health and social care system is largely under-recognised by the NHS and other decision makers in the UK health system.  In 2015, the National Philanthropy Council (NPC) was commissioned by the Richmond Group of Charities (the 12 leading UK health charities) and a wider group of partners to conduct an evidence review.  Drawing on a wide range of evaluations and research, the project found strong evidence for the contribution charities make.  This report provides a series of frameworks to describe the breadth of activities within the health and social care system, and the demonstrates the value delivered by these activities.

National Philanthropy Council. April 2016. Untapped potential: bringing the voluntary sector's strengths to health and care transformation. 

Summary
Full report - 64 pages

Report: Commissioning Children's Palliative Care in England

The report sets out what Together for Short Lives found as a result of a series of freedom of information (FOIs) requests to local authorities and NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).  It sought to establish how well these organisations are planning, funding and monitoring care for children with life-limiting conditions.  From the findings, the local authorities and CCGs are rated by different aspects of care, including end of life care, short break care, and bereavement care.

Together for Short Lives, June 2016. Commissioning children's palliative care in England: the results of Together for Short Lives' freedom of information requests of NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities in England.

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Briefing: Health devolution in England - what it means for hospice services

Produced by Hospice UK, the briefing summaries the main developments regarding the devolution of health to local government in England, and the associated NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plans.  It highlights the actions hospices can take to engage and influence decision makers to ensure planning and commissioning of services address their sector.

Hospice UK, July 2016.  Health devolution in England: briefing

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Guidance: Charities and litigation: a guide for trustees.

This guidance explains what trustees need to know when thinking about taking or defending legal action generally and when the Charity Commission needs to be involved.  It covers the general position for charities, charity proceedings, and applying for the commission for consent.

Charity Commission for England and Wales, 2016.  Charities and litigation: a guide for trustees.  Charity Commission (CC38)

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Article: How your charity can create an effective procurement strategy

The author of this article argues that a simple, confidently implemented procurement strategy, will deliver early bottom line savings that charities can measure and instils trustees and donors with confidence that value for money is achieved.   It includes the 3 important steps to follow: the setting up, the implementation and training.

Cooper, K. June 2016.  How your charity can create an effective procurement strategy.  Finance Magazine, Civil Society.

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Collaborative Working Across Hospices

Hospice Quality Partnership (HQP)
HQP are a social enterprise with partner hospices from across the UK, who all hold an equal share in the company. The aim is to help hospices of all sizes save money, by improving procurement, reducing operating costs and sharing data for best practice.  Fifty five hospices are currently members comprising of adult and children's hospice services.  The partnership has conducted the first analysis of hospice expenditure and produced individual benchmarking reports for participating hospices.

More details at http://www.hospicequalitypartnership.co.uk/

(Information taken from the e-Hospice Web site)

Report: Charity Income Spotlight - Bi-Annual Report

In this report, the charity sector is noted to have a period of growth, however the report notes there is a marked difference between the larger and smaller charities.  Each of the four main income streams have had an almost equal part to play in this growth with voluntary income performing best, up 6.7 points and investment, trading and charitable income activities also rising by more than 5.3 points.

Charity Income Spotlight June 2016 - Bi-Annual Report

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Report: Charity Investment Spotlight Annual Report

The report examines the investment performance of the top 5,000 charities database, assessing the size of the charity investment market and investment managers used over the last 5 years.  It has a particular focus on changes in the last year and is designed to reveal how charities are performing. This year the report has expanded to include detail on asset allocation.

Charity Financials, June 2016.  Charity Investment Spotlight Annual Report.

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Report: Charity Audit Spotlight Annual Report

This is the 3rd annual Charity Audit Spotlight, and reports that the growth in audit fees continues to fall.   The report includes the audit fees paid by the top 5,000 UK charities, the top 50 auditors by fees received, the top 50 auditors in terms of clients.  It also reports on the longevity of relationship many charities have with their auditors and queries if charities "could get a better deal if they shopped about".

Charity Financials, June 2016.  Charity Audit Spotlight.

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Report: Work experience in hospices

The report outlines how hospices in England are currently supporting work experience, placed in the context of national development from Health Education England.  The report includes a set of recommendations, the results of a survey of adult and children's hospices in England, and case studies of good practice. It aims to assist hospices in considering how best they can support work experience activities, based on "what works".

Hospice UK, 2016.Work experience in hospices: final report of scoping study.  NHS Health Education England.

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Guide: Overseas nurse recruitment and the children's palliative care sector

This guide shares the experiences of Demelza Children's Hospice of recruiting nurses from overseas.  It describes what they did to prepare for the nurses arriving, how it went once the nurses were in post, and what the learning points were from the experiences. It also covers the current rules about employing nurses from overseas.
Together for Short Lives, December 2015. Overseas nurse recruitment and the children's palliative care sector.
Click here to access the guide

Web Site: National Hospice Education Collaborative (NHEC)

The aims of this new collaborative is to support UK hospices to achieve their full potential as local education and training delivery partners. Initially the focus of the NHEC will be on building quality and capacity of vocational education delivery related to development of the health and social care workforce.  It is anticipated that economies of scale and sharing of expertise across the national hospice network will benefit all involved.  It is envisaged in time it will also include work on other educational initiatives/projects.
More information at the NHEC web site

Briefing: Update on developments in fundraising regulation

Published in May 2016, Hospice UK and Together for Short Lives met with the CEO of the Fundraising Regulator to discuss the fundraising regulation changes and to consider the implications for hospices.  This 1 page briefing provides an overview of the new regulations and issues to be aware of.

Hospice UK, May 2016: Update on developments in fundraising regulation

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Report: Rethinking risk: beyond the tick box

Produced by the Charity Finance Group, and Chartered Accounts Vincent Sayer, the guide aims to help charities effectively manage project, operational and strategic risk.  It contains practical steps to follow, case studies from other charities and a variety of methods to ensure managing risk is not simple a "tick box" exercise.  It emphasises that risk management should be integrated with other management processes such as planning, and having the right organisational culture is essential.  (64 pages).

Charity Finance Group & Vincent Sayer, 2016.  Rethinking risk: beyond the tick box.

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Briefing: Focusing on impact: what do trustees need to know

This paper takes the view that the importance of impact is often overlooked, as trustees are expected to understand the finances of their charity, legal compliance, accountability, and developing and monitoring the charity's strategy. This briefing reports on a seminar held for trustees, and explores how trustees can support their charity to measure and evaluate their impact.

New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) Focusing on impact: what do trustees need to know. November 2015. NPC.

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