Our ever popular seminar for charities and not for profit organisations proved another great success this year. Even the warm and sunny weather didn’t deter those involved in local charities from attending the Solent Hotel at Whiteley to hear a series of presentations on topical issues for the charity sector.

This was our eighth annual seminar for charities which is now an established event in our calendar. Aimed at trustees, senior executives and anyone with an interest in the sector, the event has achieved a substantial following, both from our clients and non-clients. Its purpose is to inform and explain many of the issues relevant to the sector and the attendees often comment that they use these updates as part of their trustee training programme.

The presentations at this year’s seminar were focussed on today’s economic climate and its effect on charities. Morris Crocker partner, Richard Perry, opened the session with a brief overview of sector issues including the revised taxation penalty regime and changes to substantial donor legislation. This was followed by a presentation by Gavin Whitter, senior manager of Morris Crocker, who explained the implications for charities of operating in a recessionary environment.

Fraud is always an interesting subject, but is even more of a concern in these difficult times as Morris Crocker’s David Bourne demonstrated in his talk which included actual case studies of charities who had been affected by fraud. Finishing off the event was our guest speaker, Nick Parsons, chief economist from Clydesdale Bank who gave a very enlightening account of the UK economy and its impact on small to medium charities.

Guests were invited to stay for refreshments after and took the opportunity to talk to the speakers and others within their sector.

We are already looking ahead to next year and planning the seminar for May. If you would like to receive an invitation and add your name to our mailing list for charity updates and newsletters, please email Margot Vere or telephone 023 9248 4356.

To listen to an audio recording of the presentations please click (right click and 'save as') on a link below

Overview of sector issues by Richard Perry (10 mins)

Operating in a recessionary environment by Gavin Whitter (30 mins)

Protecting your charity from fraud by David Bourne (30 mins)

The outlook for the UK economy and its impact on small to medium sized charities by Nick Parsons (40 mins)