THINK TANK: Charity leaders attending the Charity Think Tank hosted by HWB Accountants and Charisma Charity Recruitment at Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa, from left, Ruth White, Rowans Hospice Charity; Adam Stacey, Charisma, Michaela Johns, HWB Accountants; D’Arcy Myers, Autism Wessex; Sue McKenna, Trinity Winchester; Stuart Rivers, Merchant Navy Welfare Board; Madeleine Durie, Youth Options; Penny Smout, Hawk Conservancy Trust; Phillipa Spicer, YMCA Fairthorne Manor and Andrew Simpson, Winchester Housing Trust
Charity leaders from across the south gathered in Southampton for a Charity Think Tank hosted by HWB Chartered Accountants and Charisma Charity Recruitment.
The breakfast time event at the Southampton Harbour Hotel and Spa featured a round table discussion on the challenges currently facing the charity sector, as well as inspiring success stories.
These included fundraising and new income streams, attracting and retaining staff, demand on services, the role of trustees and boards and the need for training.
Michaela Johns, Director at Hampshire-based accountancy firm HWB, chaired the discussion which involved charity leaders from a variety of organisations.
Michaela said: “The south’s charities are facing huge challenges such as fundraising, identifying new revenue streams, lingering pandemic issues, an increased demand for services and difficulties in attracting and retaining staff.
“As an accountancy and business advisory firm specialising in advising charitable organisations, we sadly witness these difficulties on a daily basis.
“We wanted to give something back to the sector and felt a round table discussion would enable leaders from different areas to meet, share best practice and learn new ideas and tips.”
Long-established Charisma Charity Recruitment, a nationwide jobs search firm based in Winchester, works with charity, education, care and not-for-profit organisations and individuals.
Managing Director Adam Stacey said: “This event gives participants a chance to step away from the daily routine and spend a few hours in the company of like-minded people from across a wide range of charitable causes.
“It has proved to be not only the perfect opportunity to make new contacts and exchange ideas, but to realise that a great many organisations and individuals are experiencing the same anxieties, troubles and struggles as each other.”
Attendees included Ruth White, Rowans Hospice Charity; Adam Stacey, Charisma, Michaela Johns, HWB Accountants; D’Arcy Myers, Autism Hampshire; Sue McKenna, Trinity Winchester; Stuart Rivers, Merchant Navy Welfare Board; Madeleine Durie, Youth Options; Penny Smout, Hawk Conservancy Trust; Phillipa Spicer, YMCA Fairthorne Manor and Andrew Simpson, Winchester Housing Trust.
Chartered Accountants HWB, based at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provides business and tax advice and hold regular seminars on various topics
