Third Sector

ThirdSector Podcast cover: image of Martyn Butler above four figures. "A diffident man with an impish sense of humour"

A beautiful tribute to our co-founder, Martyn Butler, featuring both our Chief Executive Richard Angell and our co-founder and patron, Rupert Whitaker. 

👇Listen now
https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/third-sector-podcast-remembering-hiv-charity-pioneer/communications/article/1950753

Charities’ use of AI-generated images could overshadow their cause, report warns Fewer than 20 per cent of public comments under AI images engaged with the intended charitable cause, researchers find

The use of AI-generated imagery in charity campaigns sparks tech-centred debates that “eclipse” the intended humanitarian cause, a new report warns

Garden scheme nets more than £20m for major charity Macmillan Cancer Support has been working with the National Garden Scheme since 1984

“This extraordinary generosity helps fund our vital services, ensuring that from the moment of diagnosis, people across the UK get the support they truly need, whoever they are and wherever they live”

Former Care Quality Commission chief to lead major foundation Julian Hartley will join the charity in May

Sir Julian Hartley has been appointed to lead the Joseph Rowntree Foundation

UK area with highest charity engagement revealed The study is based on research involving more than 4,000 adults

Donors in London give the most to charities on average and engagement in the city is more “visible and participatory” compared with other regions, new research has found

Charities facing £6m lawsuit over cancelled fundraising event Amanda Navaian claims she lost sales and suffered psychological injury; the charities strongly refute the allegations

A fashion business owner is suing the King’s charity and a major food distribution charity for £6m over the alleged cancellation of a fundraiser and promotional campaign

Debra Allcock Tyler: There is a difference between defending a value and defending your ego Sometimes we can be gloriously, constitutionally right – and still not have helped a single person

"Principles matter. Our values are the reason we exist. Safeguarding matters. Integrity matters. Purpose matters.

"But there is a difference between defending a value and defending your ego. Between protecting the mission and protecting your position."

Debra Allcock Tyler

Arts charity moves to co-leadership model The charity’s chief and deputy chief executive will share responsibility for running the organisation

A national youth arts charity has implemented a joint leadership model, appointing its chief executive and deputy chief as co-leaders

Develop ‘clear pathways’ for misconduct claims against senior leaders, charities urged Guidance from Arts Council England says many organisations’ governing documents ‘are silent on the circumstances under which a chair or other directors may be removed’

A major grantmaker says charities should have procedures with clear pathways for investigations of gross misconduct accusations against senior leadership

Government ‘takes small charities for granted’, former Tory leader warns Sir Iain Duncan Smith made the claim during a parliamentary debate; the charities minister rejects the idea

Sir Iain Duncan Smith has accused the government of taking small charities for granted and failing to listen when charities are delivering successful work

Children’s charity to rebrand and leave international federation over differing values The UK organisation will change its name and develop a new visual identity following its exit

A children's charity is to change its name and withdraw from its international federation, in what the chief executive has described as a “values-led decision”

Regulator reports animal welfare charity to police Drone to Home is in the process of being wound up

The Charity Commission has reported an animal welfare charity to the police after claims it had exaggerated the number of lost dogs it found

Older people’s charities merge The smaller charity will retain its branding as part of the move

Two Sussex charities have merged in a bid to strengthen local services, share expertise and ensure long-term support for older people

‘Put people first’ when designing digital systems, infrastructure body urges charities Organisations need to put user needs, trust and ethics at the core of their AI use, the SCVO says

The SCVO says charities should “put people first” when designing digital systems, paying consideration to user needs, accessibility and lived experience

City and Guilds fellow calls for ‘urgent, fully independent inquiry’ into the conduct of executive and trustee board The Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity in January

Neil Bates has called for an “urgent, fully independent inquiry” into the circumstances of the sale of City and Guilds' commercial arm and the conduct of the charity’s executive and trustee board

Fundraising agency closes amid ‘prolonged uncertainty and structural cost pressures’ Chief of Purity Fundraising ‘devastated’ as 50 members of staff affected by closure

A fundraising agency that raised more than £65m for charities over a 10-year period has closed after a period of prolonged uncertainty and structural cost pressures left it unable to continue trading sustainably.

🎧 Schrödinger’s air ambulance, AI summaries and unions for charity workers

Join our editorial team as they discuss three of February's top charity stories on the Third Sector Podcast

Listen here: bit.ly/4l42KdW

Zoe Amar: How must charities rethink digital roles and responsibilities in the AI age? Digital work used to be about preparing for immediate challenges. Now charities must deliver on multiple fronts while upskilling teams for an uncertain future

Charities being 'more digital' is no longer just about channels.

It’s about how we deliver our missions, how we collaborate, and how we prepare for the future.

@zoeamar.bsky.social

AI-assisted funding bids could risk ‘overwhelming’ grantmakers, leader warns Funders may not have the capacity to deal with increased demand from AI-assisted applications, Mary Rose Gunn says

An influx of AI-assisted funding applications could risk “overwhelming” trusts and foundations, the chief executive of The Fore has warned

The King’s Foundation chief to step down The outgoing chief previously worked as an adviser for Tony Blair and David Cameron

Kristina Murrin is set to step down as chief executive of The King’s Foundation after nearly three years at the helm

Homelessness charity cuts nearly 100 staff amid abrupt closure East Suffolk Council is making accommodation arrangements for 87 service users

Our top stories of last week included:

⚪️ Major philanthropy campaign hits £250m
⚪️ Tribunal upholds removal of sanctioned charity founder
⚪️ Health charity breaches the fundraising code

Ian MacQuillin: Companies can walk away from a cause; charities never will Charities must not surrender their values in the quest of becoming more businesslike

Many hold the view that the market is practically, morally and ideologically suited to deliver social change.

But how could we guarantee they will always be there to do so?

@ianmacquillin.bsky.social

Almost 100 charity leaders urge government to reverse ‘devastating’ international aid cuts The statement, which comes a year after the cuts were announced, warns of programme closures across Africa and Asia

Nearly 100 charity leaders have urged the UK government to set out a plan to reverse its “devastating” cuts to international aid

Scottish forestry charity chief to step down Shireen Chambers will retire after four years as the charity’s first leader

Shireen Chambers will retire from the top job at Future Woodlands Scotland in May

Interim manager appointed to heritage charity amid bitter governance row Trustees were conflicted over the handling of a £4m estate and the administration of the charity

The regulator said suggested mediation had not taken place and various attempts to seek solutions had failed

Safe Passage International reveals new leader Jo Cobley is the long-term successor to Wanda Wyporska

Jo Cobley has been appointed as the chief executive of Safe Passage International

Community support charity to close after 30 years The organisation supports adults and young people in Buckinghamshire

A community support charity is set to close after 30 years of operation

Tributes paid to 'tenacious campaigner' who co-founded first HIV charity Martyn Butler died suddenly at the weekend

Tributes have been paid to the co-founder of the HIV and Aids charity The Terrence Higgins Trust after his death at the weekend

Accountant sentenced for stealing £26,000 from food bank Elizabeth Burrows has been given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years

An accountant has been handed a suspended prison sentence after stealing more than £26,000 from a food bank charity

Church charity to establish new leadership structure after safeguarding failures It comes as the Police Service in Northern Ireland confirm it had received 101 referrals as part of its investigation

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is set to establish a new senior leadership team amid an ongoing investigation into major safeguarding failures by the charity