Is Charity good for you?

Mike Whitlam CBE.The Ramsey Lecture, 14th September 2011

Are you a Manager with a conscience?

Managing Prisons was easier

I started as a Biology Teacher

After which a career in the Charity Sector

Now called Civil Society, with Nick Hurd as the Government Minister.

What is Charity?

Roles of Charities Charity Commission Size and shape of the sector Can you name some? Current issues Changing the world

Roles of Charity – working at the heart of society

For the benefit of the community Tax advantages Cannot trade for profit Must have a constitution and governing

document Give direct help to those in need – Public

benefit Research Education Grant aid bodies

Charity Commission

Independent regulator of Charities England and Wales

Charities must be accountable Must promote public trust and

confidence Advice and guidance – is this a

good idea????? Championing the sector

Size and shape of the sector

190,000 Registered Charities

Total turnover £32 Billion

600,000 Paid staff 900,000 Trustees 16,200,000

volunteers

Popular names??

British Red Cross Oxfam Barnardos RNIB National trust NSPCC Drugscope Save the Children Mencap

Current issues

Anti Poverty at home or abroad Contracts with NHS and other Govt.

agencies? Financial Crisis Face to face fundraisers Campaigning or not –political? Payment of trustees? Charity accounts and audit VAT and tax benefits

Changing the world

Some of my roles

Raising Profile Raising Money

Saving Lives Sustainable International Development

Raising Profile

Why are limbs still being lost to landmines?

Diana put mine clearance on the political map. But, on the tenth anniversary of the treaty she inspired, millions of mines remain

Raising Funds

Saving Lives “Paul Ride, a catering manager

from east London, was working in Kuwait before he disappeared two months ago.

Last week the Red Cross tracked Mr Ride, 33, to a jail cell in

Baghdad”. “Iraq Releases Briton Held in

Bribe Case : Mideast: London frees $125 million of Baghdad's funds frozen since Kuwait attack. The businessman, jailed for nearly six years, maintained his innocence.”

November 24, 1991|

Sustainable International development

“Our mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020, in order to give all people in the world, the right to sight.”

Working in Uganda

Is it for you?

To survive the rigours of this work you need persistence, integrity, determination and faith

I rediscovered my faith alone in a room in Baghdad

There are now Masters degrees and other courses in much of this work.

You also meet interesting people

It’s not just Royals and Presidents

Conclusion, which is correct?

“True charity is the desire to be useful to others withoutthought of recompense.” Swedenborg.

“I have no confidence in organised charities. Money is leftAnd buildings are erected and sinecures provided for a good many worthless people. Those in immediate control are almost, or when they were appointed, were almost, in want themselves, and naturally they hate other beggars.”R G Ingersoll