We wish you a peaceful Christmas and New Year
Julian Lomas
Wishing you a peaceful and restful Christmas and New Year from everyone at Almond Tree Strategic Consulting Limited
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Stay up to date with developments in the sector and our latest thinking on issues affecting charities and social enterprises.
Is there a crisis in volunteering in the UK?
Julian Lomas
The 2023/24 Community Life Survey reveals that the number of people volunteering in England has fallen to a record low. How could small charities navigate this apparent crisis?
Read MoreWhy charities should work together
Julian Lomas
As competition for funding in the charity sector gets ever more intense, we offer some thoughts on how collaborations could give your charity a competitive edge.
Read MoreTrustees' Week 2024
Julian Lomas
Trustees’ Week is an annual celebration of trustees and everything they contribute to charities. Ongoing learning and development for Trustees is essential and Trustees week provides a good way for Trustees to do just that.
Read MoreWhy compliance matters for charities?
Julian Lomas
With whistleblowing complaints to the Charity Commission at all time high, and charity law feeling ever more complicated by the day, compliance is more important than ever. How can small charities cope?
Read MoreIndividual giving to charities: emerging trends
Julian Lomas
Blue State have recently published their UK Giving Behaviours Tracker: 2024 report. What does it tell us about emerging trends in individual giving?
Read MoreThe challenges of corporate fundraising for charities
Julian Lomas
A recent report suggests corporate fundraising is getting tougher. What can small charities do to maximise their chances?
Read MoreA new fundraising code of practice
Julian Lomas
The Fundraising Regulator has launched a consultation on the proposed new Code of Fundraising Practice. Is it an improvement on the current code?
Read MoreA mixed picture for charity regulation
Julian Lomas
Are more charities behaving badly? Are more being found out? Or is something else going on?
Read MoreWhat to do about a badly behaved charity trustee?
Julian Lomas
We’ve all come across them, right? The difficult, controlling, dominant or just downright rude trustee who everyone knows is a problem but no-one does anything about? This short article explores what can be done about it.
Read MoreIs there light at the end of the tunnel for charity banking?
Julian Lomas
After making a lot of noise about charity banking difficulties, the Charity Commission has issued new guidance to help charities navigate banking issues and avoid difficulties and UK Finance has issued a new Voluntary Organisation Banking Guide.
Read MoreThe changing landscape for charity fundraising
Julian Lomas
With so many conflicting signals about trends in charity fundraising, it can be tough for small charities to decide on their fundraising plans. This articles aims to give a few helpful pointers.
Read MoreSmall Charity Week 2024 - time to get serious about really helping small charities
Julian Lomas
A brief reflection on Small Charity Week 2024 and the vital important of small charities in the UK.
Read MoreWhat skills do you need on your trustee board?
Julian Lomas
One of the most common requests we receive from clients is to help them conduct a Trustee skills audit to inform board development. This short article explores what skills are needed for a good Trustee board.
Read MoreEmployee volunteering is on the rise
Julian Lomas
Employer supported volunteering is a rapidly growing phenomenon. In our view there should be much more of it.
Read MoreNon-profit leaders should look after their own wellbeing too
Julian Lomas
Two recent events we attended have made us reflect on the importance of personal as well as organisational resilience in the non-profit sector.
Read MoreESG is irrelevant to small not-for-profits - right?
Julian Lomas
Large companies are required to publish an annual ESG report (Environmental, Social, Governance) and many medium sized businesses are also getting on board with ESG. What might this mean for small and medium sized charities?
Read MoreNew online safety laws could impact small charities
Julian Lomas
Implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023 will begin in 2024. How could it affect small charities and social enterprises?
Read MoreA recruitment crisis for charities?
Julian Lomas
Despite well documented challenges with fundraising, we’re seeing a growing number of clients for whom funding isn’t the main constraint on their growth. What‘s really holding them back is a shortage of skilled staff. This short article explores this issue in a little more depth.
Read MoreCan small charities benefit from AI?
Julian Lomas
There’s a lot of hype around about AI and how it can transform just about anything. But what could this mean for small local charities?
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