Volunteer charities required for strategy project

The Charity Commission is teaming up with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to conduct a project assessing strategy in the sector.

They are calling for volunteer charities to take part in the project, which will look at strategy development and review in 25 charities. Each of the charities will receive a pro-bono strategy review from an ICAEW member. All charities registered with the regulator and with incomes of less than £5m are eligible to take part.

The project will examine how trustees develop, implement and review their organisation’s strategy. Reviewers will carry out in-office research, such as analysing business plans, and will also conduct interviews with board members.

After collating findings a report will be produced by ICAEW for the Charity Commission, with participants remaining anonymous.

Last year the two organisations collaborated on a similar project, also with 25 charities with income of less than £5m, which that time focused on governance. They also worked together in 2011 to study financial controls and fraud awareness in charities.

This new project is part of the Commission’s wider Review Programme, designed to improve its understanding of the risks and challenges charities face.

The Commission is hoping the project will provide a snapshot of charities’ attitude to strategy, and that it can then use the information to inform its regulatory approach and identify gaps in support. 

Charities and ICAEW members interested in volunteering for the project should visit www.icaew.com.

Separately, the ICAEW and the Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association have also aunched a free service to connect accountants who want to volunteer with charities that need help from financial experts.