JGP News

Those working for charities may be set to benefit as the economic downturn pushes people to rethink their attitudes towards money.

Although the credit crunch continues to rumble on, more than three-quarters (77 per cent) of people claim they are continuing to give as much to third sector organisations as they were before the onset of the crisis.

Meanwhile, eight per cent are looking to give even more money, research commissioned by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) indicates, in news that could interest those looking to maintain sustainable efficiencies.

The study also revealed that 78 per cent of Britons are lending more thought towards how they spend their money, with 14 per cent increasingly interested in companies which have ethical policies - such as being environmentally responsible or a supplier of fair trade goods - which they agree with.

Commenting on the results of the study’’s findings John Low, chief executive for the CAF, states: "It is heartening to see that some good is coming out of these very difficult times as values in society change for the better.

"This is certainly good news for the people and causes helped by charity."

Recent research by G2 Data Dynamics revealed that four-fifths of Britons donate money to charities on a regular basis, with 58 per cent of these reporting their level of giving will remain unchanged in spite of the credit crunch.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

Social enterprises need to do more to prove their worth, an industry expert has stated.

Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Social Enterprise London (SEL), claimed that those working for such third sector organisations must be able to clearly demonstrate what they can do.

However - speaking at an Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations” conference - Ms Ogden-Newton pointed out that a lack of tangible evidence in terms of helping to monitor return on investment and quality of service is preventing social enterprises from achieving further growth, ThirdSector.co.uk reports.

"As a sector, we are good at telling people what we do, but we don”t have enough proof we do it better than anyone else," she stated, in comments that could interest those looking to improve their skills framework.

The SEL chief executive added that there is a "genuine desire" among public and private sector bodies to work with third sector organisations.

Meanwhile, Dai Powell, chief executive of community transport company HCT Group, recently stated that social enterprises are increasingly set to buy out and create joint ventures with private businesses.

More skills framework information.

Talent management remains an important area of focus for chief executive officers, it has been suggested.

Pointing out that it "is still a priority", Claire McCartney, learning and development adviser for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, claims that executives - which could include those working in the third sector - are currently looking to spend less on such strategies and approach different means of delivering them.

"More emphasis is going on in-house development which is less costly and actually many employers consider it to be more effective anyway. They are taking a more intelligent approach to talent management," she tells Personnel Today.

Comments from the CIPD adviser come after research by the institute revealed that 70 per cent of executives believe development and learning will continue to be a high priority regardless of the overall financial climate.

However, a recent study by the Work Foundation revealed that 40 per cent of employees believe they have more advanced skills than their current position demands of them.

More talent management information.

Community groups across the country are being asked to consider what the government should do as the financial crisis rumbles on.

The Council on Social Action is inviting those working for such organisations to think of ways in which both social renewal and economic regeneration can be fostered during these turbulent times.

David Robinson, vice-chair of the council, states that although the downturn could help to drive division, "it could unite us, extracting greater value from all that we have, embracing new ideas and working together on common goals".

Those groups looking to improve this skills framework may be interested to hear that initial proposals include the creation of a national talent bank to oversee work-related volunteering, providing support for businesses to offer peer mentoring and financial incentives for those looking to volunteer.

"Effective communities benefit from the engagement of the many, not the few," he adds.

And while the organisation points out that a number of discussion groups are set to take place in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield and Stoke, community groups throughout the country are being urged to set up their own meetings.

Earlier this week, it was revealed charities are being invited to apply for the chance to sit on a new government taskforce which aims to discuss ways in which too tackle climate change.

More skills framework information.

Charities and voluntary groups are being invited to sit on a new government committee which will address the issue of climate change.

Between 12 and 15 leaders working in the third sector will be a part of the taskforce, which will see them form links as network partners with representatives from numerous government departments to share ideas on how to tackle environmental issues.

Among the departments involved in taskforce are the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Furthermore, the committee will investigate how both the government and the third sector can engage with members of the public on environmental issues.

Huw Irranca-Davies, minister for the natural and marine environment, states: "The third sector has unique access to a vast range of people and is ideally suited to help government educate people about climate change and environmental matters."

Meanwhile, recent findings from Every Action Counts has revealed that 52 per cent of office-based charities have some kind of environmental policy in place.

More about network partners.