Bucks to lead the way in Sector Re-think

Trust in charities is at an all-time low and we MUST work together to restore the sector’s reputation.

That’s the message from Nick Phillips, CEO of Community Impact Bucks, who is behind a major charity conference coming to the county later this month.

Community Impact Bucks is to stage the Big Impact – Not for Profit Conference on Tuesday September 29th, to bring together organisations of all scale who contend with issues around fundraising and charitable delivery.

Mr Phillips says media coverage of issues like charity telemarketing, and the story of the Kids Company downfall, have only served to make the public nervous about their interaction with voluntary organisations.

‘It’s been a tough year for a sector that does so much important work,’ he said.

‘We cannot afford to let recent media scandal undermine that work, because too many lives depend on it. It’s never been more important for charities to connect with supporters and volunteers on an emotional level, and that can only be achieved through powerful storytelling.’

These issues are to be at the heart of the forthcoming conference, which takes place at The Gateway in Aylesbury.

Mr Phillips continued: ‘The aim of this event is to provide a fresh perspective on how charities communicate their message and provide some useful tips and tools to make an even bigger impact.

We’ve an exceptional list of speakers, who can offer real insight into how to improve marketing and communications activity, both on and offline, to benefit the overall income generation and donor retention for charities of all size.’

There are over 164,000 registered charities (and thousands of local community groups) in the UK and 4 out of 5 are struggling for funds. Many of these organisations receive no external funding, despite delivering essential services that were once provided by the public sector.

A recent survey by CIB revealed that that reputation is one of the greatest concerns for non-profits, along with attracting volunteers and demonstrating outcomes.

Those attending the CIB event this month can select from a variety of practical workshops from some of the UK’s leading charity experts in areas such as Impact Measurement, Brand Building, Video Storytelling and Social Media.

There will also be an inspirational marketing showcase and a keynote presentation from Anahid Basmajian, Creative Media Director of The Media Trust.

For more information on how to attend, please visit www.communityimpactbucks.org/bigimpact or contact stacey@communityimpactbucks.org.uk 0300 1111 250.