Overview
Conference Sponsor:
This is CFDG’s second one-day conference in the South West and Wales. After the highly successful 2009 conference in Cardiff, this year we are delighted to bring the conference to Bristol.
With a new Government in place – and a Government that few of us would probably have predicted – there is much that is new and challenging for the sector.
We are delighted to welcome The Rt Hon Alun Michael, JP, MP as the opening keynote speaker. As the newly appointed Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Community and Voluntary Sector, Mr Michael will share his thoughts on the emerging Big Society agenda, and reflect on what changes he considers are in store for the sector.
As Secretary of State for Wales and then First Minister of the Welsh Assembly, Alun Michael established a Partnership Council with the Voluntary Sector in Wales. In 1997 he introduced the "Compact" process to achieve partnership between Government and the sector. In 2000, after standing down as First Minister, Alun chaired Parliamentary Hearings during the International Year of the Volunteer and became a patron of Volunteering England and Chairs their Taskforce on Employee Volunteering. He promoted voluntary action at Defra and at DTI where he was also the Minister for Social Enterprise. As well as Chairing the Third Sector Network, Alun was a member of the Standing Committee that scrutinised the new 2006 Charities Act. He is an honorary Vice-President of the Local Government Association.
The conference programme brings together a mix of corporate and voluntary sector speakers to take us through some of the key issues facing finance professionals. Throughout the day our speakers from PKF, RNIB, RNLI and BDO will share their experience, pose some questions, and prompt debate.
We close the conference with Robert Humphreys, F&IS Director, Oxfam. Robert will use his experience as head of the charities unit at PWC, and now Director at Oxfam to consider what the future may hold for the charity finance professional.
During the day there will be ample time to network with delegates and exchange ideas and views on the challenges you face, and to visit the exhibitor stands. The conference can also support your personal development plan with five hours of cpd.
The Reception
All delegates are invited to join CFDG at the drinks reception at the close of the day. The reception provides an excellent opportunity to meet with our speakers, and to extend the networking part of the day.
The Exhibition
There will be an exhibition alongside the conference programme. Exhibitors working in a range of service areas will be available for delegates to meet, ask questions and share information.
The informal setting is an excellent opportunity to find products and service suppliers who can assist in tackling your charities' problems and who can help to make the management of your charity more efficient.
The conference timetable allows delegates plenty of opportunity to browse the exhibition and network during breaks.
The following companies are exhibiting at this year's South West & Wales Conference:
Case Insurance - www.caseinsurance.co.uk
CCLA - www.ccla.co.uk
CFDG - www.cfdg.org.uk
Grant Thornton UK LLP - www.grant-thornton.com
Lloyds TSB Comercial - www.lloydstsb.com/community
PKF (UK) LLP - www.pkf.co.uk
Rathbone Investment Management - www.rathbones.com
Sarasin & Partners - www.sarasin.co.uk
Unity Trust Bank - www.unity.uk.com
Utility Aid - www.utility-aid.co.uk
Programmes/Presentations
Presentations available below. Click session titles to download the PDFs
09.00-09.45 REGISTRATION
09.45-10.00 CHAIR'S WELCOME
Judith Lewis, St Michael's College & Chair of the SW & Wales Committee
10.00-10.45 OPENING SESSION
As the newly appointed Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Community and Voluntary Sector, Mr Michael will share his thoughts on the emerging Big Society agenda, and reflect on what changes he considers are in store for the sector.
Rt Hon Alun Michael, JP, MP
10.45-11.15 TEA/COFFEE BREAK & TIME TO EXPLORE THE EXHIBITION
11.15-12.00 SESSION 1
Current Issues in Charity Accounting 
This session will look at recent pronouncements from the Financial Reporting Council and Charity Commission that affect charity accounting and reporting, as well as considering developments in the sector's financial governance framework.
Don Bawtree, Charity Unit Partner, BDO
12.00-12.45 SESSION 2
Impact Reporting
RNID’s impact reporting journey began in 2000, but a decade on the issue of external performance reporting is as current and contentious as ever. Paul will explore the topic of impact reporting drawing on RNID’s experience of the last ten years.
Paul Breckell, Managing Director of Corporate Resources, RNID
12.45-13.45 LUNCH & TIME TO EXPLORE THE EXHIBITION
13.45-14.30 SESSION 3
FD as IT leader
Mark will share his thoughts and experiences as director of an information and communications technology department with an annual budget of £8 million, serving some 10,000 staff and volunteer users. His presentation will aim to be as practically based as possible, focusing on the challenges of not only maintaining office systems, fundraising and other business applications, charity websites, and a network and telecoms infrastructure, but also managing the relationship both with users, senior management and the trustees. He will also touch on cost control, budget reductions and justifying IT spend.
Mark Hallam, Finance & Information Systems Director, RNLI
14.30-15.15 SESSION 4
Managing Risk In Difficult Times
The session will explore the areas of concern highlighted by charities from the PKF/CFDG Risk Survey and practical ways of using risk management to support charities through a period of uncertainty around finance and policy. It will consider risk monitoring techniques, stress testing and applying risk during internal restructuring.
Richard Weighell, Partner, PKF (UK) LLP
15.15-15.45 TEA/COFFEE BREAK & TIME TO EXPLORE THE EXHIBITION
15.45-16.30 CLOSING SESSION
The Future for Finance Managers
Your charity will look to you for sound financial management and rigorous review of spending plans, but also perhaps for the added value of leadership from the finance function. Bob will consider the wider role of the finance manager - increasing the finance skills in non-finance managers, supporting the development of robust business plans for new initiatives, challenging or changing the status quo and horizon scanning to make sure your charity is aware of what is coming it's way so that it can plan and act. Are you well positioned to provide leadership from the finance function?
Bob Humphreys, F&IS Director, OXFAM
16.30-16.45 CHAIR'S CLOSE
16.45-18.00 RECEPTION & NETWORKING
Venue Details
Location
Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre, 2 Lower Castle Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS1 3AD
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Bookings & Prices
Prices
Terms and Conditions: Written notice of cancellations up to 21
days before an event will incur a 25% administration fee. After this date, cancellation
refunds are not possible, however substitutions can be made.
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