The ACO 2025 Annual Conference, sponsored our lead sponsor CCLA and drinks sponsor IE Brand and Digital, brought together colleagues from across the grant-giving to individuals sector on 18 September at BMA House, London, to explore the evolving role of charities in supporting people through crisis.
This year’s theme, Responding to Need, focused on how organisations are adapting to increasingly complex challenges while continuing to provide financial and wellbeing support.
Key Highlights:
- Responding to Need: The first keynote from Andrew Robinson MBE, Executive Director at CCLA, highlighted the financial pressures facing individuals and the corresponding challenges for grant-giving charities. His talk set the tone for a day centred on adaptation, resilience, and practical solutions.
- Future Drivers of Wellbeing and Financial Support: A thought-provoking panel chaired by Jodie Gill, ACO Chair, brought together senior leaders from across the sector – Mandi Leonard (GroceryAid), Anita McCallum (The Solicitors Charity), Ian Johnson (Blesma), and Victoria Prouse (Bank Workers Charity). The discussion explored shifting beneficiary needs, the increasing demand for holistic support, and the ways in which charities are innovating service delivery.
- Breakout Discussion – Designing Support for Changing Needs: Delegates then joined smaller group conversations to tackle the theme Designing Support for Changing Needs, sharing practical approaches and challenges from their own organisations.
- Adapting Brands to New Charity Landscapes: Creative Director David Crichton (IE Brand) led an engaging session on how charities can stay visible and relevant in a crowded landscape, emphasising clarity, authenticity, and the power of storytelling.
- What’s the Impact of Impact?: In another breakout session, Joanna Micklethwaite (Clergy Support Trust) examined how charities can meaningfully measure outcomes, focusing on the importance of data to demonstrate real change.
- Insights from UK Grantmaking 2025: Katherine Duerden (360Giving) shared the latest grantmaking trends, encouraging charities to make better use of shared data to understand sector-wide patterns and strengthen transparency.
- AI in Practice: A double session on technology saw Sean Sinanan (Plinth) outline how AI will transform charity work, followed by Anna Niemczewska (Betknowmore) presenting a real-world case study on AI implementation.
- Helping Charities Thrive in Challenging Times: Jessica Massam (Family Fund Business Services) highlighted opportunities for charities to strengthen resilience through partnerships and new approaches.
- ACO Annual Awards 2025: The day concluded with our Annual Awards Ceremony, sponsored by Family Fund Business Services, celebrating the outstanding achievements of ACO members across categories recognising innovation, collaboration, and impact. Full details of the winners can be found here.
The conference highlighted adaptability, data-driven decision-making, and digital innovation as key tools for charities seeking to respond effectively to the needs of their beneficiaries.
Thank you to our speakers, delegates, and sponsors for making the day a success. We look forward to welcoming you again at next year’s conference.
Presentations from the day are available below.