Welcome to the October edition.
September was a particularly memorable month for ACO, as we brought together colleagues from across our membership for our Annual Conference and Annual Awards in London. Both events underlined the extraordinary work taking place across our sector, and the value of coming together to share experiences, celebrate achievements and consider the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Our Annual Conference, Stronger Together: Shaping the Future of Charity Support, provided an opportunity to explore some of the big questions facing our organisations, from changing beneficiary needs and workforce pressures to the opportunities presented by AI, digital inclusion and closer collaboration. What struck me most was the openness of the discussions and the willingness of colleagues to share ideas and learn from one another. Our Annual Awards provided an equally important opportunity to recognise the commitment, innovation and impact of the people and organisations working tirelessly to support individuals in need. Congratulations again to all those recognised!
Of course, these celebrations take place against a challenging backdrop for charities. With the Autumn Budget approaching, there will be considerable interest in what the Chancellor’s announcements might mean for our sector, particularly as organisations continue to navigate rising costs, growing demand and pressure on income.
ACO has joined other national infrastructure and membership bodies in supporting the Civil Society Group’s Budget submission, which calls for a more sustainable approach to funding charities, greater encouragement of charitable giving, and investment in digital skills and resilience. Importantly, it also calls for the ambitions of the Government’s Civil Society Covenant to be translated into meaningful action, recognising charities as essential partners in delivering positive outcomes for communities.
For ACO members, the stakes are particularly high. Many are seeing increasing complexity in the needs of those seeking support, while facing difficult decisions about how best to sustain their own services and resources. The Budget represents an important opportunity for Government to recognise both the pressures facing charities and the contribution they make.
Donal Watkin
Chief Executive
This month’s edition features:
- Upcoming ACO events
- Jobs board
- Member spotlight on Pharmacist Support
- Guest article from CCLA
- Member news
- Policy and sector news
- Publications