Charities working in partnership with business

The following is the text from an article in the Southampton Echo:

In this time of economic pressure both charities and the companies who support them are looking for ways to work smarter and to ensure that the money is well spent.

Peter Robertson of Condor Office Solutions is keen to help charities to work together to maximise their fundraising events. Peter, who is also Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, said “I’m delighted to see local charities taking the opportunity to work closer to the business community”.
D’Arcy Myers, CEO of Wessex Heartbeat, is a prominent member of the not-for-profit community and is out spoken about the need for charities to be the best possible stewards of the monies gifted to them. As a board member he explained about the Small Charities Coalition and called for local charities to form a consortium to better promote their work and the benefits of support. He said “Where charities can work together they should, supporters want to see real impact for the money they give”. Peter Robertson along with James Hiley-Jones of Careys Manor and the Montague Arms provided a congenial setting and superb lunch to a dozen of the most proactive charities in Southampton and seventeen local businesses, enabling them to discuss ideas and ensure that the maximum benefit is derived from people’s generous support.

There was much interest in the Small Charites Coalition which exists to help small charities access the skills, experience and resources they need to achive their aims. The Coalition is like a voluntary sector matchmaking service, matching charities with other organisations that have the skills that that the charity lacks.