Aggregated External News

There are 3 million volunteers in the health and social care sector, who play an indispensable role in sustaining the system

"If we can't support a volunteering culture based on goodwill and altruism, then we can't support the NHS." That was the view of Dr Michael Dixon, Chair of NHS Alliance speaking at a recent King's Fund conference on volunteering in health. Many delegates shared the view that the NHS would struggle to survive without harnessing the power of communities more effectively, suggesting that we won't have an NHS unless we change our relationship with it.

Volunteering was seen as a barometer for the goodwill on which the NHS depends. The King's Fund's recent report estimated that there are around 3 million volunteers in the health and social care sector, the same number as the combined NHS and social care paid workforce. This includes people who volunteer in the NHS and those who are supported by the voluntary sector. One of the report's conclusions was that the role played by this large group of people needs to be better understood, managed and resourced.

Through a wide range of activities, local people make a powerful but under-acknowledged contribution to health and social care Their efforts help to improve patient experience and extend the reach of health services into diverse communities. Volunteers play a particularly important role in taking health "upstream", preventing ill health. Volunteers working in the community are well-placed to identify simple, practical solutions that enable people to stay healthy or recover from ill health, although as we heard at the conference, these are often undervalued compared to clinical solutions.

A good example was Altogether Better, a charity that supports 18,000 volunteer community health champions, who in turn support 100,000 people to live healthier lives.

Alyson McGregor, director of Altogether Better, highlighted the benefits that of volunteers get from volunteering, such as increasing skills and confidence and helping people to return to the workplace. For example, in Sheffield, 40% of 300 volunteer community health champions have now found paid employment. This is volunteering on a large scale, but we also heard from a number of smaller organisations such as East Lancashire Women's Centres, a winner of this year's GSK Impact Awards for health charities, who highlighted the important role that volunteers can play in co-ordinating services provided by multiple agencies and giving individual service users a more integrated experience of care.

Another important message from the conference was the need to be intentional and transparent about the use of volunteers. This is particularly pertinent when looking at the boundaries between volunteers and staff roles and ensuring that volunteers do not substitute for paid staff in inappropriate ways. The idea that voluntary or volunteering did not mean "free" was also addressed: delegates argued that commissioners would need to accept that effective community participation and partnership working requires proper resourcing.

So whose responsibility is it to take all of this forward?

The conference panel included senior representatives from NHS England, Public Health England and the Department of Health. Participants felt that these national organisations have a key role to play in creating an enabling environment in which the full value of volunteering can be realised. However, there was also acknowledgment that much of the work needs to take place at a local level. Some suggested that a cultural change is under way, with professionals increasingly seeing volunteering as a high-value activity and an indispensable part of the health and social care system. As one participant commented: "Volunteering is not just the icing on the cake; it is the fruit within the cake."

The King's Fund's power of volunteering conference was supported by the Department of Health's Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund . To learn more click here.

This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To join the voluntary sector network, click here.

• Volunteering
• Voluntary sector network blog
• Voluntary sector
• Charities
• NHS
• Health

© 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions

When it comes to the recipe for lasting, committed relationships, there’s no ingredient as important as consistency. Whether it’s your best friend, your spouse, partner, favorite restaurant, toothpaste or razor blade, I’ll bet that consistency is a main thread that runs through all these relationships. Your best friend or partner didn’t get to be ‘best’ by being undependable; showing up sometimes late, sometimes early, sometimes on time. And when you first discovered what is now your favorite restaurant, I’m certain that the second and third time you returned, the food,

Tens of thousands of concerned members of the public have written to him, A-list celebrities have pleaded with him and the Royal Family refuses to serve a product that Fortnum & Mason CEO Ewan Venters sells. Now, world-famous mystifier Uri Geller might have come up with the answer.

On behalf of PETA, Geller – who has helped tens of thousands of people to stop smoking and indulging in other vices – has sent a letter to Venters with an offer: Geller will perform hypnotherapy – free of charge – to get at the reason why Venters insists on selling foie gras even though it’s made from the enlarged, diseased livers of force-fed geese and ducks and is illegal to produce in the UK.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10537-uri-geller-offers-to-hypnotise-fortnum-and-mason-ceo-to-stop-sale-of-foie-gras

WWE and E! Entertainment this week launched the first-ever Superstars for Hope fundraising initiative to support Make-A-Wish, featuring chances to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences available to anyone who makes a contribution.

The entertainment powerhouses will also host a Superstars for Hope red carpet party in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 15 at the Beverly Hills Hotel as a part of WWE’s SummerSlam Week.

Starting today, for every $10 fans and supporters contribute through fundraising partner Omaze, they will receive five chances to win one of two packages donated by WWE and E! Entertainment.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10536-wwe-and-e-entertainment-launch-superstars-for-hope

In a few weeks, NBA star Stephen Curry will travel to Tanzania to support the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign in its global fight against malaria.

Straight off a record-breaking season with the Golden State Warriors, Curry will visit a refugee camp and distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets that keep refugees safe from malaria. Curry will also meet with officials from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Republic of Tanzania Ministry of Home Affairs, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Tanzania Red Cross Society to learn about the humanitarian efforts there.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10535-nba-star-stephen-curry-to-travel-to-tanzania-to-fight-malaria

The multi-talented musical comedian Bill Bailey has joined Youth Music as a celebrity supporter.

Bill Bailey Becomes Youth Music Ambassador
Credit/Copyright: Youth Music

Youth Music is very pleased to announce that stand-up comedian and musician Bill Bailey has become one of their Ambassadors. He joins their other Ambassadors – including Myleene Klass, Goldie and Sir James Galway – supporting them to provide life-changing music-making opportunities for children and young people with least opportunity.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10534-bill-bailey-becomes-youth-music-ambassador

Rapper Tinie Tempah, songwriter and producer Naughty Boy and presenters Jameela Jamil and Laura Whitmore will back a new Prince's Trust campaign to inspire young people making tough decisions about their future this summer.

The celebrities will take to Twitter and Facebook to share their secrets of success with young people who are anxious about exam results, struggling to find a job or feeling hopeless about the future.

The Prince’s Trust Summer Sessions campaign will kick off with a live Twitter Q&A with young entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, who set up online youth channel SBTV at just 16, on Monday 29th July.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10533-stars-sign-up-for-princes-trust-summer-sessions

Daring singer Katie Melua recently jumped 13,000 feet for an airborne picnic in support of The Royal British Legion's new summer fundraising campaign Poppy Picnics.

Katie Melua Goes Skydiving For Charity

Katie performed the daredevil stunt in support of the Legion’s vital work for the Armed Forces and their families. The jump with the Legion’s extreme human flight team, Jump4Heroes, took place at Netheravon, the home of the Army Parachute Association.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10532-katie-melua-skydives-for-royal-british-legion

Chateau St. Jean winery is pleased to announced its partnership with 9-time Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist, Sheryl Crow.

Sheryl Crow and Chateau St. Jean invite consumers to ‘Soak Up Sonoma’ with 18-months of programming featuring in-store activities, online and social media initiatives and Sheryl Crow music downloads throughout the partnership.

Chateau St. Jean and Sheryl Crow are a perfect pairing. Both are award winning, have a relaxed, elegant style and are leaders in their respective fields. The duo also offers a nice dose of girl power; Sheryl Crow being a Grammy award winning artist who supports a variety of women’s advocacy initiatives and Chateau St. Jean with its renowned winemaker, Margo Van Staaveren, with over 30 years of winemaking expertise and who was once named ‘Winemaker of the Year’ by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10530-sheryl-crow-partners-with-chateau-st-jean-and-helps-breast-cancer-charities

Hi Valerie Opinion seems to vary. In regard to legacy administration files, so long as you don't hold any original legal documents, such as original Wills of

Hi Emily, Sounds great and I would love to attend. I work for the University of Aberdeen Development Trust, my email is

Mariska co-founded the Joyful Heart Foundation.

Hargitay has made PSA’s for “The More You Know”.

Read more about Mariska Hargitay's charity work and events.

Charities are being squeezed at both ends and the government could be doing much more to support them

The statistics revealed by the Guardian today are shocking. They must serve as a wake-up call to both the government and the third sector. Acevo has been warning for three years that charities are struggling to meet rising demand for their services while their income is falling. These figures not only confirm that trend, but demonstrate the scale of the financial challenge facing the sector. They show that many charities and community groups are facing the real threat of closure, with hugely damaging consequences for the beneficiaries and causes they serve.

The fact that close on 10% of voluntary organisations are questioning whether they will still exist in five years' time should give everyone cause for concern. The impact of such a loss on local communities and the most vulnerable would be incalculable. Charities, community groups and other voluntary organisations often take years to build up, driven by the passion and energy of committed people. Once they have been allowed to disappear, they cannot simply be recreated when circumstances improve. And while too many of us sometimes take charities for granted, we would certainly notice the impact of their disappearance.

So we need the government to take action. But charities also need to think of how they can perform better.

The low confidence in the government reflected by the survey shows that there is a great deal more it could do. The enormous cuts made to welfare and local government budgets have created significant extra demand for charities' services, while at the same time slashing much of their income. As this survey shows, the situation is becoming untenable for many. We need a reaffirmation of the coalition's commitment to protecting the most vulnerable, and an end to swingeing cuts aimed at the easiest targets. We must also see an end to disproportionate, indiscriminate cuts to the voluntary sector by local government. This means that the government must ensure that the statutory Best Value guidance it produced in 2011 on the way councils should work with voluntary and community groups is properly enforced.

It could do more to support the sector's access to a wider range of income streams. Consultations on social investment tax relief and corporate social responsibility are positive steps, but there is potential for much more, for instance around expanding social finance, especially through access to unsecured loans and making it simpler and easier for people to donate.

The government must also rediscover its energy on public service reform. It is essential that we deliver services more efficiently and effectively to alleviate some of the impact of funding cuts on beneficiaries. Charities and social enterprises have the ability to play a key role in improving delivery, owing to their capacity for innovation and their close connections with and understanding of beneficiaries and their needs. However, they must be properly funded and commissioned, and not treated simply as a cut-price alternative to state provision.

Third-sector bodies have no divine right to exist for ever. We need to see more partnerships, alliances and consortia working to achieve scale. Acevo has been supporting many local organisations to form consortia to bid for public service contracts, helping to combine the strength of local and national charities to deliver effectively for the people they serve.

It is now time to put the third sector at the forefront of a national response to the challenges of our times. As the Guardian's survey shows, there is no time to waste.

• Charities
• Voluntary sector
• Local government
• Public sector cuts
• Public services policy
• Public finance

Stephen Bubb
theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Charities are being squeezed at both ends and the government could be doing much more to support them

The statistics revealed by the Guardian today are shocking. They must serve as a wake-up call to both the government and the third sector. Acevo has been warning for three years that charities are struggling to meet rising demand for their services while their income is falling. These figures not only confirm that trend, but demonstrate the scale of the financial challenge facing the sector. They show that many charities and community groups are facing the real threat of closure, with hugely damaging consequences for the beneficiaries and causes they serve.

The fact that close on 10% of voluntary organisations are questioning whether they will still exist in five years' time should give everyone cause for concern. The impact of such a loss on local communities and the most vulnerable would be incalculable. Charities, community groups and other voluntary organisations often take years to build up, driven by the passion and energy of committed people. Once they have been allowed to disappear, they cannot simply be recreated when circumstances improve. And while too many of us sometimes take charities for granted, we would certainly notice the impact of their disappearance.

So we need the government to take action. But charities also need to think of how they can perform better.

The low confidence in the government reflected by the survey shows that there is a great deal more it could do. The enormous cuts made to welfare and local government budgets have created significant extra demand for charities' services, while at the same time slashing much of their income. As this survey shows, the situation is becoming untenable for many. We need a reaffirmation of the coalition's commitment to protecting the most vulnerable, and an end to swingeing cuts aimed at the easiest targets. We must also see an end to disproportionate, indiscriminate cuts to the voluntary sector by local government. This means that the government must ensure that the statutory Best Value guidance it produced in 2011 on the way councils should work with voluntary and community groups is properly enforced.

It could do more to support the sector's access to a wider range of income streams. Consultations on social investment tax relief and corporate social responsibility are positive steps, but there is potential for much more, for instance around expanding social finance, especially through access to unsecured loans and making it simpler and easier for people to donate.

The government must also rediscover its energy on public service reform. It is essential that we deliver services more efficiently and effectively to alleviate some of the impact of funding cuts on beneficiaries. Charities and social enterprises have the ability to play a key role in improving delivery, owing to their capacity for innovation and their close connections with and understanding of beneficiaries and their needs. However, they must be properly funded and commissioned, and not treated simply as a cut-price alternative to state provision.

Third-sector bodies have no divine right to exist for ever. We need to see more partnerships, alliances and consortia working to achieve scale. Acevo has been supporting many local organisations to form consortia to bid for public service contracts, helping to combine the strength of local and national charities to deliver effectively for the people they serve.

It is now time to put the third sector at the forefront of a national response to the challenges of our times. As the Guardian's survey shows, there is no time to waste.

• Charities
• Voluntary sector
• Local government
• Public sector cuts
• Public services policy
• Public finance

Stephen Bubb
© 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions

Cuts combined with escalating demand for services are threatening our existence, say nearly one in 10 charities

Nearly one charity in 10 thinks it will not exist in five years. That is the stark finding of a survey of more than 1,000 charity professionals in the Guardian's voluntary sector network. Yet more than 85% expect demand for their services to increase and 35% predict a dramatic rise in demand.

The findings show that, although three-quarters of third sector organisations are confident their charity is strong enough to be still operating in 2018, 8.5% do not believe they will survive and 18% were unsure about their future. "There seems to be a shift to asking third sector organisations to meet needs that were previously met by government agencies, but with fewer resources," said one respondent.

Voluntary organisations are increasingly alarmed by the government's attitude to charities and believe it isn't doing enough to support them. The survey was conducted in May and June 2013, and 1,256 members of the voluntary sector network took part. Asked: "How much confidence do you have in the government's approach to the third sector?" nearly half (47.3%) said they had "no confidence".

Taking up the slack

"Charities are being expected to take up the slack of government cuts to services, without the financial support to do so," said one respondent. "The government tends to see the third sector as a way to offload statutory services, but with no attached funding," said another.

The survey results echo research by charity thinktank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) last year, which found that 90% of charities faced a riskier future, with more than half reporting that they were using or planned to use their reserves to keep going. This has "serious implications for the sustainability of the sector," says Dan Corry, chief executive of NPC. "All this is set against a significant rise in demand for their services, so it is easy to see that we're heading for trouble.

"The delivery of public services is clearly an opportunity for the voluntary sector, but there are still question marks over whether the government has got charities on board. It is worrying, therefore, that almost half have no confidence in the government's policies."

A combination of welfare reform and the £2.1bn cut in council budgets from 2015, announced in the spending review means that demand for charity services will continue to rise at precisely the same time as public sector funding is drying up. "The trend over the past 20 years has been for governments to support the third sector bodies to take over services otherwise supplied by local authorities. In the past three years, the demand and pressure for this has increased, while the support, both financially and otherwise, has lessened," one respondent pointed out.

Calculations by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) before the spending review indicate that, if cuts are passed on proportionately, third sector funding will be £1.7bn lower by the 2017‑18 financial year than it was in 2010. But if councils choose to make charities bear a disproportionate degree of the savings, charity income will be £2.1bn lower.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, says: "The combination of increasing demand, rising costs and income levels that are often static or falling means that many charities are under unprecedented pressure at the moment. I think this government still, rightly, sees the voluntary sector as an important part of the answer to many of our current challenges. But it's important that it keeps its side of the bargain and listens to the expertise of charities. The voluntary sector excels at innovation – we can help find new and cost-efficient ways to respond to problems, and we can be part of the economic recovery through supporting people to develop their skills and confidence."

The Cabinet Office denies that the government is not doing enough to support charities, pointing out that £107m was made available through the Transition fund between 2010 and 2012. It also cites the funding that "social ventures", such as mutuals and social enterprises, can access through the Incubator fund and the Investment Contract and Readiness fund. "We know that, for many reasons, this is a very challenging time for charities," a Cabinet Office spokeswoman says. "However, the British public continue to show their support, with giving that is stable and volunteering on the rise. Government support has come in the form of new incentives for giving, improvement of gift aid and the development of the social investment market. At the same time we are opening up new opportunities such as the Transforming Rehabilitation programme for charities, mutuals and social enterprises to help us deliver better public services."

But some participants in the survey worry that, for smaller charities, funding pressures will be exacerbated by the vagaries of the contract tendering process, with the result that they will lose out when bidding for contracts. One said: "I am seriously concerned about the future of small- to medium-sized and local organisations that are in real danger of losing out to bigger providers in the competitive tendering system, or else being subsumed into partnerships with larger organisations."

Another respondent felt even more strongly that the voluntary sector was operating at an unfair disadvantage. "The government's new approach is doing a fabulous job of facilitating the squeezing out of charities by corporate organisations that are better at tendering, despite their lack of understanding of the sector."

The survey revealed that a number of participants had negative experiences of working with the private sector. "I find the majority of companies only want to help on their own terms and are unwilling to listen to us and take on board what our actual needs are," said one respondent. "They often assume that their skills and experience are superior, even if they have no prior experience of working with the client group. They appear to believe all charity workers are incompetent amateurs and that by deigning to grace us with their 'precious' time they can solve all our problems."

But most had more positive views of partnerships. "Working with companies can be a way of raising awareness of social responsibility issues and even supporting companies to introduce responsible practices," said one. "It's vital that charities partner with companies. It helps to expand your reach as a charity and can be an important revenue stream," agreed another.

Given the third sector's precarious finances, charities make less use of social media for fundraising than might be expected. Asked: "How important do you believe Facebook is as a fundraising tool?" many were surprisingly cautious. It would appear that a number of charities see donating via social media as primarily useful for "personal fundraising" for marathons, sponsored cycle rides and the like. Although social media is lauded as a "massive networking tool", as one respondent summarised: "Likes do not translate into giving."

Instead, organisations use Facebook mainly to raise awareness and for single-issue campaigns. As one said: "Our Facebook page is aimed at providing information to our service users, so we wouldn't necessarily see the page as a fundraising tool, but Facebook itself certainly lends itself to getting the word out about your cause, especially if people are able to donate directly, using the JustGiving app for example."

• Additional reporting by Jordan Rowe

• Voluntary sector
• Charities
• Public sector cuts
• Public services policy
• Public finance
• Austerity
• Economics

Anna Bawden
theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Cuts combined with escalating demand for services are threatening our existence, say nearly one in 10 charities

Nearly one charity in 10 thinks it will not exist in five years. That is the stark finding of a survey of more than 1,000 charity professionals in the Guardian's voluntary sector network. Yet more than 85% expect demand for their services to increase and 35% predict a dramatic rise in demand.

The findings show that, although three-quarters of third sector organisations are confident their charity is strong enough to be still operating in 2018, 8.5% do not believe they will survive and 18% were unsure about their future. "There seems to be a shift to asking third sector organisations to meet needs that were previously met by government agencies, but with fewer resources," said one respondent.

Voluntary organisations are increasingly alarmed by the government's attitude to charities and believe it isn't doing enough to support them. The survey was conducted in May and June 2013, and 1,256 members of the voluntary sector network took part. Asked: "How much confidence do you have in the government's approach to the third sector?" nearly half (47.3%) said they had "no confidence".

Taking up the slack

"Charities are being expected to take up the slack of government cuts to services, without the financial support to do so," said one respondent. "The government tends to see the third sector as a way to offload statutory services, but with no attached funding," said another.

The survey results echo research by charity thinktank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) last year, which found that 90% of charities faced a riskier future, with more than half reporting that they were using or planned to use their reserves to keep going. This has "serious implications for the sustainability of the sector," says Dan Corry, chief executive of NPC. "All this is set against a significant rise in demand for their services, so it is easy to see that we're heading for trouble.

"The delivery of public services is clearly an opportunity for the voluntary sector, but there are still question marks over whether the government has got charities on board. It is worrying, therefore, that almost half have no confidence in the government's policies."

A combination of welfare reform and the £2.1bn cut in council budgets from 2015, announced in the spending review means that demand for charity services will continue to rise at precisely the same time as public sector funding is drying up. "The trend over the past 20 years has been for governments to support the third sector bodies to take over services otherwise supplied by local authorities. In the past three years, the demand and pressure for this has increased, while the support, both financially and otherwise, has lessened," one respondent pointed out.

Calculations by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) before the spending review indicate that, if cuts are passed on proportionately, third sector funding will be £1.7bn lower by the 2017‑18 financial year than it was in 2010. But if councils choose to make charities bear a disproportionate degree of the savings, charity income will be £2.1bn lower.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, says: "The combination of increasing demand, rising costs and income levels that are often static or falling means that many charities are under unprecedented pressure at the moment. I think this government still, rightly, sees the voluntary sector as an important part of the answer to many of our current challenges. But it's important that it keeps its side of the bargain and listens to the expertise of charities. The voluntary sector excels at innovation – we can help find new and cost-efficient ways to respond to problems, and we can be part of the economic recovery through supporting people to develop their skills and confidence."

The Cabinet Office denies that the government is not doing enough to support charities, pointing out that £107m was made available through the Transition fund between 2010 and 2012. It also cites the funding that "social ventures", such as mutuals and social enterprises, can access through the Incubator fund and the Investment Contract and Readiness fund. "We know that, for many reasons, this is a very challenging time for charities," a Cabinet Office spokeswoman says. "However, the British public continue to show their support, with giving that is stable and volunteering on the rise. Government support has come in the form of new incentives for giving, improvement of gift aid and the development of the social investment market. At the same time we are opening up new opportunities such as the Transforming Rehabilitation programme for charities, mutuals and social enterprises to help us deliver better public services."

But some participants in the survey worry that, for smaller charities, funding pressures will be exacerbated by the vagaries of the contract tendering process, with the result that they will lose out when bidding for contracts. One said: "I am seriously concerned about the future of small- to medium-sized and local organisations that are in real danger of losing out to bigger providers in the competitive tendering system, or else being subsumed into partnerships with larger organisations."

Another respondent felt even more strongly that the voluntary sector was operating at an unfair disadvantage. "The government's new approach is doing a fabulous job of facilitating the squeezing out of charities by corporate organisations that are better at tendering, despite their lack of understanding of the sector."

The survey revealed that a number of participants had negative experiences of working with the private sector. "I find the majority of companies only want to help on their own terms and are unwilling to listen to us and take on board what our actual needs are," said one respondent. "They often assume that their skills and experience are superior, even if they have no prior experience of working with the client group. They appear to believe all charity workers are incompetent amateurs and that by deigning to grace us with their 'precious' time they can solve all our problems."

But most had more positive views of partnerships. "Working with companies can be a way of raising awareness of social responsibility issues and even supporting companies to introduce responsible practices," said one. "It's vital that charities partner with companies. It helps to expand your reach as a charity and can be an important revenue stream," agreed another.

Given the third sector's precarious finances, charities make less use of social media for fundraising than might be expected. Asked: "How important do you believe Facebook is as a fundraising tool?" many were surprisingly cautious. It would appear that a number of charities see donating via social media as primarily useful for "personal fundraising" for marathons, sponsored cycle rides and the like. Although social media is lauded as a "massive networking tool", as one respondent summarised: "Likes do not translate into giving."

Instead, organisations use Facebook mainly to raise awareness and for single-issue campaigns. As one said: "Our Facebook page is aimed at providing information to our service users, so we wouldn't necessarily see the page as a fundraising tool, but Facebook itself certainly lends itself to getting the word out about your cause, especially if people are able to donate directly, using the JustGiving app for example."

• Additional reporting by Jordan Rowe

• Voluntary sector
• Charities
• Public sector cuts
• Public services policy
• Public finance
• Austerity
• Economics

Anna Bawden
© 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions

Like it or not, far too many folks judge a charity by its cost of fundraising and ‘overhead’. From regulators to the media, from charity watchdogs to far too many nonprofit boards — and even some fundraisers themselves — the false metric of ‘cost of fundraising’ has created a big mess of misunderstanding. Fortunately, the industry is waking up and finally seems motivated to deal with the issue. Nowhere was the awakening clearer than at last week’s New York conference of the Direct Marketing Association’s Nonprofit Federation (DMNAF). First, a heavily-attended plenary session — moderated by Tom

Academy Award nominee and Tony and Golden Globe Award winner Hugh Jackman will bring his critically acclaimed one-man show from Broadway to Los Angeles for a one night only performance benefitting MPTF (Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation).

Hugh Jackman…One Night Only will take place on Saturday, October 12, 2013, at The Dolby Theatre, marking his first time performing in Southern California. The One Night Only event is co-chaired by Jim Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO, 20th Century Fox, and his wife Ann, longtime supporters of MPTF.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10529-one-night-only-with-hugh-jackman-for-charity