Bates Wells Annual Charity Conference – Spotlight 2023

After a tumultuous three years of unprecedented challenges, the time is now for the charity sector to take stock, look ahead and consider what the sector most needs.

At this year’s Spotlight conference, we’ll be exploring how the current landscape might shape some of the key themes for the sector over the next few years.

The Bates Wells team will be joined by a host of leaders and thinkers from across the charity sector. We will be tackling questions like how do charities deal with conflicting pressures around accepting and refusing donations? How can we futureproof the charity workplace? And what should we focus on with a general election on the horizon? Our headline panel will be followed by an audience Q&A and discussion, for all attendees to share thoughts and raise questions about next steps for the sector.

Timetable

12.50pm Online registration and webinar starts

​1pm Introduction              Thea Longley, Bates Wells

1.05pm Panel: Accepting and refusing donations In the social media era of constant scrutiny, charities have arguably never had to be so aware of reputational issues. But charities are also dealing with depleted reserves, decreased donations, and often increased demand from beneficiaries. This debate will focus on the thorny issues of accepting and refusing donations. Our panellists include Jenny Waldman (Director, Art Fund), Amy Cody (Director of Development, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre), Alexandra Johnstone (Legal Director, United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF) and Camilla Fitzgerald (Fundraising Manager, ClientEarth).

1.45pm Panel: The charity workplace in 2024: tackling the key issues Following the biggest shift in workplace culture in a generation, charities are now grappling with a fresh range of HR challenges, from promoting inclusivity, balancing competing needs and interests, to dealing with unions and a workforce that is struggling with the cost of living crisis. The Bates Wells Employment team will discuss the hot button issues and how best to tackle them.

2.20pm Break

2.40pm Panel: What does the non-profit sector want and need from the next five years? With the 2024 general election on the horizon, it's time for the charity sector to consider what the next five years should look like, what is at stake from a policy perspective, and what urgent changes need to be ushered in. Our panellists include Dame Caroline Mason (Chief Executive, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation), Matt Whittaker (Chief Executive, Pro Bono Economics) and Dr. Ruth Valerio (Global Advocacy and Influencing Director, Tearfund).

3.25pm Audience Q&A

4.00pm Webinar ends