Harriet Whitehead, BBC Journalist Profile

Articles

Bank apologises for ‘error’ in closing Holocaust education charity’s account

Aug 30, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

High street bank NatWest has apologised after closing a Holocaust education charity’s account last month, which it said was an “unfortunate error”. According to reports in the Daily Mail, NatWest told Yad Vashem UK last month that it had decided “to cease” all relations with the organisation “following a recent review”.
LGB Alliance reports £100,000 deficit as donations halve

Aug 28, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

The LGB Alliance has reported a deficit of over £100,000 after seeing its fundraised income drop by more than half, according to recently filed documents. According to its annual report for the year to 30 November 2023, the charity recorded a net deficit of £105,000 compared with a surplus of £96,500 the year prior.
Scottish charities call for urgent switch to longer-term government funding models

Aug 27, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

A number of Scottish charities have called on the nation’s devolved government to improve funding structures for the sector, so more long-term grants are available. Scotland’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee recently consulted on third sector funding principles ahead of the Scottish Government’s budget for 2025-26. The committee said it would like to understand what can be done now to make the funding process more efficient, so available funding can be used more effectively.
Most charity professionals use AI but lack resources to explore fully, report finds

Aug 23, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

Some 57% of charity professionals now use artificial intelligence (AI) in some way but it is still in the early stages, according to a newly published report. The Status of UK Fundraising 2024 Benchmark Report by sotware firm Blackbaud asked 850 voluntary sector professionals, most of whom were fundraisers, about their use of AI. Of those who currently use AI, 70% said they did so it mainly for developing draft copy, 44% for creating social media content while 10% said they used predictive AI.
Pia Sinha: ‘We have to speak our truth to power’

Aug 23, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

Pia Sinha’s entry into the charity sector is fairly recent, having worked in the prison service for 24 years before becoming Prison Reform Trust (PRT) chief executive in April last year. On joining the prison service as a psychologist in 1999, Sinha says she did not quite know what she was getting herself in for, but was “immediately really drawn” to the “fulfilling, very complex work”.
UK drops out of top 20 most generous countries in the world, CAF reports

Aug 21, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

The UK is no longer among the most generous 20 countries in the world, according to the Charities Aid Foundation’s World Giving Index 2024. CAF’s index now places the UK at number 22, its joint lowest ranking, having fallen to the same level it was in 2020 when charitable activity was limited by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Third of charities expect finances to deteriorate over autumn, research reveals

Aug 21, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

Researchers have found that around a third of charities expect their finances to deteriorate in the coming months while a further third expect their resources to stagnate. Pro Bono Economics (PBE) and Nottingham Trent University’s VCSE Data and Insights National Observatory report warns that deep-rooted challenges of financial instability, skills gaps and rising demand are affecting charities’ ability to support people most in need.
Free tool launched to generate privacy notices for small charities

Aug 21, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a free tool to help small charities create a bespoke privacy notice. This is to protect people’s information rights, as under data protection law, every organisation that holds people’s information needs to explain why it holds it and what it does with it. Customers and suppliers, including beneficiaries and donors, as well as staff and volunteers, then know what will happen to their information.
Sight loss charity reveals name and refreshed brand following merger

Aug 20, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

A sight loss charity formed by the merger of Vision Foundation and Fight for Sight last year has confirmed its name and published new branding. The merged charity will be known as Fight for Sight, and is led by chief executive Keith Valentine. Olivia Curno, the former chief executive of Vision Foundation, has now taken on a role as CEO of not-for-profit social care provider Elizabeth Finn Homes, which works in partnership with financial security charity Turn2us.
Foundations issue emergency funding in response to riots

Aug 20, 2024 | civilsociety.co.uk | Harriet Whitehead

A number of foundations have issued emergency funding to charities in response to the riots which spread across the UK earlier this month. The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) said many of its members have contributed top-up funding to extend this support to more groups. The Civic Power Fund has also set up an Emergency Action Fund, which is responding to urgent needs of the existing grantees and partner referrals within 24 to 48 hours.