FEATURE
CHARITABLE CAUSES, PROMOTION & PARTNERSHIP
Abraham Lincoln was attributed as saying: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”. If only. Revolution is a strong word, evoking often violent
transfers of power and change, but we are experiencing political, economic, social and technological revolution right now. Perhaps an ageing population is the major social and economic challenge of our time and undoubtedly there will be many future challenges and opportunities for charities – as employers, providers of services, and agents of social care. The changing demographics of our population raise additional challenges for charities, not least engaging a younger generation of individuals who are more protective of their free time and more demanding about what they get back from giving it away. Charities are also at the heart of local communities,
cutting across class, race and gender divides. So much of our work is about building relationships and social connections, reaching those who are hard to reach. As such, charities are a huge part of the solution to loneliness and social isolation, both of which are high on the policy agenda. This is likely to mean that over the next year we will see increasing opportunities for charities, given our long-standing role in engaging people through a range of activities and services, and building trusted relationships. The ongoing political disruption and difficulties in
agreeing to a withdrawal deal (The ‘B’ word) will continue to create an uncertain economic environment, making it difficult to make accurate economic forecasts. One thing is almost certain: the economic outlook is not greatly optimistic, and our country compares unfavourably to our European counterparts. The key message for our local charities is to prepare for
continued demand for services and support, as individuals and communities we serve will struggle to make ends meet. This year is also likely to be when trends that we have gradually seen developing in the past year or so really show their effect. In particular, the demise of cash is something that should firmly be on the radar for us as charities, particularly those that fundraise. If there is one clear message that the past year has once
again sent it is this: the public have high expectations of charities, and want to see a reflection of our values in everything we do. Meeting these expectations and demonstrably raising standards will continue to be one of the most important steps to take going forward. How charities go about making a difference will be just as important as what that difference is. The narrative about ‘charities living their values’ is an important one and one to be taken seriously and embraced. Our values are what distinguish us and highlight the contribution we make, but they can also act as a reference guide when making difficult decisions or facing ethical dilemmas. 2019 will continue to see the ‘fourth industrial revolution’
sweeping the world, with rapid advances in artificial intelligence, mobility and advanced manufacturing. So far – aside from a few of the larger household-name charities that have started adopting more advanced technologies – our sector has played a limited role in this revolution, whether as a user of technologies, a shaper or an influencer. This detachment could become increasingly problematic. As the pace of change in technology is accelerating, the technological divide risks becoming more difficult to bridge - especially as the new technologies emerging in the world today are unprecedented in their scale, complexity and level of connectivity.
Charities – a rocky road
ahead?
By Nigel Rose (pictured), Chief Executive Officer at Hope Against Cancer
On the one hand, big opportunities are being missed:
digital fabrication, drones and robotics in development and humanitarian contexts; artificial intelligence (AI) for supporting collective intelligence to make better, quicker decisions; big data to understand the world in more depth in real time and the use of new online tools to engage people and raise funds. On the other hand, there are also big threats: fake news, online bullying, unethical uses of AI, pervasive digital surveillance and massive job destruction not matched by job creation. The road ahead may appear rocky indeed. Some reading this may have experienced a sense of déjà
The public has high expectations of charities 60 business network June 2019
vu while reading so far. There appears to have been limited concrete progress made on many of the same policy questions raised over the past year. And there is still so much we do not know about the impact of Brexit, or future relationships with the EU. But one thing is for sure: this year will see some big changes to the regulatory and economic structures affecting charities and our work. Despite the many challenges identified and the phase of uncertainty that our region and country enters, the key message for charities is that we will be critical in holding the order together in the short term, and finding solutions to renewing and reforming it to ensure its survival in the long term.
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