Family Fund has been shortlisted for the UK-wide Charity Governance Awards 2018 for the establishment of Family Fund Business Services, which has raised £2.5 million to fund our work supporting families raising disabled or seriously ill children. We are in the running for the ‘Embracing Opportunity and Harnessing Risk’ award, with the winner being awarded a prize of £5,000.
We have been nominated for embracing an innovative opportunity presented by our Executive, and the Trustees’ support and oversight in establishing our trading subsidiary, Family Fund Business Services (FFBS). FFBS uses the expertise we had developed in more than 40 years of grant-making to provide fulfilment services to public and third sector organisations, allowing them to support their own beneficiaries. The development of the wholly-owned trading subsidiary has helped increase and diversify the charity’s income, enabling Family Fund to deliver even more support to more families.
Family Fund joins a shortlist of charities representing a diverse range of activities which include mental health care, family support, overseas aid, community sports programmes, and postnatal care. A 20-strong judging panel have shortlisted the entries and will select a winner in each of the seven categories. The winners will be announced at the official awards reception at the historic Clothworkers Hall in London on 24 May.
Cheryl Ward, Group Chief Executive of Family Fund said, “We are delighted to be shortlisted for a UK Charity Governance Award within the Embracing Opportunity and Harnessing Risk category. Over the past four years, our trading subsidiary, Family Fund Business Services, has worked in partnership with over 40 organisations such as local authorities, charities, housing associations and education establishments to provide support to their beneficiaries and deliver social value.
“The strong governance, expertise and foresight of our Board of Trustees and Executive, alongside the commitment of the senior management team, has established Family Fund Business Services as a highly successful trading subsidiary, providing around £2.5 million to support the charity’s work with families raising disabled or seriously ill children over the last four years. This nomination recognises the dedication we have as a Group to using our 45 years of charity experience in providing grants and services to improve and increase support to some of the most vulnerable people in society.”
The Awards are organised by The Clothworkers’ Company. Michael Howell, Chair of their Trusteeship Committee, said, “Congratulations to all these successful shortlisted candidates. Once again, our nominees prove that there is exceptional work going on behind the scenes in the third sector. The Charity Governance Awards are now in their third year and it is fantastic to see both a higher number of entries overall, and a higher entry standard for those who have reached this shortlist.
“Raising the bar in charity governance is the ambition of these awards. We should all learn lessons and be inspired by these nominees. We are also delighted to recognise talented, innovative and hard-working trustees and their colleagues – staff and volunteers.”
The 20-strong judging panel boasts a wealth of experience in charity governance and the voluntary sector. The judges include Michele Acton (CEO, Fight for Sight), Dawn Austwick (CEO, Big Lottery Fund), Tony Cohen (Chair, Barnardo’s), Vicki Hearn (Director, Nominet Trust), Vinay Nair (Co-founder, Lightful), Dan Corry (CEO, New Philanthropy Capital), Janet Thorne (CEO, Reach volunteering) and David Gold (CEO, Prospectus) and many other notable names.
For more information visit www.charitygovernanceawards.co.uk. You can follow the awards on Twitter using #charitygov18. Winners will be announced on the website following the event.
