Charities face bleak future

(by Richard Holway 8.00am 24th Mar 09) Through my own involvement with the Prince’s Trust, I know that many HotViews readers are greatly interested and involved in CSR issues. As the recession deepens the need for the support that charities like the Prince’s Trust provides to the most vulnerable in our society actually increases. Conversely the funding reduces. Yesterday, the FT published the results of a survey from YouGov which revealed that corporates were planning a 34% reduction in charity donations in 2009 – equating to a £500m drop (based on £1.4b donations last year) See Company donors propose big cuts in giving.

I’ll give you a round up of my two years as Chairman of the Prince’s Trust Technology Leadership Group when it ends on 31st Mar 09. Many of you attended The Big Debate helps raise over £10K for Prince’s Trust with Richard Christou of Fujitsu and myself back in February. I’m very pleased that Mudassir Husain who ld the Million makers team at Fujitsu, received 1st Prize for the ‘Most Inspirational Chairperson Award’ at the London and South East regional finals.

Finally, there are still a few tickets left for the Prince’s Trust IT Security Debate, sponsored by Canon, on the 7th April at London’s magnificent Royal Academy of Arts.

Speakers include HM Government CIO and Technology Leadership Group committee member John Suffolk, Group Security Director Mark Hughes from BT and Chief cyber Security Advisor Ed Gibson from Microsoft will offer their perspectives. The debate will be chaired by the Co-Chairman of the Information Assurance Collaboration Group and Director of SBL, Colin Williams.

The evening starts at 6.30pm with drinks and after the debate will include a private viewing of the Canon sponsored Utagawa Kuniyoshi exhibition.If you are already a Technology Leadership Group member you get a free ticket but we would welcome non-members at £195 (to the Prince’s Trust, so all in a great cause).

For more information contact Jamie Webb, Head of the Technology Leadership Group - Jamie.webb@princes-trust.org.uk020 7543 1317