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ACAT is delighted welcome CAF Bank as one of our new Partners in Ministry. We spoke to Richard Hunt, who leads CAF Bank’s Charity Lending team, to discover more about his organisation and how he’s looking forward to working with ACAT – and our members.
Tell us more about CAF Bank
At CAF Bank, we believe in the power of good. This gives us a shared ethos with the organisations we exist to serve: charities, churches and social purpose enterprises.
As well as banking services, we offer loan facilities for organisations looking to purchase, develop or renovate their buildings. Our tailored approach, expert guidance and genuine care allows charities to focus on what matters – supporting the people who turn to them.
Why are you pleased to be working with ACAT?
We know from experience the depth of work carried out by church treasurers.
It’s a role that is integral to delivering a range of charitable outcomes and good governance. We have been impressed by the support ACAT provides for its members.
Through our partnership, we aim to build upon ACAT’s work, by sharing job useful information of real value to church treasurers. We also hope to learn much by listening and engaging.
What are the challenges facing churches – and charities – at this point in time?
Research by our parent charity, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), has helped highlight the challenges confronting charities and churches: many face rising demand for their services and support, while having to pivot and adapt their ways of working and fundraising.
In response, we’re seeing charities and churches, such as St Vincent’s & St George’s Association and Waypoint Church, seize the opportunity to support their communities in different ways.
What do you think that 2022 will bring for churches and charities?
The challenges brought about by the pandemic are likely to continue.
We may see a continued shift from cash donations to digital giving, and charities becoming more reliant on a smaller pool of supporters. Rising costs will mean that that income generated will go less far.
So encouraging more donors to claim Gift Aid could help mitigate the effects of inflation. More positively, trust in charities could emerge from the pandemic on an upward path.
How are you actively looking to support churches in 2022 – and beyond.
CAF Bank supports a community of 14,000 charitable organisations and our loan finance has helped fund thirty places of worship.
Our friendly team are on hand if your church needs help to deliver its vision for the future. Over the coming year, we will share insight, guidance and opportunities to explore changes in the landscape affecting the church treasurer’s role,
On that note, I warmly invite you to our joint webinar with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
An expert panel will discuss what’s on the horizon for charity trustees and how trustees can drive greater impact. It takes place at 12pm on Friday, March 4, and you can register for free. Visit the ICAEW events website HERE and enter ‘caf’ in the ‘Search events’ box.
