You can call upon supporters to nominate your charity or church to win a £1,000 festive financial boost as part of Benefact Group’s annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign.
Now into its sixth year, the campaign sees the specialist insurer giving 120 different charities an early Christmas gift of a £1,000 donation, with 10 winners announced each weekday from 1 to 16 December.
It’s quick and easy to nominate your charity online. Nominations are open now until 15 December and you can vote for your charity at www.movementforgood.com.
Winners will be drawn at random and the more times your charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected. Last year almost 220,000 nominations were made, giving charities a chance to receive their share of the award money.
Make sure you share how you would spend the £1000
Your charity should be encouraging everyone to use their social media channels to ask people to vote for them to give the charity the best possible chance of winning.
To help encourage supporters, Benefact Group has created a special Christmas messaging tool to create a bespoke message to share with supporters.
Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK* and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all of its available profits go to good causes, and the more the group grows, the more the group can give. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do.
“Our Movement for Good Awards has helped thousands of charities across the UK and we’re asking people to volunteer a few minutes of their time to nominate a cause they care about. We know that for many charities, £1,000 can make a real difference. We’re encouraging everyone to nominate a cause close to their hearts this Christmas to be in for a chance to win a festive financial boost.”
To learn more about Benefact Group’s unique purpose and the causes it helps visit: www.benefactgroup.com
This article was kindly written and provided to us by Data Developments.
Uncover the six of the best charity bookkeeping tips to make the recording of financial affairs straightforward and enable you to focus on other areas of your organisation.
If you are a charity or faith based organisation, you will know there are always a million things to stay on top of.
And many small charities don’t have the luxury of having a finance team to record and track transactions, which can lead to other volunteers and staff taking on responsibilities, including handling the finances.
But it doesn’t have to be this challenging.
Read on to uncover six charity bookkeeping tips to help you streamline operations and keep your financial affairs in order.
Good charity bookkeeping requires accuracy and great attention to the finer detail. Follow our six simple tips to make in-house bookkeeping easier.
Our number one tip for non-profit bookkeeping is investing in easy-to-use software. If you still use handwritten ledgers or Excel spreadsheets to track your finances, you should consider streamlining the process and finding a new way. Not only will accounting software make your processes easy, but your online charity accounting software will also eliminate the risk of error and free up your time to do other significant tasks. Efficient accounting software can make it easy to store data correctly, review and update your accounting process regularly, and help you automate as much as possible. We recommend doing your research on the best bookkeeping software for charities and faith organisations before anything else.
The first step to good charity bookkeeping is recording your transactions regularly.
You will need to put some time into updating your donations and money received to know your expenses as best you can.
Therefore, you must keep proof of your invoices and receipts when you miss anything or need proof of payments. As a charity organisation, recording your transactions can make it easier to see where the donations are going and who they help.
Today, pretty much everything is done online. From digital invoices and receipts to online banking, it is now easier than ever to keep your information all in one place. With Online charity bookkeeping it is much harder to lose and easier to keep on track than a piece of paper. Not only that, but it also makes it easier for busy charities to coordinate with outside contractors. With a long list of rules and regulations for charities and faith organisations to follow, you want to make life less chaotic and much simpler for everyone involved. Using online bookkeeping software for charities and processes can give everyone in the organisation access to information and financial details. It can also make your Independent Examination or audit easier as well.
It’s time to transition from cash to debit cards where possible.
Cash can often go missing, whereas bank and credit cards can make transactions smoother and much quicker.
Much like the previous point, bank and credit cards make bookkeeping easier as they have spending statements which make finances easy to digest and monitor.
Alternatively, you can make online payments through your bank, which give the option of being dual authorised for that added level of security.
Cash flow is the money that comes in and out of your organisation over a set period.
And even charity organisations have regular payments, including utilities, rent, stock, or insurance.
Poor cash flow can make it hard for a charity or faith organisation to stay afloat. But by tracking this and putting all your finances in one place, you’ll see a shift in your money management. You can be made more aware of excess cash that will benefit your charity and cause. You can also budget accordingly.
As a charity or faith organisation, you probably won’t need to pay taxes on your income due to tax relief, provided the money goes towards charitable causes. And to prove you are elgible for tax relief, you must provide accurate financial records and statements to show where your donations and money are going. Good charity bookkeeping will enable you to provide an accurate statement that outlines what you have earned and where your funds go.
This article was kindly written and provided to us by Data Developments.
Ready to make your bookkeeping a lot easier? At Data Developments, we specialise in developing software, services and training for Churches and charities.
With our software, you can manage and streamline your financial processes with little to no accounting knowledge. It’s so easy that anyone can use it. But if you get stuck, there’s always an expert on hand to help.
We want to help you make managing your finances to help you make proactive decisions with our valuable knowledge and online tool. If you are a non-profit looking for easy-to-use software that meets legal requirements, get in touch today.
19th October 2024 is an extremely important date for all church treasurers and trustees alike. The annual ACAT conference is to be held this year at Eden Baptist Church Cambridge.
Several factors have conspired in recent years to discourage attendance at such events.
Having attended most of ACAT’s pre-pandemic conferences over the past twenty years the most significant benefit has undoubtedly been a greater appreciation of the support available for church treasurers.
Being a church treasurer can be extremely challenging at times. The annual conference is an opportunity to get away from the immediacy of your church and the issues you are grappling with. A conference environment with all that is on offer provides the chance to rethink some of the financial administrative processes. Make them more efficient. How can I work smarter rather than harder? Are there ways of reducing the stress which inevitably can come with the role of treasurer?
The Annual Conference has several important components which together can provide solutions to some of these challenges. Speakers with a wealth of charity and church backgrounds and experience can offer new thinking on practical issues.
Technology tools able to simplify much of our financial administration, continue to develop significantly. The conference is an opportunity to meet with providers of a range of such products and services. In our professional and business lives many of us have benefited significantly from commercial annual conferences. In this respect, the ACAT annual conference is no different.
Networking, the opportunity to meet others involved in the same or related activities, is a much-used (and abused) term. However arguably one of the singularly most important benefits of the annual conference is meeting other treasurers from different parts of the country. Realising the issues we must deal with as part of our responsibilities are the same irrespective of geography.
Finally, the annual conference can be an opportunity to spend some time in a different part of the country. Somewhere never visited. Cities and locations we might be dismissive of as places to visit are frequently pleasant surprises.
Cambridge is arguably one of the U.K.s jewels. So, 19th October. Eden Baptist Church. Book it now. £10.00 early bird fee is a steal……Or why not bring your spouse/partner and make a weekend of it?
You won’t regret it.
We would like to notify all members that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers (ACAT) will take place on 19th October during our Annual Conference.
Tickets for both in-person and online attendance are available. Members attending online will not be able to vote.
More details including the agenda and our 2023-2024 annual report will be available soon on our website.
We look forward to seeing you there!
The main items in the Chancellor’s Autumn budget statement yesterday (26 November) had been “leaked” and speculated over for several weeks. The result is that for most people, there are very few surprises.
Pleas from church groups and the faith sector generally appear to have been ignored.
The Listed Places of Worship Scheme is still scheduled to close in March 2026, with no additional support for the charitable sector to counter reduced donations, as evidenced by the CAF 2025 Giving Report.
For the moment, we must be thankful that Gift Aid has gone untouched.
However, it could be argued that against the background of the general increased cost of living, those who are less well-off and/or with young families have been provided with some relief.
As always, we prayerfully leave matters in God’s hands, trusting that he will provide support for those who need it and inspire those who are able to do more.
Bookings are now closed; if you still want to attend, please contact Cath via our enquiry form to check availability.
We are thrilled to announce that this year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 14th. Excitingly, we are relocating to a new venue, The Priory Rooms in Birmingham (B4 6AF).
Take advantage of this incredible opportunity! Join us and gain valuable strategies, practical tips, and actionable insights to help your church thrive.
We understand that not everyone can attend in person, so we have arranged a livestreamed option for those unable to join us physically bookable HERE. This way, you won’t miss out on any of the valuable insights and knowledge shared at the conference.
This year’s conference theme is “Maximising Resources: Being Efficiently Effective.” We know that year-on-year finances continue to be a challenge for many churches, and we know this affects the treasurer, the trustees, and the wider church.
We aim to empower churches to make the most of their existing resources, be it finances, individuals, infrastructure, or technology. Our goal is to equip and inspire churches to fulfil their mission and create a meaningful impact in God’s Church.
The ACAT conference is ideal for anyone connected with the finances or management of a church. Whether you are the Treasurer, Chair or a Trustee. Whether you are part of a church of 20 or 20,000, there will be something for you.
The programme will be accessible to all, whether you are new to the role or have been there since the church began.
The conference is there to help you gain new knowledge of the world of finance and management in the church.
The conference was a great way to meet other people sharing the same issues that I encounter in my role as a treasurer. More than that, I was inspired and motivated by the wonderful range of speakers. so many of my questions answered and possibilities opened up ahead of me and my church.
It was my first time at an ACAT annual conference and I left there really encouraged and strengthened to serve as a church treasurer. My 1st exposure to ACAT through a simple book keeping online training course gave me a lot of the knowledge in areas that I had learning gaps in and I was really looking forward to the conference. The conference really blessed me.
I really enjoyed the ACAT Conference. It felt like a very supportive and friendly atmosphere, being alongside like-minded people. It was a great way of meeting others who are doing what can sometimes be rather an isolated role.
In his address, Nigel will explore the resources used to make Church happen, identify opportunities to make the use of these resources even more fruitful, and identify free sources of help and advice that Church Treasurers, Trustees and Leaders can use to make this happen.
Richard from CAF Bank will conduct an insightful workshop centred on:
In his session, Mark will be exploring:
“Risk management can sometimes sound like an alien concept in a church – if people even think about it at all, it can be seen as ‘too corporate’, too inherently negative, or it is understood narrowly as just being about health and safety. However, risk is a much broader subject than accident books and PAT testing, and its understanding is often integral to ensuring an organisation – including a church – is best equipped to meet its objectives.
This seminar will explore how taking an intentional but proportionate approach to risk management can help a church leadership team understand where its operations are vulnerable to the kinds of disruption that will waste scarce resources, draw their focus, and ultimately interfere with their core ministry and mission. More importantly, we will explore what we can do about it.”
This workshop, delivered in conversational style, will explore the issue of buildings and how we use them. The facilitator will draw on three decades experience of working with urban, rural and suburban churches and pose questions such as:
The Parish Giving Scheme(PGS) provides an efficient and effective giving mechanism for churches, with the unique feature of inviting givers to increase their regular giving in line with inflation.
In this session, The PGS team will facilitate conversation and share experiences and insights. Together, we will explore how your church can become a more generous church, with insights from PGS experiences of inflation-linked giving during a cost-of-living crisis, with practical takeaways to help you efficiently and effectively advance regular giving in your church.
This practical workshop will cover some common legal issues faced by churches as charities, and how to avoid pitfalls to ensure funds and resources are managed and used as effectively as possible. We will cover topics including:
| Time | Details |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration |
| 10:00 | Welcome & opening prayer |
| 10:20 | Keynote talk |
| 11:00 | Tea Break – an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take refreshment |
| 11:30 | Workshops – session 1 (3 to choose from) |
| 12:15 | Workshops – session 2 (3 to choose from) |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:45 | Workshops – session 3 (3 to choose from) |
| 14:30 | Workshops – session 4 (3 to choose from) |
| 15:15 | Break |
| 15:30 | ACAT AGM 2023 – An update of the work of ACAT and an opportunity to ask questions |
| 16:00 | Concluding remarks |
Sponsor – Data Developments
Sponsor – JustMoney Movement
Sponsor – Liberty Accounts
Sponsors – Trinitas
Sponsor – Bates Wells
Sponsor – iKnow Church
Sponsor – PGS (Parish Giving Scheme)
Bookings are now closed; if you still want to gain access to the livestream, please contact Cath via our enquiry form to check availability.
We are thrilled to announce that this year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 14th.
This booking is for the Livestream of the conference.
The livestream is available for those unable to attend the conference in person. Due to streaming limitations, we will be unable to offer a choice of seminars.
This year’s conference theme is “Maximising Resources: Being Efficiently Effective.” We know that year-on-year finances continue to be a challenge for many churches, and we know this affects the treasurer, the trustees, and the wider church.
We aim to empower churches to make the most of their existing resources, be it finances, individuals, infrastructure, or technology. Our goal is to equip and inspire churches to fulfil their mission and create a meaningful impact in God’s Church.
The ACAT conference is ideal for anyone connected with the finances or management of a church. Whether you are the Treasurer, Chair or a Trustee. Whether you are part of a church of 20 or 20,000, there will be something for you.
The programme will be accessible to all, whether you are new to the role or have been there since the church began.
The conference is there to help you gain new knowledge of the world of finance and management in the church.
The conference was a great way to meet other people sharing the same issues that I encounter in my role as a treasurer. More than that, I was inspired and motivated by the wonderful range of speakers. so many of my questions answered and possibilities opened up ahead of me and my church.
It was my first time at an ACAT annual conference and I left there really encouraged and strengthened to serve as a church treasurer. My 1st exposure to ACAT through a simple book keeping online training course gave me a lot of the knowledge in areas that I had learning gaps in and I was really looking forward to the conference. The conference really blessed me.
I really enjoyed the ACAT Conference. It felt like a very supportive and friendly atmosphere, being alongside like-minded people. It was a great way of meeting others who are doing what can sometimes be rather an isolated role.
In his address, Nigel will explore the resources used to make Church happen, identify opportunities to make the use of these resources even more fruitful, and identify free sources of help and advice that Church Treasurers, Trustees and Leaders can use to make this happen.
In his session, Mark will be exploring:
“Risk management can sometimes sound like an alien concept in a church – if people even think about it at all, it can be seen as ‘too corporate’, too inherently negative, or it is understood narrowly as just being about health and safety. However, risk is a much broader subject than accident books and PAT testing, and its understanding is often integral to ensuring an organisation – including a church – is best equipped to meet its objectives.
This seminar will explore how taking an intentional but proportionate approach to risk management can help a church leadership team understand where its operations are vulnerable to the kinds of disruption that will waste scarce resources, draw their focus, and ultimately interfere with their core ministry and mission. More importantly, we will explore what we can do about it.”
This workshop, delivered in conversational style, will explore the issue of buildings and how we use them. The facilitator will draw on three decades experience of working with urban, rural and suburban churches and pose questions such as:
The Parish Giving Scheme(PGS) provides an efficient and effective giving mechanism for churches, with the unique feature of inviting givers to increase their regular giving in line with inflation.
In this session, The PGS team will facilitate conversation and share experiences and insights. Together, we will explore how your church can become a more generous church, with insights from PGS experiences of inflation-linked giving during a cost-of-living crisis, with practical takeaways to help you efficiently and effectively advance regular giving in your church.
This practical workshop will cover some common legal issues faced by churches as charities, and how to avoid pitfalls to ensure funds and resources are managed and used as effectively as possible. We will cover topics including:
The livestream is available for those unable to attend the conference in person. Due to steaming limitations, we will be unable to offer a choice of seminars.
| Time | Details |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration |
| 10:00 | Welcome & opening prayer |
| 10:20 | Keynote talk |
| 11:00 | Tea Break – an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take refreshment |
| 11:30 | Seminar – session 1 (3 to choose from) |
| 12:15 | Seminar – session 2 (3 to choose from) |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:45 | Seminar – session 3 (3 to choose from) |
| 14:30 | Seminar – session 4 (3 to choose from) |
| 15:15 | Break |
| 15:30 | ACAT AGM 2023 – An update of the work of ACAT and an opportunity to ask questions |
| 16:00 | Concluding remarks |
Sponsor – Data Developments
Sponsor – JustMoney Movement
Sponsor – Liberty Accounts
Sponsors – Trinitas
Sponsor – Bates Wells
Sponsor – iKnow Church
Sponsor – PGS (Parish Giving Scheme)
ACAT are thrilled to announce that this year’s conference will take place on Saturday, October 19th. We are moving around the country and this year we will be meeting at Eden Baptist Church, Cambridge, CB1 1ER.
Bookings are now closed; if you still wish to attend, please contact Cath via our enquiry form to check availability.
We want the conference to be attended by all, so this year, we have dramatically dropped the price to £20. Do bring along anyone connected with church finances or management.
Although we wish to meet you in person at the conference, we understand that not everyone can attend in person. We have arranged a livestreamed option for those unable to join us physically bookable HERE. This way, you won’t miss out on any of the valuable insights and knowledge shared at the conference.
The 2024 AGM will also take place as part of the Conference. Members attending online will not be able to vote.
We aim to aid churches in their mission to grow the church. By meeting together, we will provide a space where you can hear from industry experts and meet fellow church treasures and trustees. Creating a space for questions and community. Our goal is to equip and inspire churches to fulfil their mission and create a meaningful impact in God’s Church.
We will soon release more details about the conference!
The ACAT conference is ideal for anyone connected with the finances or management of a church. Whether you are the Treasurer, Chair or a Trustee. Whether you are part of a church of 20 or 20,000, there will be something for you.
The programme will be accessible to all, whether you are new to the role or have been there since the church began.
The conference is here to help you gain new knowledge of the world of finance and management in the Church.
Richard leads CAF Bank’s Charity Lending team. He is dedicated to providing a first-class lending service for charities and housing associations, so they can support their beneficiaries further.
His previous experience spans banking and educational finance, through a range of roles including commercial banking, branch and relationship management. Since joining CAF Bank in 2012, Richard has overseen the evolution and growth of CAF Bank’s lending offering, working with a range of innovative and inspiring organisations to help them achieve their goals.
Heather Ford started off her career as a Housing Association Development Manager, project managing large housing projects from inception to completion. Her passion for historic church buildings led her to become a Church Buildings Officer with Manchester Diocese, supporting churches on fundraising campaigns, capital building projects and maintenance programmes.
Now as a Church Support Manager with Ecclesiastical she provides bespoke support and training for churches on a variety of topics including health & safety, insurance, risk management and fundraising. She sees this role very much as a way of supporting and enabling churches to deliver their mission and ministry.
Andrew Robinson MBE, Director, Market Development of CCLA. Prior to joining the Company, Andrew was Head of Community Development Banking for RBS and NatWest, responsible for the not-for-profit and social enterprise sectors. Before joining NatWest, he was the founding Executive Director of the UK’s first community development finance institution to provide loan finance to voluntary and community sector organisations working in the most disadvantaged communities in England.
Paul has spent most of his career, both as an employee and a trustee, in the fundraising, charity, and voluntary services sectors. He is employed by the Diocese of Manchester and is their Diocesan Giving Advisor. Over the last six years, as HMRC agent for the Gift Aid Lite scheme, he has modernised Gift Aid and GASDS claiming using web-based software to maximise individual church claims whilst also ensuring robust audit trails are in place. During the last tax year, the diocese claimed back almost £800k in Gift Aid and GASDS from HMRC on behalf of around 200 churches. Paul has also developed and implemented a diocesan Giving, Generosity, and Thankfulness strategy to support churches develop and enhance this important area of their mission and ministry. This has included organising, developing, and delivering high-quality training for Treasurers, Gift Aid Secretaries, clergy, and laity.
Gavin Smith has 20 years of church management and administration experience. He is passionate about the gospel and strengthening the church by supporting the work that happens behind the scenes. He currently serves as the Church Manager at Christchurch Newport and is the Founder of The Church Office, a CIO designed to support leadership and ministry work that happens behind the scenes. In his spare time, he’s one of the Board Directors of UCAN (UK Church Administrators Network).
Karl Newton is the Deputy CEO of the National Churches Trust, responsible for supporting the Chief Executive in providing strategic and operational leadership for the charity. He joined the charity in 2023, having previously worked at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the University of London and the London School of Economics.
Livia is a charity lawyer at Bates Wells, a charity specialist law firm.
As part of her role, Livia advises a number of faith-based clients, providing support on a range of issues ranging from governance matters to guidance around trustee duties. Livia also regularly advises on matters relating to charity intellectual property.
Prior to joining Bates Wells in 2019, Livia was a paralegal and trainee at Stone King.
| Time | Details |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration |
| 10:00 | Welcome & opening prayer – Chairman of ACAT |
| 10:05 | Introducing our sponsors: – CAF Bank: Richard Hunt – Ecclesiastical: Heather Ford – CCLA: Andrew Robinson ‘Faith Consistent Investing’ |
| 10:45 | Key speaker – Paul Bailey from Manchester Diocese |
| 11:30 | Tea Break – an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 12:00 | Heather Ford from Ecclesiastical |
| 12:40 | Eddie Tulasiewicz – National Churches Trust (TBC) |
| 13:00 | Lunch – an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 13:45 | ACAT AGM 2024 – An update on the work of ACAT and an opportunity to ask questions |
| 14:15 | Q&A sessions: – Richard Hunt – CAF Bank (main room) – Livia Velicu – ACAT – Karl Newton – NCT |
| 15:00 | Break – a final opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 15:15 | Q&A sessions: – Gavin Smith – Church Office (main room) – Heather Ford – Ecclesiastical – Paul Bailey and Others |
| 16:00 | Closing session – Errol Vassell: ACAT Chair |
| 16:30 | Cambridge Heritage Walk – meet at the Round Church (20 places) |
CAF Bank is more than a bank. We are dedicated to supporting charities and social purposes enterprises and understanding the pressures they face. Owned by a charity, the Charities Aid Foundation, we share the ethos of the 14,000 organisations using our banking, deposit account, and lending services. From the one-person causes to the large-scale organisations, we are the bank charities turn to. We believe in the power of good, and in treating the goals of charities as our own.
At Ecclesiastical, church insurance is not just something that we do, it’s our reason for being. You’re choosing real people that really care who know that a church is more than a building and what to do should the worst happen, because we’ve been doing it for 135 years.
CCLA is committed to delivering sustainable returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission. Our philosophy as an asset manager, our aim is to deliver superior, sustainable risk-adjusted returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission.
Since 1985 Data Developments have provided software, services and training for churches, faith-based organisations, foodbanks and charities. Our software and services greatly simplify the accounts, administration and donations work for your organisation and enables you to focus on your mission
Fundraising website easyfundraising turns online shopping into money for your church. When anyone in your church community shops online with any of over 7,500 well known retailers, every purchase they make results in a free monetary donation for your church.
Online since 2003 Liberty Accounts cloud accounting and payroll is designed to meet the requirements of not-for-profits. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it simplifies financial management. From tracking donations to generating reports, Liberty Accounts ensures transparency and compliance, allowing charities to focus on their mission while staying organised and efficient.
With more than three decades’ experience in the charity sector and an unparalleled network of expert consultants to draw on, we are able to provide valuable, cost-effective support across all facets of running not-for-profit organisations including: Charity governance, Strategy development, Fundraising consultancy, Marketing consultancy, Measuring outcomes and impact, Charity recruitment.
ACAT are thrilled to announce that this year’s conference will take place on Saturday, October 19th.
We want the conference to be attended by all, so this year, we have dramatically dropped the price to £20. Do bring along anyone connected with church finances or management.
Bookings are now closed; if you still wish to attend, please contact Cath via our enquiry form to check availability.
The livestream is available for those unable to attend the conference in person. Due to streaming limitations, we will be unable to offer a choice of seminars.
The 2024 AGM will also take place as part of the Conference. Members attending online will not be able to vote.
We aim to aid churches in their mission to grow the church. By meeting together, we will provide a space where you can hear from industry experts and meet fellow church treasures and trustees. Creating a space for questions and community. Our goal is to equip and inspire churches to fulfil their mission and create a meaningful impact in God’s Church.
We will soon release more details about the conference!
The ACAT conference is ideal for anyone connected with the finances or management of a church. Whether you are the Treasurer, Chair or a Trustee. Whether you are part of a church of 20 or 20,000, there will be something for you.
The programme will be accessible to all, whether you are new to the role or have been there since the church began.
The conference is here to help you gain new knowledge of the world of finance and management in the Church.
Richard leads CAF Bank’s Charity Lending team. He is dedicated to providing a first-class lending service for charities and housing associations, so they can support their beneficiaries further.
His previous experience spans banking and educational finance, through a range of roles including commercial banking, branch and relationship management. Since joining CAF Bank in 2012, Richard has overseen the evolution and growth of CAF Bank’s lending offering, working with a range of innovative and inspiring organisations to help them achieve their goals.
Heather Ford started off her career as a Housing Association Development Manager, project managing large housing projects from inception to completion. Her passion for historic church buildings led her to become a Church Buildings Officer with Manchester Diocese, supporting churches on fundraising campaigns, capital building projects and maintenance programmes.
Now as a Church Support Manager with Ecclesiastical she provides bespoke support and training for churches on a variety of topics including health & safety, insurance, risk management and fundraising. She sees this role very much as a way of supporting and enabling churches to deliver their mission and ministry.
Andrew Robinson MBE, Director, Market Development of CCLA. Prior to joining the Company, Andrew was Head of Community Development Banking for RBS and NatWest, responsible for the not-for-profit and social enterprise sectors. Before joining NatWest, he was the founding Executive Director of the UK’s first community development finance institution to provide loan finance to voluntary and community sector organisations working in the most disadvantaged communities in England.
Paul has spent most of his career, both as an employee and a trustee, in the fundraising, charity, and voluntary services sectors. He is employed by the Diocese of Manchester and is their Diocesan Giving Advisor. Over the last six years, as HMRC agent for the Gift Aid Lite scheme, he has modernised Gift Aid and GASDS claiming using web-based software to maximise individual church claims whilst also ensuring robust audit trails are in place. During the last tax year, the diocese claimed back almost £800k in Gift Aid and GASDS from HMRC on behalf of around 200 churches. Paul has also developed and implemented a diocesan Giving, Generosity, and Thankfulness strategy to support churches develop and enhance this important area of their mission and ministry. This has included organising, developing, and delivering high-quality training for Treasurers, Gift Aid Secretaries, clergy, and laity.
Gavin Smith has 20 years of church management and administration experience. He is passionate about the gospel and strengthening the church by supporting the work that happens behind the scenes. He currently serves as the Church Manager at Christchurch Newport and is the Founder of The Church Office, a CIO designed to support leadership and ministry work that happens behind the scenes. In his spare time, he’s one of the Board Directors of UCAN (UK Church Administrators Network).
Karl Newton is the Deputy CEO of the National Churches Trust, responsible for supporting the Chief Executive in providing strategic and operational leadership for the charity. He joined the charity in 2023, having previously worked at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the University of London and the London School of Economics.
Livia is a charity lawyer at Bates Wells, a charity specialist law firm.
As part of her role, Livia advises a number of faith-based clients, providing support on a range of issues ranging from governance matters to guidance around trustee duties. Livia also regularly advises on matters relating to charity intellectual property.
Prior to joining Bates Wells in 2019, Livia was a paralegal and trainee at Stone King.
| Time | Details |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration |
| 10:00 | Welcome & opening prayer – Chairman of ACAT |
| 10:05 | Introducing our sponsors: – CAF Bank: Richard Hunt – Ecclesiastical: Heather Ford – CCLA: Andrew Robinson ‘Faith Consistent Investing’ |
| 10:45 | Key speaker – Paul Bailey from Manchester Diocese |
| 11:30 | Tea Break – an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 12:00 | Heather Ford from Ecclesiastical |
| 12:40 | Eddie Tulasiewicz – National Churches Trust (TBC) |
| 13:00 | Lunch – an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 13:45 | ACAT AGM 2024 – An update on the work of ACAT and an opportunity to ask questions |
| 14:15 | Q&A sessions: – Richard Hunt – CAF Bank (main room) – Livia Velicu – ACAT – Karl Newton – NCT |
| 15:00 | Break – a final opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 15:15 | Q&A sessions: – Gavin Smith – Church Office (main room) – Heather Ford – Ecclesiastical – Paul Bailey and Others |
| 16:00 | Closing session – Errol Vassell: ACAT Chair |
| 16:30 | Cambridge Heritage Walk – meet at the Round Church (20 places) |
CAF Bank is more than a bank. We are dedicated to supporting charities and social purposes enterprises and understanding the pressures they face. Owned by a charity, the Charities Aid Foundation, we share the ethos of the 14,000 organisations using our banking, deposit account, and lending services. From the one-person causes to the large-scale organisations, we are the bank charities turn to. We believe in the power of good, and in treating the goals of charities as our own.
At Ecclesiastical, church insurance is not just something that we do, it’s our reason for being. You’re choosing real people that really care who know that a church is more than a building and what to do should the worst happen, because we’ve been doing it for 135 years.
CCLA is committed to delivering sustainable returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission. Our philosophy as an asset manager, our aim is to deliver superior, sustainable risk-adjusted returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission.
Since 1985 Data Developments have provided software, services and training for churches, faith-based organisations, foodbanks and charities. Our software and services greatly simplify the accounts, administration and donations work for your organisation and enables you to focus on your mission
Fundraising website easyfundraising turns online shopping into money for your church. When anyone in your church community shops online with any of over 7,500 well known retailers, every purchase they make results in a free monetary donation for your church.
Online since 2003 Liberty Accounts cloud accounting and payroll is designed to meet the requirements of not-for-profits. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it simplifies financial management. From tracking donations to generating reports, Liberty Accounts ensures transparency and compliance, allowing charities to focus on their mission while staying organised and efficient.
With more than three decades’ experience in the charity sector and an unparalleled network of expert consultants to draw on, we are able to provide valuable, cost-effective support across all facets of running not-for-profit organisations including: Charity governance, Strategy development, Fundraising consultancy, Marketing consultancy, Measuring outcomes and impact, Charity recruitment.
We’ve got an brilliant opportunity coming up for someone with a knack for helping others and a passion for keeping on top of changing info. specifically, we need someone to answer membership queries, and to help us keep the ACAT website up to date.
With Peter leaving us in February, we’re now on the look out for someone to step into his shoes. The role is pretty varied but essentially involves answering questions that come in through our helpline, updating the website (including some FAQs), and making sure our resources are always up to date with the latest legal requirements and best practice.
It’s a fantastic chance to play a key role in supporting the ACAT membership. A really rewarding job that’ll give you plenty of variety and satisfaction. A full job description is downloadable below. If you want to give it a go, send your CV to Ashley Ellis. All the details you need are in the job description if you want to learn more.
We are delighted to announce that bookings are now open for our 2022 Conference, taking place on Saturday 22nd October 2022.
After a two year break, this year our Conference will take place in person once again at Central Hall Westminster, in London. There is also an opportunity to join us via Livestream for those who cannot attend in person.
The Conference is a key part of our training calendar, and this year is once again a great opportunity to learn from specialists in the world of church finance, and meet with other church accountants and treasurers.
This year, our speakers and workshop leaders include representatives from ECCR, the Generous Giving Team at the Diocese of York, Bates Wells Solicitors, the National Churches Trust, and ACIE.
The Conference will also include our AGM, an opportunity to hear more about ACAT’s work and use your voice to shape the future of the organisation.
We are very grateful to our sponsors for making this Conference possible. This year, our two main sponsors are CCLA and CAF Bank.
Find out more and book your place at the Conference here.
To access the Conference via Livestream, book your virtual place here.
Churches Mutual Credit Union is a financial co‑operative created by and for the Church community. This new partnership opens the door to ethical savings and affordable loans designed to support both individuals and church bodies.
https://www.churchesmutual.co.uk/
1. Individual Membership
ACAT members can now open their own personal savings accounts with Churches Mutual. These savings are:
Your savings don’t just sit in an account, they actively support others who need affordable credit across the Church community.
https://churchesmutual.cuaccount.com/join/
2. Church Savings Accounts
Church bodies can also join as corporate members. Which in addition to the above are:
https://www.churchesmutual.co.uk/loans/corporate-membership-application-form/
Churches Mutual operates on a simple but powerful principle: members support members. Funds deposited with the credit union are used in solidarity to offer affordable, responsible loans to others within the Church community. This keeps money circulating ethically and strengthens the financial resilience of churches and individuals alike.
Churches Mutual offers a range of competitive loans that are tailored to real‑life needs, including:
All loans are offered at fair, transparent rates, with decisions made by people who understand the Church context.
By joining Churches Mutual, ACAT members become part of a growing movement committed to stewardship, mutual support, and ethical finance. Whether you’re looking for a safe place to save or a responsible way to borrow, Churches Mutual exists to serve the Church family.
ACAT has changed our banking provider…
We now bank with Triodos Bank, which specialises in “sustainable financial products”.
Triodos was established specifically to enable individuals and organisations to use their money in ways that benefit both people and the environment.
Ashley Ellis, ACAT’s Executive Officer, said: “We’re delighted to be banking with Triodos Bank whose ethos is truly inspiring.
“Rest assured that ACAT will always seek to ensure that our banking is undertaken appropriately and responsibly.”
Most ACAT members will not need to do anything as a result of ACAT’s switch to Triodos.
However, those who pay their annual membership by standing order will be informed by their bank that the payment details have changed. In addition, ACAT’s Membership Officer will be in touch around the time of your renewal to confirm the new banking details.
Triodos Bank UK recently attained the Ethical Company Award from The Good Shopping Guide and has been ranked at the top of their Ethical Banks & Building Societies Ratings Table scoring 100/100.
The Good Shopping Guide was set up to help people make informed decisions about which brands are best for the planet, best for animals and best for people.
Its ambition is to get broad engagement and make the ethical shopping movement a more powerful force for good than ever before.
The Good Shopping Guide team praised Triodos Bank’s proactive approach to environmental matters and public support for sustainable banking as a member of organisations such as The Climate Coalition and Green Alliance.
Triodos was also commended for strong people-related criteria, due to having strict ethical standards that prevent irresponsible lending and not using political donations in an attempt to unduly influence the democratic system.
Commitment to an equal level of treatment and inclusion for all customers and employees was refelcted in certifications and participation, including as a Disability Confident Committed Employer, Living Wage Employer and signatory of the Women in Business Charter and Women in Finance Charter.
