Session description:

When it comes to partnerships, many charities tend to focus solely on corporate fundraising or grant-funding to deliver projects. However, the modern partnership needs an approach that focuses on deeper, more transformative collaboration - and allows both to jointly diagnose the issues at hand, achieve shared goals of social change, as well as invest in and build capacity for innovation. 

Talking points 

Transformative collaberation

Diagnosing the problems and Defining your shared goals 

Keeping communities at the heart.

Speaker: Steven McIntosh, Chief Partnerships Officer, Macmillan

Given the current economic landscape, it is important for charities to be prepared and stay ahead. In this session, we will share our perspectives on key financial warning signs for charity trustees and leaders. We will also cover how charities can proactively identify risks and take action at the appropriate time to ensure financial resilience. Charities should feel empowered to be proactive in dealing with financial challenges to enable them to deliver their charitable purpose. 

Speakers: 

Daniel Chan, Partner, PwC

David Baxendale, Partner, PwC

This session discusses UNICEF’s Every Child Circle, which brings together like-minded individuals who share a vision for the future – a world in which every child has an equitable chance in life.

UNICEF UK’s flagship mid-level philanthropy programme has been through a number of iterations since its inauguration in 2005 as Global Guardians and Hannah is pleased to talk about the challenges, learnings, and changes made in the last five years with peers in the philanthropy sector.

Come along to learn how UNICEF UK engages major donors in unrestricted and multi-year giving.

Speaker: Hannah Thami, Philanthropy Manager, Unicef 

The cost of living crisis has been one of the biggest challenges for animal welfare for decades. Worryingly, the RSPCA's 2024 Animal Kindness Index found almost eight in ten pet owners (78%) felt that pet ownership had become more expensive over the last year. In this tough financial climate, pet owners are having to make heartbreaking choices and the RSPCA has really felt the impact too - with more animals coming into our care, rehoming rates having slowed in recent years; and more reports of animals being abandoned as costs spiral.

The RSPCA has been doing everything we can to keep pets in loving homes - and that's why we're so pleased to have partnered with Smart Energy GB to support our work in food banks. Find out how this innovative partnership has delivered real impact for pet owners in crisis.

Talking points:

• Thinking outside the box - so what does animal welfare have to do with smart meters anyway?
• Help where it’s needed - reaching low-income and digitally excluded audiences in a way they trust.
• Key learnings - heroes, hiccups and horizon.

Speaker: 

• Ellen Camillin, Senior Corporate Development Manager, RSPCA
• Gem Desouza, Corporate Partnerships Manager, RSPCA

The session will introduce you to budgeting, cash flow, forecasting, risk and reserves, and is designed to break down barriers to understanding financial terminology, financial management tools and data.

Talking points

• Building blocks of financial management
• Risky business
• Rainy day reserves

Speaker: Caron Bradshaw OBE, CEO, Charity Finance Group

The journey of a charity to become net zero through a refurbishment and choice of sustainable materials.

Speaker: Stephanie Maurel, CEO, The Corporation Of The Church House (Church of England)

How can you boost your charities efforts through a corperate partnership? Join us to hear 

overview of how the partnerships process works and weighing up when to take a financial vs a services partnership. 

Talking points: 

• Winning the pitch 
• Onboarding and relationship process 
• How to build a working corporate relationship
• Partnership retention 
• Extending and nurturing existing relationships 

Speaker: Daniel Valentine, Head of Communications at The Chartered Governance Institute

We don’t need to rehash the turmoil we all went through during Covid – this is about what happened next

What changes can we quickly implement?

Talking Points

Early results

Where are we now?

Where do we want to get to?

Reflections

Speakers:

Helen Slee, Supporter Led Fundraising Lead,  Save the Children UK

Lisa Aubrey, Director of Community Fundraising & Engagement, Save the Children

Cats Protection showcases the details of the process behind their successful rebrand, which launched nearly 2 years ago and how this has brought people together and had a positive impact on cats. 

Talking points:

• Assessing whether you need a rebrand
• Process - What makes an effective rebrand
• Brand Health metrics 
• The impact this has had internally, on recruitment and importantly on cats. 

Speaker: Nicola Shepherd, Head of Brand and Marketing, Cats Protection

Partnership is a strange word, isn't it? For me, it brings to mind Hugh Grant in Love Actually, talking about the 'special relationship' and how that 'covers all manner of sins'. So how, in this world where 'partnership' can often mean contract, exploitation, unequal relationship, and lots of other unproductive things, do we actually practice partnership?

At Shelter, we have a number of national partners, who we are delighted to work with around the country, and dozens of local ones that help enable our Community Fundraising team to flourish. Tim Baker, our Senior Community Fundraising Area Manager for the North of England shares some of the successes, some of the challenges, and some of the ways of creating lasting, relational, partnerships that bring a real impact.

Speaker: Tim Baker, Senior Community Fundraising Area Manager for the North of England, Shelter

Is there more to an appeal than reaching the fundraising target? The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s £70m Oak Cancer Centre Appeal enabled The Royal Marsden to create a space that brought researchers, clinicians and patients under one roof for the first time. The new centre has transformed the way clinicians and researchers work and enhanced patients’ experience. The appeal also helped the Charity build an infrastructure to support much more in the future.

Antonia will discuss the successful delivery of the appeal, the highlights, key learnings and what is next for the Charity.

Talking points:

• What the appeal set out to achieve
• The strategy
• The appeal timeline
• The patient impact of the Oak Cancer Centre
• The future

Speaker: Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity 

What do The Lionesses, the Rugby World Cup, Liz Truss' resignation speech, heatwaves, and the Olympics have in common?

They’ve all been unexpected springboards for Christian Aid campaigns tackling inequality and injustice.

In a world of constant noise, cutting through with meaningful messages is harder than ever. By tapping into headline moments and riding the wave of public conversation, Christian Aid has achieved surprising impact.

Join Kim for an inside look at their bold brand marketing journey complete with lessons learned, real campaign examples, and ideas you can take away for your own work.

Speaker: Kim Roberts, Brand Marketing & Creative Lead, Christian Aid

Over the past 4 years, this partnership has been transformative for Alzheimer’s Society, increasing brand awareness, signposting more people than ever to dementia information, and raising over £1million for research and support services. Find out more about how these organisations collaborated to create a partnership with real impact.

Talking points:

• Building a partnership with impact – how we build campaigns that appeal to fans and show tangible impact for people affected by dementia.
• Involving England players to help build awareness of symptoms of dementia.
• Keeping fans part of the game for as long as possible – announcing Wembley Stadium as the first dementia-friendly national stadium, and creating a community café at the stadium for residents affected by dementia from underserved communities.

Speaker: Sarah Greenwood, Corporate Account Manager, Alzheimer's Society

Improving charities inclusion of marginalised communities in fundraising is crucial in these challenging times. The opportunity to move away from tokenism and improve inclusion of marginalised communities’ views and insights, would help hit a vital social justice aim and raise more funds.

Join Islamic Relief UK to discuss the importance of authentic inclusivity and trust building when it comes to raising funds with marginalised communities. 

Speaker: Zia Salik, Director of Fundraising, Islamic Relief UK

Legislative and policy frameworks expect that, as statutory and third sector organisations, we will work effectively together. 

We know that this would make our processes more person-centred, cost-effectively, and time managed.  

Yet, due to having less and needing to do more, we may continue to behave reactively – instead of intentionally.  

The discussion will present the Gloucester Hoarding Initiative’s innovative joint working model.

Speaker: Megan Karnes, Founder/Chair, Hoarding UK 

This session will explore the strategies and insights required to cultivate successful and enduring corporate partnerships within the charity sector. Drawing on real-world experience, we will delve into how initial collaborations can evolve into long-term relationships that deliver significant social impact.

Talking Points:

Aligning Values and Outcomes: Understand the needs of corporate partners and how to deliver on both purpose and partnership objectives.

Start Small, Scale Big: Learn how a pilot project can grow into a lasting, impactful partnership.

Innovating at Magic Bus : Discover how to use initiatives like sports and life skills to create engaging and scalable programs that resonate with both partners and beneficiaries.

Leveraging Global Brand Equity: Explore strategies for working with well-known brands while maintaining authenticity and community-first impact.

How to Build Trust That Lasts: Discuss the essential elements of long-term partnerships, including shared purpose, transparency, and consistent communication.

Speaker: Ned Wills, Trustee, Magic Bus

14:15-14:35

Case Study: Banham and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity partnership

Representatives from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity will talk about the Charity’s flagship fundraising event, The Banham Marsden March, which had its most successful year yet in 2025. They will discuss how having the support of their sponsor, Banham, has helped the event to develop over the past 10 years and the difference that this has made for patients at The Royal Marsden and around the world.

Talking points:

Mass participation events

Corporate sponsorship

Long-term partnership development

Speaker: 

Amy Mullins, Head of Community Fundraising, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

Madeleine Buckley, Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

Our panellists discuss strategies for fundraising going into 2026, what does it take to navigate the cost of living crisis?

What do our panellists foresee affecting the sector? Are we still in a phase of post-COVID recovery or have financial issues moved past this? 

This session will provide tangible takeaways you can implement going forward and how you can do this on a limited budget? 

Speakers: 

Tim Baker, Senior Community Fundraising Area Manager for the North of England, Shelter

Henry Ellinger-Gane, Head of partnerships, Whizz - Kidz 

Duro Oye, CEO, 2020 Levels

Matt Wenham , Director of Fundraising, Amref Health Africa UK 

Moderator: Terence Lovell, Fundraising & Engagement Director, BreakthroughT1D

Talking points:

• Balancing the importance of clear, consistent messaging with the need to flex to your audience
• Playing to your organisational strengths and how collaboration can elevate your campaign
• The value of involving and showcasing people’s stories in your advocacy
• Standing out and getting cut through in a crowded space

Speaker: Alex Kenney, Head of Government and External Affairs, British Heart Foundation

14:15-14:35

Case study: Voices of the exploited campaign. 

Join Link To Change CEO Hayley Brown, who discusses the processes of how to make your own campaign in-house. 

Talking points:

How in-house campaigns are done in comparison to the larger charities 

How you can make your own materials 

How to measure the success and impact of your campaign.

Speaker: Jessica Nuttal, Communications and Fundraising Coordinator. Link to Change