10:25 - 10:45
RSPCA & Smart Energy GB - Building a strategic partnership to support pet owners during the cost of living crisis
Partnerships
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
10:25 - 10:45
Presentation: A no-nonsense insight into the world of charity finance.
Finance & Fundraising
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
10:25 - 10:45
Case study: Check back later for more session info!
Charities showcase
More session info to follow soon!
11:15 - 11:35
Presentation: Creating value through strategic alliances
Partnerships
Talking points:
- Overview of how the process works
- Weighing up when to take a financial vs a services partnership
- Winning the pitch
- Onboarding and relationship process
- How to build a working corporate relationship
- Partnership retention
- Extending that relationship
Speaker: Daniel Valentine, Head of Communications at The Chartered Governance Institute
11:15 - 11:35
Case study: Save the Children, Project Evolution – Recovery leading to growth
Finance & Fundraising
We don’t need to rehash the turmoil we all went through during Covid – this is about what happened next
What changes we quickly implement
Talking Points
- Early results
- Where are we now?
- Where do we want to get to?
- Reflections
Speaker:
- Helen Slee, Supporter Led Fundraising Lead, Save the Children UK
- Lisa Aubrey, Director of Community Fundraising & Engagement, Save the Children
11:15 - 11:35
Case study: The rebrand.
Charities showcase
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
12:00 - 12:25
Case study: Football Should Be Unforgettable: Building a Strategic Charity Partnership with The FA
Partnerships
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
12:00 - 12:25
Case study: Doubling income in a time of declining donations
Finance & Fundraising
Join Islamic Relief UK, who discuss how they have been able to double their worldwide income over the past 2 -3 years, at a time when the sector has seen donations decline. This will be a case study presentation of their achievements, followed by a Q&A session.
Talking points:
- Context
- Overview of methods
- Tips and tricks on how you can implement these strategies in your charity
- Conclusion and looking to the future
Speaker: Zia Salik, Director of Fundraising, Islamic Relief UK
12:00 - 12:25
Case study: Joint working models - HoardingUK
Charities showcase
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
13:45 - 14:25
Panel discussion: Partnerships
Partnerships
More information coming soon.
13:45 - 14:25
Panel: Fundraising strategies - What you need to know for 2026.
Finance & Fundraising
Having heard case studies and stories of success at navigating the cost of living crisis and post-COVID recovery, our panellists discuss strategies for fundraising going into 2026, what they foresee affecting the sector and tangible takeaways you can implement going forward
How do you this on a limited budget
Speakers: TBA
Moderator: Third Sector Editorial Team TBC
13:45 - 14:05
Case study: Voices of the exploited campaign.
Charities showcase
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: Hayley Brown, CEO, Link to Change
14:05 - 14:25
Case study: Session pending
Charities showcase
More information coming soon.