Professionals combine to help charities invest to greater effect
PROFESSIONALS in the West Midlands have joined forces to launch a series of events aimed at helping charitable and voluntary organisations to invest their funds wisely to maximise the yield.
The Charity Trustees Investors Association (CTIA) is an independent group of professionals who share a common interest in promoting awareness and sharing knowledge of investment-related issues within the third sector.
A new Birmingham based event is being launched on April 25 to help the thousands of charities within the West Midlands and across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, to make more informed investment decisions.
Across these areas alone there are around 18,000 registered charities, with more than 179,000 registered charities across England and Wales, bringing in an annual income of some £56bn.
The CTIA aims to support charity trustees, finance directors and other not-for-profit professionals who are involved with making investment decisions by providing regular educational, informative and challenging debates.
Taking place at the offices of Groundwork UK, in Scotland Street, the first CTIA Breakfast Symposium will kick off a series of regular events set to bring together senior charity professionals, trustees, fund managers, solicitors and specialist charity investment advisors to discuss the issues surrounding investment.
Simon Williams, CITA chairman, said: “It is estimated that within the UK, charities hold investments worth a total of around £56bn. Investment strategies play a major role in providing the income that enables many charities to deliver their activities.
“These planned events will specifically focus on charity investment related matters and will be aimed at helping trustees and finance directors manage their responsibilities. Since launching the CTIA website we have received considerable interest from charity professionals wanting to join us and attend our launch event.”
The Breakfast Symposium will feature a range of guest speakers from charities, financial institutions and solicitors, who will encourage lively debate and networking.
Paul Viles, from Groundwork UK, said: “We are pleased to be hosting the first event at our Birmingham offices. As a national environmental charity, we know the importance of making sound investments which will yield good returns so we can maximise the funds we have available to improve communities.”
