CharitEpulse

Hosted by Quilter Cheviot

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Join Charles Mesquita of Quilter Cheviot, Catherine Rustomji of Shakespeare Martineau and James Saunders of Moore Kingston Smith as they discuss and dissect topical issues affecting charities, nonprofits and voluntary organisations. This commentary has been produced for information purposes only and isn’t intended to constitute financial advice; investments referred to may not be suitable for all recipients. Any mention of a specific security should not be interpreted as a solicitation to buy or sell a specific security. This material is not tax, legal or accounting advice and should not be relied on for tax, legal or accounting purposes. Quilter Cheviot Limited does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting adviser(s) before engaging in any transaction. Investors should remember that the value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up and that past performance is no guarantee of future return. You may not recover what you invest. Quilter Cheviot and Quilter Cheviot Investment Management are trading names of Quilter Cheviot Limited, Quilter Cheviot International Limited and Quilter Cheviot Europe Limited. Quilter Cheviot International is a trading name of Quilter Cheviot International Limited. Quilter Cheviot Limited is registered in England and Wales with number 01923571, registered office at Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4AB. Quilter Cheviot Limited is a member of the London Stock Exchange, authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and as an approved Financial Services Provider by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa. Quilter Cheviot International Limited is registered in Jersey with number 128676, registered office at 3rd Floor, Windward House, La Route de la Liberation, St Helier, JE1 1QJ, Jersey and is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission and as an approved Financial Services Provider by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa. Quilter Cheviot Europe Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and is registered in Ireland with number 643307, registered office at Hambleden House, 19-26 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin D02 WV96.

Listen to episodes

46 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 4422 min

CharitEpulse: Charities under pressure - policy, governance and commissioning challenges

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:Policy and sector support: recent government announcements offered limited detail for the charity sector, with little clarity on social care funding or cost-of-living support, highlighting ongoing questions around sector advocacy.Conflicts of interest in focus: updated Charity Commission (CC29) guidance reinforces the importance of robust governance, including clear declaration of interests, appropriate management of conflicts, and awareness of reputational considerations.Challenges for small charities: research from the Charity Excellence Framework highlights the pressures facing smaller organisations, alongside the need to recognise their value and explore opportunities to strengthen capacity and resilience.Public sector commissioning: concerns remain around complex and resource-intensive bidding processes, short contract cycles, and funding constraints, raising questions about how commissioning can better support sustainable partnerships. Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

May 11, 2026Episode 4326 min

CharitEpulse: From legal pressures to culture concerns

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:The Government’s £1m roadmap for place‑based philanthropySentebale’s defamation case involving Prince Harry and a founding trusteeAllegations of a toxic workplace culture at NCVODuke of Edinburgh’s Award a great British success storySubscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

March 30, 2026Episode 4219 min

CharitEpulse: Trustees wanted - Are expectations [being set] too high?

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:The scale of the charity sector: headline figures that underline the importance of charities and trustees across the UKThe Charity Commission’s powers: its role in tackling extremism and whether further powers are neededThe voice of small charities: concerns that smaller organisations are being overlooked in government debatesTrustee recruitment and training: informal appointment practices and whether greater structure is realistic for voluntary roles.Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

March 18, 2026Episode 4136 min

CharitEpulse: Boards, CEOs & Culture

In this special episode of CharitEpulse, the trio are joined by Sharon Davies, founder of The Good Place Co and former CEO of Young Enterprise, who brings over 30 years of experience in the not for profit sector.Sharon shares insights from her work at The Good Place Co, whose mission is to strengthen organisational impact for small to medium-sized charities by co‑designing sustainable leadership support systems.The episode features a Q&A discussion, exploring:Building effective and trusting relationships between CEOs and trustee boardsThe importance of robust pre‑boarding and onboarding processesTeam dynamics and what helps make relationships truly effectiveThe distinction between coaching and mentoring, and when each is most valuableThe invisible thread between organisational culture, values, and leadership behaviours.Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

February 20, 2026Episode 3924 min

CharitEpulse: From CEO conflict to cryptocurrency challenges

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:Railway charity leadership dispute - CEO resigns after governance tensions around non‑executive and executive rolesPrime Minister's proposed regulatory powers - Plans to give the Charity Commission stronger powers to close charitiesGrowing focus on impact reporting - David Holdsworth, CEO of the Charity Commission, urges charities to deliver more meaningful impact reporting under new SORPFraud trends shifting - Reported decrease in fraud incidents but expectations of increased cyber‑related risk growCrypto donations and "semi-unrestricted" funds - Mind receives $10 million donation, challenges of accepting cryptocurrency, and confusion over "semi-unrestricted" terminology.Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

February 4, 2026Episode 3824 min

CharitEpulse: Regulatory delays and filing failures

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:Government launches £11.59m Local Covenant Partnerships Fund targeting 15 disadvantaged areasCharity Commission uses extremely rare legal powers to merge two mosque charitiesLate charity account filings surge 51% to 17,773, raising governance concernsCharity Commission recruiting 80 new staff as budget rises 27% to address ‘extraordinary’ demandFundraising Regulator reports Community Interest Companies (CICs) related complaints rising to 18%, driven by door‑to‑door and street fundraising issues.Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

January 20, 2026Episode 3725 min

CharitEpulse: Diversity, disclosure and debt

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the trio discuss:The Sackler Trust: Whether redacting information in charity accounts is ever a good idea, and the transparency issues it raises.Henry Smith Foundation: A new initiative to boost trustee board diversity, launched in partnership with several sector organisations.National Fund: The future of a 1928 fund, now worth £607m, originally established to help pay off the national debt following the First World War.ACEVO & The Covenant: The growing pressures on charity CEOs and what measures could genuinely support sector leadership.Wellcome: A near £40bn investment portfolio alongside a charitable spending rate of around 5%.Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

December 16, 2025Episode 3625 min

CharitEpulse: New leadership, 2025 highlights and what’s next for 2026

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the hosts discuss:New leadership at the Charity Commission: Dame Julia Unwin’s appointment brings a wealth of experience and a pledge to make the Commission more decisive.Charity inquiry update: HMRC and the Charity Commission investigate 105 charities, with 32 under scrutiny for financial mismanagement.2025 in review and 2026 outlook: The trio reflect on the sector’s key challenges in 2025 and share hopes for the year ahead.Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

December 15, 2025Episode 3525 min

CharitEpulse: From Budget strains to prize draw politics

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the hosts discuss some of the most pressing issues shaping the charity sector today:Autumn Budget: Why charities may feel the pinch more than most following the recent Budget announcement.Home Secretary’s plan for migrant volunteering: Over 300 charities have signed a letter rejecting the plan, calling it “immoral and impractical”.Trustee diversity and development: Calls for better learning and development to recruit and retain trustees. Could a buddy system help?New SORP impact reporting: The latest accounting standards require impact reporting for charities with income over £15 million.Prize draw politics: A new voluntary code for prize draw operators. Should money given to charities be treated as donations or costs of business?Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/

December 3, 2025Episode 3427 min

CharitEpulse: New SORP, new thresholds, new leadership

In this episode of CharitEpulse, the hosts discuss some of the most pressing issues shaping the charity sector today: Companies House transition from registrar to regulator: New verification requirements for company directors.New charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice): three-tier approach based on income levels, changes to income recognition and lease accounting.Charity audit and accounting thresholds: Audit threshold increased from £1 million to £1.5 million income. Independent examination threshold raised from £25,000 to £40,000. Accrual accounts threshold increased from £250,000 to £500,000Updated Charity Governance Code: Now includes 8 principles (up from 7), with new emphasis on ethics, culture, and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).New Charity Commission Chair appointment: Dame Julia Unwin has been named as the government’s preferred candidate, subject to Select Committee approval.Subscribe to our monthly charity newsletter (trustEnews) for more sector news and Quilter Cheviot insights: https://www.quiltercheviot.com/subscribe/