Learning Seminars & Events
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Learning Seminars & Events
The Foundation is keen to learn from the work it funds and wants to share this learning with others. Regular learning seminars and events are organised which bring together organisations working in a particular field to focus on a specific issue. The aim of these seminars is to share, learn and reflect on practice. Below are summary reports of these events.
Funding campaigning & policy work: the philanthropy of changing minds
In November 2008 City Parochial Foundation and the Baring Foundation convened an event for independent funders to consider the issues and challenges of funding campaigning and policy work.
There was general agreement that the issues facing society cannot be solved by charitable foundations funding service delivery alone. Whether our aim is to promote education, tackle climate change, improve housing, reduce inequalities or tackle poverty we need far greater resources than the annual £2 billion that UK foundations collectively distribute. This requires influencing the public, civil society, business and government. As such, campaigning and policy work is an important part of our power to achieve change. There were presentations from two key speakers:
Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, gave a passionate account of why support from independent charitable foundations is so critical for campaigning organisations. She contended that funding campaigning is crucial to democracy because without independent voices, democracy is undermined.
Caroline Cooke, Head of Policy Engagement and Foresight at the Charity Commission, sought to dispel the persistent myth that the Commission could or should be a reason for charities not to campaign or funders not to fund campaigning. Charities can campaign and carry out political activity, indeed, the Charity Commission sees both as key ways in which charities make a difference. It is a legitimate approach, within the legal framework.
There were also workshops from Shehnaaz Latif from Charities Evaluation Service, Tris Lumley from New Philanthropy Capital, Catherine Howarth from Fair Pensions, Barry Knight from Centris, and Laura Cheeseman from the Cluster Munitions Coalition.
Further information on this seminar can be downloaded in pdf format below:
Infrastructure needs of the Somali community in London
In November 2008, a seminar was organised to explore the infrastructure needs of the Somali community in London.
Further information on this seminar can be downloaded in pdf format below:
What are the infrastructure support needs of Somali community organisations.pdf
Employment opportunities for disabled people
In February and April 2008 we focused on employment opportunities for disabled people. Two seminars were organised so that organisations working to support people with learning difficulties and mental health issues into employment could share their knowledge and experience, and identify areas where both policy and practice could be improved.
Further information on these seminars can be downloaded in pdf format below:
How can we improve employment opportunities for people with learning difficulties.pdf
How people with mental health issues can be supported into employment.pdf
Further information about the Foundation can be found in a range of publications including annual Grants Reviews