Charity leaders from across the south gathered to meet in Winchester for a second annual think tank.

The event, hosted by Chandler's Ford-based HWB Chartered Accountants and Charisma Charity Recruitment, took place at the Hotel du Vin and featured a discussion on the various challenges currently facing regional charities.

Among the pressing issues deliberated were the cost of living crisis, difficulties in fundraising, sourcing new income streams, attracting and retaining talented staff and utilising the latest technology.

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The discussion was chaired by Adam Stacey, managing director of Winchester's Charisma Charity Recruitment and saw charity bosses from a variety of central south-based organisations.

Charities involved spanned areas such as mental health, housing, seafaring, life-saving, loans for older people, wildlife, homelessness, active lives, the arts and education.

Michaela, a participant, said: "Our volatile economic climate and cost of living crisis has made it an extremely difficult period for the south’s charities, particularly in terms of fundraising and identifying new revenue streams.

“Leaders have got to be a bit savvy in the modern world, perhaps utilising AI in writing bids for fundraising and being at the forefront of embracing the best new technology as they strive to constantly find new ways of delivering their services with less.”

Another participant said: "An event like today is an opportunity to get shared learning, peer-to-peer engagement and collaboration and it is a privilege for the two host organisations to facilitate this type of meeting."

“Recruitment in the charity sector remains volatile with a severe talent shortage at the moment. We are seeing more fundraisers leaving the sector and going to work in commercial or private settings."

He added: “In the short term we will probably see more charity mergers and acquisitions, as well as collaborations, with people working together to deliver services to the same high standards as in the past.

“However, we have a resilient sector that has stood the test of time and will still be here, committed to delivering the best services that it can within the budgets it has.”