We had a chat with Gerry Morrison at Rollits about the HEY Charity podcast and what charitable organisations can learn from December’s episode.
The HEY Charity podcast launched in November to coincide with Trustees Week. Created by local law firm Rollits in partnership with the HEY Smile Foundation , this free resource is recorded and edited by Beverley FM and is available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Soundcloud, Mixcloud, YouTube Music, and Apple Podcasts. December’s episode focuses on fundraising, which is a key topic for charities of all shapes and sizes.
“We wanted to shine a spotlight on fundraising, especially at this time of year, because it’s an essential activity for charities and not-for-profits to fulfil their missions,” said Gerry Morrison, Partner and Head of Charities at Rollits. “In the latest episode, my colleague Harriet Wheeldon and I look at the legality around fundraising and how charity law regulates it. We also talk about what trustees need to be aware of, especially around reputational issues and their appeal literature, as any information they put out has to be carefully worded.”
Joining Gerry and Harriet is Sophie Bartup from the HEY Smile Foundation. Episode two includes an interview with Andy Haynes from Age UK about his wide-ranging experience in fundraising. Andy started out as a volunteer for a local charity on Christmas Day when he was 17 years old, which sparked his interest in the charity sector. He is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Hull and East Yorkshire branch of Age UK, which became famous thanks to the dedication of the late Jean Bishop, Hull’s celebrated Bee Lady.
“People give to people, so it’s important to have that personal connection,” explained Gerry. “When fundraising is fun and interesting, it results in more empathy and a higher chance of people giving money either as a one-off donation or ongoing support. The same applies to businesses, as a strong fundraising campaign is integral to gaining corporate sponsors and spreading the word far and wide.”
The next podcast episode, to be released in January, will focus on trustee recruitment and include an interview with Deb Oxley, the Chair of Trustees at Cat Zero. Additional episodes will then continue to be released on a monthly basis, with the possibility of an ongoing series.
If you’re involved in a charitable organisation and need expert advice, you can find out more about charity legal services provided by Rollits.