NPC has been on the front cover of Third Sector magazine [the UK charitable sector's weekly trade publication] twice during May – once for our trusteeship report and once for Martin’s speech to a conference of charity finance directors. Both appearances have contained a critical stance on charities (for their governance and their willingness to measure performance).
At the end of this week, we are sure to get more attention as we launch a report on mergers between charities.
The mergers report has not been written to stir up controversy. It is an attempt to add something to a very current debate and offer an unbiased view of what is happening, and what is not happening. Of course press coverage may ride roughshod over the nuances of our argument – but that is the risk you always run.
NPC is committed to helping create a more effective charity sector and that is the spirit in which the paper has been written. It names names – both examples of previous mergers and examples where we believe there may be a ‘compelling case to consider merger’. Importantly, we are not telling charities to merge – this is up to trustees and is not our job or anyone else’s. The suggestions given in the report have not been plucked out of the air but are based on our detailed research into sub-sectors of charities.
The organisations named in the report have seen the text where they are mentioned and had chance to comment on it. Interestingly, their reactions have varied from ‘positively neutral’ to, understandably, upset. After publication, this blog will offer them the opportunity to put their perspectives on what has been written.
As always when publishing a report, we have faced a difficult dilemma of balancing upsides and possible downsides. Because of this, I look forward to the end of the week with some trepidation. If the report achieves what we hope then it will create a more positive conversation about the place for mergers in our sector.
