News
- Annual Conference report 2008
- Volunteer Transfer Scheme
- Lobbying update
- Dates for your diary
- nfpSynergy updates
- QMA survey, April-June 2008 - FINAL REMINDER
- BRC Retail Sales Monitor, April 2008
- Advertorial: Coffin Mew LLP
- Other news
- Bulletin insert: Bristol Textile Recyclers Ltd
Annual Conference report 2008
This year’s Conference was once again rated successful and popular with delegates and exhibitors alike. Our 9th UK-wide event attracted over 400 people to Keele Conference Park on 7 and 8 July. We would like to thank the Conference sponsors Bristol Textile Recyclers and Precycle Group (who also sponsored the Drinks Reception) with support from 1st Waste Management and all who attended for helping to make the two days informative, valuable and enjoyable for all. A more detailed report on the event including Award winners can be found on the Conference page of our website.
You can also watch a slideshow of Awards winners 2008.
Directory of Suppliers and Services
Download our full rundown
of sponsors and exhibitors in attendance at
the Conference. Our thanks also go
to Powell Publishing, who once again sponsored our popular and sought-after Awards.
The Association also thanks Choice Textile for sponsoring the Bursary scheme, Maxa Solutions
for those attractive delegate bags, Stuart Alexander for the useful delegate gift and Aspects
Shop Supplies for the Conference Prize Draw.
And if you’d be interested in taking part in the Planning Group for our 10th Annual Conference in 2009 – do please email Lekha or call 020 7255 4474.
Volunteer Transfer Scheme
We are very pleased to announce that the Volunteer Transfer Scheme is now online in the members area of the website. Members of the Association can access it by clicking on the yellow box at the top of this page, or enter www.charityshops.org.uk/members/volunteer.php in your browser. The scheme aims to make it easier for volunteers from closing charity shops to remain in charity retail volunteering by transferring to a local shop, if they wish to do so.
Charities that responded before the deadline will find their shops are now part of a searchable online database, and the contact person for the scheme from that charity is also listed on the page, as are instructions on how to use the scheme.
Thank you to those charities that have notified us of their willingness to take part in the scheme and have sent us their up-to-date shop details.
Lobbying update
Waste charging in Leeds
Leeds City Council have announced that, in addition to reasonable charging for
waste collections, they will not charge charities with shops tipping waste at
the Council's two Waste Transfer Stations. For details, and to register, please
email Joyce Ashworth
at Leeds City Council or call 0113 247 8476.
Waste Framework Directive
A revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD) was agreed by the European Parliament
and the Council of Ministers this month. This version of the WFD is a
considerable improvement on previous drafts of the Directive, and specifically
requires Member States to promote the reuse of products.
Whilst the WFD will have no immediate impacts on charities with shops, it will shape national policies on reuse and waste over the next 10 years and beyond. The recognition in the Directive of reuse of goods as a waste prevention measure (such as through charity shops) should, in due course, benefit the sector. We will keep you in touch with developments.
Performing Rights Society (PRS) licensing
We have agreed new arrangements with PRS for licensing for charity shops to play
music. These arrangements should benefit most - if not all - members, and will
be formally set out in an exchange of letters shortly. We will issue full,
revised guidance in July.
Changes will be backdated to 1 June. So, in the meantime, if you are renewing your licence or making your first application, please make it clear that the renewal/application is for charity shops, and that you are a member of the Association, for these benefits to apply.
Key dates and meetings
Workshops
On 22 October we will be holding a Security workshop in Birmingham. This event
will help you to combat loss and maximise the profit that your shops raise for
your charity. You will learn how to prevent shoplifting and till snatches, while
reducing the risk of harm to staff and volunteers, and ways to detect and deter
losses due to staff and volunteer dishonesty. A month later, on 13 November we
will be holding a Health and Safety workshop in London. This event will help you
to understand the legal responsibilities of charity retailers, and how to create
and manage safe working environments. Through case study work, attendees will
also gain a greater understanding of how the law applies to actual situations.
This session is geared towards all staff with special H&S responsibilities. Both
of these sessions are £103 for members of the Association to attend.
There will be an advanced session with the eBay for Charity team, from 11-4pm on 9 October. This workshop will be held at the eBay headquarters in Richmond, and is FREE to attend. This training day is geared for those responsible for developing and managing their charity's eBay performance, and will cover tools and tactics on improving selling success.
Go to the Workshops page to book.
Health and Safety Interest Group, held 22 May,
London
A meeting of the Health and Safety Interest Group took place at the Association
of Charity Shops' offices on Thursday 22 May. Topics covered included accident
statistics recording and monitoring, Enforcement Agency priorities and bins. Ron
Griffiths of the HSE led a discussion on their new draft risk assessment.
Minutes available on the Health and Safety Interest Group page in the members area.
Property Interest Group, held 12 June, London
A meeting of the Property Interest Group took place on Thursday 12 June at the
Association of Charity Shops' offices. Topics covered included rent reviews, and
opportunities for joint purchasing. Our speaker, Neil Hanney of Cade
Consultants, gave a presentation on Energy Performance Certificates and Surveyor
Training.
Minutes available on the Property Interest Group page in the members area.
nfpSynergy - public survey update
The results for the last survey carried out by nfpSynergy asked people whether or not they donate their unwanted items to charities, and if they donate to charities that don't run shops. It was also asked whether the public thought that more money was raised by charities that run or don't run shops. Preferences on the methods of donating (directly to shops, house-to-house or through collection banks) were ranked from one to three.Additionally we wanted to check whether or not donors were aware of bogus collectors and commercial collectors when filling a sack with their unwanted items and if they checked who they were giving to before filling the sack or would fill it in "if it looked like a good cause". The results are very interesting and the report is available in the Consumer research page, together with past reports, in the members area. The results of the most recent survey on "Environmental benefits and negative impacts of charity shops" will be presented at Annual Conference focus session D3 on Tuesday 8 July at 11.35am.
Please email Cristina or call 020 7255 4471 with any queries. We are also grateful to receive comments or suggestions for future surveys.
QMA survey, April - June 2008
One final reminder – we have extended the deadline for returns for the Quarterly Market Analysis Survey until Friday 1 August – so if you haven’t already sent in your return – please do so now. Thank you.
BRC Retail Sales Monitor, May 2008
Below is a summary of the BRC's Retail Sales Monitor for May 2008.
SUN GIVES SUPERFICIAL SALES BURST
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Advertorial from Coffin Mew LLP
We are a progressive and dynamic regional law firm with clients spanning the charity and commercial sectors. Renowned for our responsiveness and broad charity expertise, we provide specialist legal services tailored to meet the needs of charities throughout the UK.
We combine commercial skill and determination with a passion for, and an understanding of, the strategic aims and objectives of your organisation.
Our lawyers have diverse experience of the many legal obstacles you might face, coming together as a team to provide the focused guidance you need at every stage of development.
Through personal and professional experience of the charity sector, we have an appreciation of the 'bigger picture' and the challenges of managing growth in an uncertain environment. Let us work alongside you to meet those challenges head on.
The Charity and Community Team is lead by Tim Waldron (pictured), who was commended by the Chambers and Partners Directory 2008 for his broad voluntary sector expertise and his "responsive, timely and supportive" approach.
One client summed up: "He saves me a huge amount of time because he makes the effort to know our charity and tells me what not to worry about."
To find out more about Coffin Mew and our Charity and Community Team, you can telephone Tim on 023 8057 4411 or email him at timwaldron@coffinmew.co.uk.
Alternatively you can visit us at stand 31 during the Association of Charity Shops' Annual Conference on 7th and 8th July 2008.
Other news
Mary Queen of Charity Shops
The BBC and Optomen Television are planning a major new series on charity shops and ethical
shopping for BBC2.
Is the retail arm of your charity underperforming? Could you do with some expert help? We are currently looking for charities with high street shops which could benefit from the help of top retail expert Mary Portas. Mary transformed Harvey Nichols into a modern powerhouse of fashion and is currently working her magic on independent fashion boutiques in the second series of Mary Queen of Shops for BBC2.
Mary's aim is to reinvigorate your chain of charity shops and increase your profits. She'll tackle volunteer training, the quality of donated stock and your point of sale with customers - all in the hope of enhancing your customer's experience and putting the charity shop back on the high street shopping map.
If you want help with your charity shops and think Mary could work her magic then please send a short paragraph outlining why to kate.mcglade@optomen.com by Friday 1 August.
Cancer Research UK area manager wins prestigious Oxford scholarship
Rebecca Sanders, area manager for Cancer Research UK shops, beat off
national competition to win attendance at the highly regarded British Shops
and Stores Association Oxford Summer School residential training course in
August at Keble College, Oxford. The scholarship is funded by Skillsmart Retail
and Retail Trust.
The Oxford Summer School scholarships are awarded annually. Retail managers interested in applying for a scholarship in 2009 should contact Skillsmart Retail by phone on 020 7462 5060 or by email on contactus@skillsmartretail.com.
Training for volunteers
Training 4 Business based in Kent is offering a range of work-based courses for
people in the voluntary sector, many of which may not cost a penny; eligibility
criteria apply, contact Training 4 Business for details. Research shows that
training leads to a more productive workforce, improvement in customer service,
increased profits and increased staff retention. Nationally recognised
qualifications in areas including Customer Service, Team Leading, Retail and
Catering are available. Call Training 4 Business now on 0845 207 8216 and ask about training for
volunteers.
Bulletin insert
Bristol Textile Recyclers Ltd, Associate Member of the Association of Charity
Shops, providing information on the services they currently provide the charity
retail sector. Click on the image to view.
Our newsletter (the Bulletin) is mailed on a monthly basis to approximately 400 charity retail contacts. If you are interested in advertising any vacancies or properties that you currently have available in the Bulletin, please contact Michelle on 020 7255 4473 or via email at michelle@charityshops.org.uk for further details. |