Northern Ireland Charity Retail Conference 2012
Held Wednesday 14 March 2012, NICVA, Belfast
Sponsored by Impress Publishing and Kudos Software Ltd.
>> Download the Conference brochure
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Strengthening your position in the charity retail sector
The Conference focused on the most important issues facing the sector. Delegates updated their knowledge in our practical and informative focus sessions, shared ideas with other charity retailers and met our sponsors.
Keynote speaker: Northern Ireland Minister for the Environment
We were delighted that Alex Attwood MLA, Minister for the Environment in Northern Ireland, presented a keynote address on the Government’s environmental policies and the impact these will have on charity shops. It was an incredibly useful addition to the conference, and the Association will continue to work with the Department for the Environment, in discussing the role of charity shops in Northern Ireland’s re-use and recycling activity.
Bursaries
The Charity Retail Association, supported by Impress Publishing Ltd and Kudos Software Ltd, offered four bursary places to those from smaller charities or hospices that need financial assistance.
Focus sessions
Sessions focused on a wide range of subjects including how to use social media to increase your customer base; collaborating with corporate organisations; and how to develop specialist shops in niche areas. Download the sessions below.
| Session | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Opening plenary | Warren Alexander |
| A4/B2 | Matching the Right
Volunteer to the Right Role Fiona Nicol, Volunteer Now |
| A5 | Social Media Chantal Cooke |
| B1 | Accidents and their Root Causes Peter Holmes, Precision Safety Services |
| B4 | Specialist Shops Anne Walsh and Cathy Megahey, East Belfast Mission |
| C4 | Retail Gift Aid: an administrative headache or an opportunity to streamline all your shop administrative systems? Siobhan Robinson, St Wilfrid’s Hospice |
| D2 | Capitalising on the Environment Cristina Osoro Cangas, Charity Retail Association |
| D3 | Local Media, Stock, Volunteers and Special Campaigns Wendy Mitchell, Charity Retail Association |
| D4 | Fake! Kerry McAuley and Nicholas Lane, Trading Standards Service |
| D5 | Furniture and Electricals Nyree Tubritt and Michael Sloan, Oxfam Ireland |
We would like to thank the specialist speakers both from within the sector and outside.