A summary – our 2024 charity Symposium and AGM event
25th November 2024
Our Charity Symposium – The Importance of Resilient Communities
On 20 November we brought together around 100 representatives from charities, voluntary organisations, funders, public services, local government, private companies and our donors for our second charity Symposium.
The event was held in the amazing conference venue at Hatfield Place and guests engaged in meaningful discussions and heard from four inspiring speakers:
- Immy Kaur (CIVIC SQUARE)
- David Scurr (CAST)
- Sebastian Rocca (Micro Rainbow)
- Ruth Ball (Centre for Public Impact Europe)
The theme of the day was the importance of resilient communities. Communities that are not only able to pick up the pieces of local needs and issues, but creating places where everyone feels valued, safe and included.
Big issues were addressed at the event, including the need to find a safe way to use and develop new technologies, including AI (artificial intelligence). We also talked about climate action and its impact on infrastructure in deprived economic areas, as well as increased challenges to creating equal opportunities for the LGBTQ+ communities.
The importance of authentic leadership was highlighted and how to deal with the considerable pressure currently faced by the voluntary sector as it manages increased demand, financial challenges and volunteer recruitment issues. The urgent need for sustainable funding and resources was underscored, to ensure and maintain the sector’s impact and we encouraged all stakeholders to recognise and reinforce the vital role of the VCS in meeting Essex’s evolving community needs.
Our Trustee, Jo Wells, who chaired the day, summed up the Symposium using two words, “Resilience” and “Reimagine” and it is easy to see why with a host of change-makers and creative thinkers in the room.
Conclusions were that we need to be bold and more determined to try new things, recognise that we might fail, but try again, in order to help us all adapt and innovate. It felt like everyone had a common purpose, all aligning with our mission to inspire philanthropy and charitable giving – matching people, ideas, resources and needs, to make a lasting difference.
Annual General Meeting
After the Symposium, we were joined by further guests and Members for our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
During the meeting, Members approved the appointment of two new Trustees, Graham Chapman KC and David Guest and we look forward to working with them during their first trustee term.
After the formal proceedings, we launched our new 2030 Strategy, developed following consultation and discussion with representatives from all our stakeholders over the past year. We have identified some big issues to tackle and to do this we will need to be bold in our ambition, collaborate and work in partnership with all sectors and neighbourhoods.
Our guest speaker was Carol Mack OBE, CEO of ACF (Association of Charitable Foundations) who gave a thought-provoking speech about the state of the sector and the challenges for Foundations and Trusts in trying to tackle needs in communities.
You can read our 2030 Strategy here. In addition, our latest Annual Review can be found here. If you would like to receive a printed copy of either of these documents, please email Megan Reeves at megan@essexcf.org.uk.
Thank you
We are grateful to all our speakers who joined us during the day and to everyone who contributed to making it a great success. In particular:
- Ian and Alison Twinley, for generously allowing us to use Hatfield Place as our home for the day.
- Bouquet Garni, who provided delicious catering to keep us fed and watered throughout the day.
- Spotlight Sound for seamless stage and technical support.
- Trait Design, who designed our new 2030 Strategy document which was launched at the event and our 2024 Annual Review.
- Steve Brading, our roaming photographer who captured everything across the events.
See below some images taken from both the Symposium / AGM.
