The CFG Podcast

CFG's Communications Coordinator, Glyn Sheldon, speaks to three guests who've experienced making the move from the corporate world, into the charity sector: Clive MacTavish from British Red Cross, Andrew Lowe from Leeds Mind and CFG's new Finance and Operations Director, Sarah Ann Moore. The guests explain their journey from the private sector, what they wish they'd known, and explain what chariti...

CFG's Co-CEO Clare Mills sits down with Alison Taylor (CEO) and Richard Hunt* (Chief Commercial Officer) from CAF Bank to explore the bank's digital transformation journey. Alison and Richard get candid about what drove CAF Bank to make bold changes – and reveal the hard-won lessons they've picked up along the way. Essential listening for whether you're already navigating your own digital transfor...

The responses are in and the Charities SORP consultation has now closed. Charity accounting expert Naziar Hashemi (Crowe UK) and Richard Sagar (CFG) talk to CFG's Sarah Lomax about the consultation process, what the responses looked like, and what charities can do to prepare for when the new SORP comes into effect. This second part of our SORP podcast series follows on from our conversations with...

The Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) is about to get an overhaul. CFG's Head of Policy, Richard Sagar, talks to SORP experts Carol Rudge and Debra Allcock-Tyler about what could change and how it could impact charities, large and small. If you want to understand more about the new Charities SORP, you won't want to miss this episode! Resources: The Charities SORP website Charities...

In this second episode looking at the topic of leadership, charity finance and leadership experts Judith Miller (Sayer Vincent) and Maggie Smith (Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Bayes Business School) talk to CFG's Emma Abbott about why finance professionals make great leaders, and what they can do to hone their leadership skills. If you'd like tips on how to be a better leader (and human being!...

What makes a truly great charity leader in 2025? It feels like the right time to revisit this topic. Guests Maggie Smith and Judith Miller are experts in leadership, training and coaching and work closely with charity finance professionals. In this episode, they talk about their early years in leadership development, share the personal leadership traits they believe are needed in the 21st century,...

Pensions experts David Fairs and Edward Symes from LCP demystify pensions for charities. Richard Sagar, CFG's Head of Policy, leads the conversation which looks at what charities need to do in light of The Pensions Regulator's new defined benefit funding code, what the future of pensions might look like under a new Labour Government, and much more. About the speakers David Fairs Ed Symes Richard S...

What does the new Labour government mean for charities and civil society? Following the King's Speech 2024, Richard Sagar asks three policy experts for their insights, hopes and advice. With guests Anna Mowbray from CAF, Rebecca Young from NCVO and Charlotte Prothero from Pro Bono Economics. The panellists set out their wishes for the forthcoming Budget and Spending Review, as well as the new rela...

Who and what has inspired Caron Bradshaw OBE during her time as CEO at CFG? Caron talks to Emma Abbott about her new non-executive role, what it now means for CFG and why she's 'getting out of the way' and making space for others to lead. Caron has been inspired by... > Henry Stewart , Chief Happiness Officer, B Corp > Lynne Berry CBE , Chair, Human Tissue Authority; Pro-Chancellor and Chair...

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) had its breakthrough year in 2023. Its development and adoption will continue to accelerate in the months ahead. What, if anything, should charities and non-profits do to keep pace? Dr Clare Mills, Director of Policy and Communications at CFG talks to two social sector experts - Zoe Amar from Zoe Amar Digital, and Rhodri Davies from Why Philanthropy Matt...

**This podcast and its associated resources explore themes around mental health, with a focus on suicide, suicide prevention and bereavement. Some individuals may find the content emotionally challenging or distressing.  If you are looking for support, please see our resources list below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and there may be other organisations and charities that can he...

What are charity reserves? Should all charities have them? And is it time to rethink when and how rainy day funds are used and not used?  These are just a few of the questions Sarah Vibert , CEO of NCVO , puts to Jane Ide , CEO of ACEVO and Caron Bradshaw , CEO of Charity Finance Group , in this latest charity finance podcast. We also share a range of resources to help you better manage your chari...

Ahead of their session at the CFG Annual Conference, CEO of War Child Rob Williams and Leadership Coach and Business Mentor Nicki Deeson join CFG’s Joanna Strumilowska to explore overlap areas and differences in thinking between CEOs and finance directors, an especially relevant issue during COVID-19. View the presentation slides for this podcast at  https://cfg.org.uk/podcast

Whether you’re looking to review your charity’s investment policy or starting from scratch, this episode will help you to understand the essentials. David Ainsworth speaks to Isobel Fraser and Ian Enslin from Waverton Investment Management who provide some helpful guidance and top tips when it comes to preparing your charity’s investment policy.   Disclaimer: Nothing that we say in this podcast is...

If you’re beginning to explore charity investing or have years of experience in this space, there’s valuable food for thought in this podcast, especially for charity finance professionals, senior leadership teams and trustees. CFG’s David Ainsworth was joined by Ben Palmer of the Brooks Macdonald Charities team to discuss some of the key trends and issues around impact investing, and how charities...

International Finance Director Nicki Deeson speaks to Richard Sagar from CFG about the well-documented challenges facing Amnesty International, and discusses the personal impact within the organisation.

Paul Winyard, Senior Policy Officer at NCVO speaks to CFG’s Richard Sagar about the work of the independent Charity Tax Commission and their recommendations for Gift Aid reform.

Richard Bray of Charity Tax Group and Cancer Research UK talks to CFG’s Richard Sagar about the Gift Aid landscape, with a practical and strategic look at this important tax relief, the role of online giving and technology, and the future of Gift Aid in the sector.

Abby, Cordelia and Jessica from CFG chat to Laura Wright, CEO of The Postal Museum, about her career in the arts and her transition to an independent museum.

Zoe and Abby from the CFG team chat to Florence Schechter about the Vagina Museum, their crowdfunding campaign for a new premises and plans for the future.

Charlotte Morgan is Museum Manager of Cynon Valley Museum, which is ran with the help of a team of passionate volunteers in the local community. In the second of our Entrepreneurial Spirit in Independent Museums series, Zoe and Abby of CFG speak to Charlotte about Cynon Valley and its transition to becoming an independent museum.

Emma Chaplin, Director of the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) chats to Zoe and Abby at CFG about the variety of AIM membership, the cultural richness they bring to local communities across the UK, and their big finance challenges and opportunities.

In the first of our podcast episodes, Charity Finance Group talk to Jonathan Orchard, Partner at Sayer Vincent, about approach to risk in charities, and what charity finance professionals need to consider when diversifying income streams. We also talk to CFG Chief Executive Caron Bradshaw and Director of Business Development and Events Dawn McNish about how the approach to risk and strategy has ev...