Majority of Councillors & Local Authorities rate charities at least on par with public sector for service provision - yet only use them for 14% of services3 in 5 rate charity provision of public services at least on par with delivery by companies – yet still use companies for 26% of services“Public sector spirit willing, conversion into charity contracts weak,” cautions Saxton58% of Councillors and 50% of Local Authority staff think “charities are able to deliver public services as cost-effect

UK economic fluctuations effect charity incomes, voluntary ones first – though not seen straight away, analysis showsAverage charity income growth will slow or become static in downturn, though actual average incomes won’t fall, experts predict“Don’t accept or expect defeat”; but be cautious and “ensure resilience against income volatility”, think tank urgesGrowth in charities’ average voluntary income rises or falls 10 months after any rise or fall in GDP growth, followed by peak impact on overal

Current charges render text-donations “cost-ineffective”, says AmadiPotential for fundraising via SMS “substantial”, not least amongst the young, vies SaxtonThe Institute of Fundraising has invited its outgoing chair, Joe Saxton, to forge a coalition of all parties keen to reduce current prohibitive fees the telecoms industry charges charities who seek donations via SMS text messaging.

The majority of Councillors and Local Authority staff rate charity provision of public services at least on a par with a Local Authority’s ownAround 3 in 5 rate charity provision of public services over delivery by companiesScarce a quarter think Compact has made a big difference58% of Councillors and 50% of Local Authority staff think “charities are able to deliver public services as cost-effectively as local authorities”, respective figures rising to 63% and 59% when comparing charita

Older volunteers decline by a third (since 2001), despite campaignsGovernment strategy fails to deliver rising volunteer numbers thus farVolunteering levels have been fluctuating (18-20%) but remained broadly flat since 2003, with a notable slump amongst 54-64 year olds (down by a third, from 23% in 2001 to 16% in 2007), as the Government’s strategy thus far fails to deliver rising volunteer numbers - according to a new briefing out today.

“Donate now” buttons forget all rules of fundraisingExploit modern e-habits via social networks and blogs, or “painlessly” as donors surf and shop, experts urge“Passion, persistence and partnership” lucrative cyber keys for charities, large and smallMany charities overly rely on passive online fundraising tactics like “donate now” buttons that are, in isolation, a decade out of date; failing to more proactively engage with habits, interests and lifestyles of the 21st Century donor - according to a

MPs love charitable constituency focus, face-to-face briefings - and media opportunities!

17-25 year olds seem most regularly engaged with charities, not least re volunteering11-16 year olds seem least regularly engaged, possibly due to exam pressures“Start where young people are at,” counsels SaxtonYouth volunteering levels fluctuated but remained broadly flat for the 18 month period Mar 2006 – Nov 2007, with 13%-19% 11-25 year olds claiming to have volunteered for a charity “in the last three months”, according to latest figures released today (see attached summary slides).