Third Sector
@thirdsector.co.uk
The UK's leading title for the voluntary and not-for-profit sector. Home of the Third Sector Podcast: https://podfollow.com/thirdsector/view
For years now, the charity sector has faced a lot of headwinds that only seem to be strengthening. The question is, can we use them to move us forwards instead of blowing us backwards?
@martyndrake.bsky.social
@martyndrake.bsky.social
Martyn Drake: How can charities take advantage of adversity?
The headwinds facing the sector are strengthening, but some organisations have worked out how to become ‘antifragile’
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:54 AM
For years now, the charity sector has faced a lot of headwinds that only seem to be strengthening. The question is, can we use them to move us forwards instead of blowing us backwards?
@martyndrake.bsky.social
@martyndrake.bsky.social
Scottish charity promotes veteran worker to top job
Scottish charity promotes veteran worker to top job
Paul McCrory will succeed Linda Tuthill in February
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Scottish charity promotes veteran worker to top job
JustGiving’s website not fully compliant with fundraising code, regulator warns
JustGiving’s website not fully compliant with fundraising code, regulator warns
The Fundraising Regulator is ‘in dialogue’ with JustGiving and other online fundraising platforms, it says
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:53 AM
JustGiving’s website not fully compliant with fundraising code, regulator warns
Disability charity reinstates worker sacked after arrest at Palestine Action demonstration
Disability charity reinstates worker sacked after arrest at Palestine Action demonstration
The organisation says the employee provided new mitigating information, meaning her dismissal was ‘moderated’
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Disability charity reinstates worker sacked after arrest at Palestine Action demonstration
Arts, culture and heritage charities have been encouraged to take advantage of creative sector tax reliefs, with one organisation more than tripling its income from this source by doing so
Check your eligibility for creative sector tax reliefs, arts charities told
One organisation managed to triple its income from this particular source to about £190,000
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Arts, culture and heritage charities have been encouraged to take advantage of creative sector tax reliefs, with one organisation more than tripling its income from this source by doing so
National Trust receives record £10m unrestricted donation
National Trust receives record £10m unrestricted donation
The gift is the largest in the heritage and conservation charity’s 131-year history
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:52 AM
National Trust receives record £10m unrestricted donation
Revealed: The sector’s top impact measurement practices
The findings come from a new Third Sector study comparing how the UK’s leading fundraising charities measure and communicate their results
The findings come from a new Third Sector study comparing how the UK’s leading fundraising charities measure and communicate their results
Revealed: The sector’s top impact measurement practices
The findings come from a new Third Sector study comparing how the UK’s leading fundraising charities measure and communicate their results
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Revealed: The sector’s top impact measurement practices
The findings come from a new Third Sector study comparing how the UK’s leading fundraising charities measure and communicate their results
The findings come from a new Third Sector study comparing how the UK’s leading fundraising charities measure and communicate their results
🎧 Podcast: What does 2026 have in store for charities?
@lrouse.bsky.social and Emily Burt lift the lid on the year ahead with @kateleeceo.bsky.social
@ncvo.bsky.social
@lrouse.bsky.social and Emily Burt lift the lid on the year ahead with @kateleeceo.bsky.social
@ncvo.bsky.social
Third Sector: What does 2026 have in store for charities?
Lucinda Rouse and Emily Burt are joined by Kate Lee, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, to discuss some of the issues facing the voluntary sector in 2026.These inc...
podfollow.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:41 AM
🎧 Podcast: What does 2026 have in store for charities?
@lrouse.bsky.social and Emily Burt lift the lid on the year ahead with @kateleeceo.bsky.social
@ncvo.bsky.social
@lrouse.bsky.social and Emily Burt lift the lid on the year ahead with @kateleeceo.bsky.social
@ncvo.bsky.social
Age UK reports £10m rise in income but it remains in deficit for a third year
Age UK reports £10m rise in income but it remains in deficit for a third year
A challenging fundraising environment and the increased cost of raising funds have been issues, the charity says
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Age UK reports £10m rise in income but it remains in deficit for a third year
Rise in number of skills-based volunteers
Rise in number of skills-based volunteers
Charities are also offering more such positions, data from Reach Volunteering shows
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Rise in number of skills-based volunteers
Regulator opens inquiry into City and Guilds charity after sale of commercial arm
Regulator opens inquiry into City and Guilds charity after sale of commercial arm
Concerns had been raised about the move, which saw 1,400 people transferred out of the charity
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Regulator opens inquiry into City and Guilds charity after sale of commercial arm
Tributes paid to former Leonard Cheshire campaigns chief
Tributes paid to former Leonard Cheshire campaigns chief
John Knight had ‘an extraordinary knack for affecting lives without even realising he was doing it’
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Tributes paid to former Leonard Cheshire campaigns chief
Teenage Cancer Trust chief to step down
Teenage Cancer Trust chief to step down
Kate Collins says it is the right time for her to move on after 16 years at the charity
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Teenage Cancer Trust chief to step down
More than 100 staff at mental health charity to strike
More than 100 staff at mental health charity to strike
The union has claimed that the charity has refused to negotiate with it on pay; the charity says the move comes after ‘detailed and ongoing discussions’ with Unison representatives
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
More than 100 staff at mental health charity to strike
Oxfam GB to commission independent review of its board after chief’s departure
Oxfam GB to commission independent review of its board after chief’s departure
The review will not revisit the decision around Halima Begum’s exit, but will seek to establish the events of the case
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Oxfam GB to commission independent review of its board after chief’s departure
NCVO chief Kate Lee tells the Third Sector Podcast that she expects to see more charity mergers in the near future
Stop treating mergers as a taboo subject, NCVO chief tells charities
Kate Lee tells the Third Sector Podcast that she expects to see more charity mergers in the near future
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
NCVO chief Kate Lee tells the Third Sector Podcast that she expects to see more charity mergers in the near future
Our top stories of last week included:
⚪️ New Year Honours revealed
⚪️ £13m rise in Turning Point’s pension deficit
⚪️ Charity chief raises £130,000 through 20 challenges
⚪️ New Year Honours revealed
⚪️ £13m rise in Turning Point’s pension deficit
⚪️ Charity chief raises £130,000 through 20 challenges
The essential stories from the past week
New Year Honours revealed, a £13m rise in Turning Point’s pension deficit and a charity chief raised £130,000 through 20 challenges last year
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Our top stories of last week included:
⚪️ New Year Honours revealed
⚪️ £13m rise in Turning Point’s pension deficit
⚪️ Charity chief raises £130,000 through 20 challenges
⚪️ New Year Honours revealed
⚪️ £13m rise in Turning Point’s pension deficit
⚪️ Charity chief raises £130,000 through 20 challenges
Charity chief raises £130,000 through 20 fundraising challenges
Charity chief raises £130,000 through 20 fundraising challenges
The challenges included abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, running a half marathon dressed as Spider-Man and getting a charity-themed tattoo
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Charity chief raises £130,000 through 20 fundraising challenges
Planning charity boss to step down
Planning charity boss to step down
Fiona Howie will leave the Town and Country Planning Association in the spring
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Planning charity boss to step down
Former worker admits £285,000 fraud that caused charity’s closure
Former worker admits £285,000 fraud that caused charity’s closure
Jodie Robson pleaded guilty to theft by employee
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Former worker admits £285,000 fraud that caused charity’s closure
Charity connected to The Guardian appoints new chief
Charity connected to The Guardian appoints new chief
Rosie Parkyn joins from the international development charity Internews Europe
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Charity connected to The Guardian appoints new chief
Treasurer jailed after stealing about £40,000 from church charity
Treasurer jailed after stealing about £40,000 from church charity
Roger Ward has been sentenced to two years imprisonment
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Treasurer jailed after stealing about £40,000 from church charity
Higher education charity changes its name
Higher education charity changes its name
The membership body’s rebrand aims to better reflect the evolving community of graduate success advocates
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Higher education charity changes its name
Board Racial Diversity UK chief steps down after one month in post
Board Racial Diversity UK chief steps down after one month in post
Benaifer Bhandari has taken up a part-time role at a new organisation in Scotland
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Board Racial Diversity UK chief steps down after one month in post
Major healthcare charity’s income up by almost £18m last year
Major healthcare charity’s income up by almost £18m last year
The organisation says an increase in patients and ‘robust control of costs’ helped it to record a surplus of almost £4m in 2024/25
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 8, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Major healthcare charity’s income up by almost £18m last year