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Roundtable Gives Charity Bosses Chance To Discuss New Fundraising Rules



Charity leaders met in Southampton for a roundtable discussion on challenges and opportunities facing third sector organisations.


On the agenda at the annual breakfast time ‘think tank’, co-hosted by HWB Chartered Accountants and banking group Handelsbanken, were the latest revisions to national codes of practice on both fundraising and governance issued during the past year.


Michaela Johns, HWB Director, said:

“Our roundtable was an ideal opportunity for charity representatives to discuss the revised codes and guidance and compare notes on how their compliance and due diligence is going so far. It was really valuable to share ideas and suggestions on how best to navigate the changes to the codes alongside many other issues and opportunities impacting the sector.”

Represented at the event, held at the Harbour Hotel in Ocean Village, were charities involved in areas such as housing, wildlife protection, homelessness and dementia support. Attendees included charity chief executives and chief financial officers.


Guest speaker Kirsteen Hook, Partner and specialist charities solicitor at law firm Trethowans, explained that the revised fundraising framework places increased emphasis on trustees demonstrating active oversight of fundraising and ensuring appropriate governance, risk management and decision-making processes are in place.


Kirsteen said:

“Trustees are expected to keep abreast of changes to relevant fundraising and governance guidance and to consider what, if any, changes are required to their charity’s policies, procedures and practices.”

Kim Christopher, Corporate Account Manager at Handelsbanken, who co-chaired the event, said:

“As a relationship bank we believe there is no substitute for getting together at events like this and working together – not just discussing how to navigate the latest guidance and requirements, but also sharing best practice and learning from each other. We are delighted to continue to support our partners in this area.”

Sally Randall, founder of Abby’s Heroes, a Southampton-based charity that provides practical measures and programmes to help families presented with a childhood cancer diagnosis, said:

“Very rarely do you get a collection of charities together in one place at the same time. It was a safe space and a positive learning experience. Listening to what other charities were saying was enlightening. I really enjoyed the morning. It raised some interesting and relevant points, especially around our trustees’ responsibilities and obligations which have been fed back to them.”

The other attendees were: Laura Read, Marwell Wildlife; Josh Towers, YMCA Fairthorne; Kirsty Dennett and Steve Swift, Rose Road Association; Helen Hamblen, Dementia Support Hampshire and Isle of Wight; Tim Bissett, St John’s Winchester; Mark Ind, Heartbeat; Charlotte Fairall, Sophie’s Legacy; and Sam Fulling, Saints Foundation.


The 93-page fundraising code, which came into operation in November 2025 having been published earlier by the sector’s Fundraising Regulator, features a more ‘principles-based’ approach which places greater emphasis on trustee oversight, judgement, governance and documenting fundraising decisions.


A further 20-page update on trustee duties in relation to fundraising was issued in February 2026 with the regulator and the Charity Commission then going on to provide a ten-page document, ‘Raising money for charity: public guidance’, in June 2026.


The 47-page Charity Governance Code 2025, produced by a cross-sector voluntary steering group, is designed as a practical tool for trustees rather than a regulatory requirement. It covers essential aspects of governance such as roles, responsibilities, legal duties, expectations, ethics, standards, behaviours and processes.


Chartered accountants HWB, based at Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, provides business and tax advice.


Photo: Charity Support - Presenters at the charity roundtable held at the Harbour Hotel in Ocean Village, Southampton, from left: Michaela Johns, HWB Chartered Accountants; Kirsteen Hook, Trethowans; and Kim Christopher, Handelsbanken.

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Classeq, the leading British manufacturer of professional warewashing equipment, has launched Wi-Fi connectivity across its full range of dishwashers, glasswashers and utensil washers with the introduction of Clean Connect.

 

Designed to bring greater control, visibility and simplicity to high-volume warewashing environments, Clean Connect enables operators to remotely monitor their machines through a single online portal – providing real-time insight without needing to be on site.

 

In busy professional kitchens and bars, warewashing is mission-critical. When machines perform, service runs seamlessly. When they don’t, disruption is immediate. Clean Connect gives operators instant visibility of performance, usage and maintenance requirements – helping teams protect wash quality, drive efficiency and avoid unnecessary downtime.

 

Wi-Fi connectivity and access to the Clean Connect portal is available across Classeq’s full warewashing range*, delivering measurable benefits across multiple areas:

 

Quality wash results: Regular cleaning is essential for consistent wash quality and long-term machine performance. Clean Connect allows operators to check whether drain down, refresh and deep-clean cycles are being completed correctly, helping maintain standards across every shift and site.

 

Energy efficiency: By comparing operating hours with powered hours, customers can identify unnecessary energy consumption and adjust usage patterns accordingly – driving smarter, more cost-effective operations.

 

Hard water management: Limescale build-up remains one of the most common causes of machine failure. Clean Connect enables operators to monitor cycles completed without salt and proactively prompt teams to refill – protecting machines and avoiding costly repairs.

 

Preventative maintenance: Like mileage on a vehicle, wash cycles accumulate over time. Clean Connect allows servicing to be scheduled based on real usage data rather than fixed time intervals, supporting preventative maintenance strategies that maximise lifespan and reliability.

 

Multi-site visibility: From single-location operators to national estates, Clean Connect enables customers to monitor machine status across multiple sites within one simple dashboard, with the ability to drill down into individual machine data as required.

 

Multiple machines, one portal: Even smaller venues often run separate machines in kitchen and bar areas. Clean Connect enables managers to oversee both from one interface. Scale this across hotels, stadia, universities or contract catering operations, and the operational value increases significantly.

 

Service, rental and leasing support: For customers working with service partners, rental agreements or leasing models, Clean Connect enables wash cycle tracking, smarter servicing schedules and improved asset management – benefiting operators and suppliers alike.

 

Andy Salter, Managing Director at Classeq, said:

“Clean Connect represents a natural evolution of our warewashing range. Classeq machines are built to deliver exceptional results day in, day out - and now we’re giving customers the data and visibility to protect that performance."

“Connectivity isn’t about complexity; it’s about simplicity, and ease of visibility. It allows operators to stay ahead of maintenance, improve energy efficiency and maintain consistent wash standards across single sites or entire estates. For today’s hospitality businesses, that level of insight makes a real operational difference.”

 

Clean Connect adds an extra layer of value to Classeq’s British-built warewashing machines, helping operators maintain standards, support their teams and maximise the performance and lifespan of their equipment. All machines come with a two-year warranty as standard.

 

To find out more or request a demonstration, visit here.


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