Roundtable Gives Charity Bosses Chance To Discuss New Fundraising Rules

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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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Mar 12, 2025
3 min read

Hendy Foundation, the independent charity affiliated with leading car dealer business Hendy Group, has confirmed its latest round of funding commitments for local charities across the south coast of England. The latest phase of donations includes The Sampson Centre for MS in Surrey. This takes Hendy Foundation’s charitable commitments in 2024 to over £50,000, benefitting 26 different charities.

● The charitable Hendy Foundation linked to leading motor retailer, Hendy Group, donated £50,000 to organisations across the south coast in 2024

● The Sampson Centre for MS is a recipient of a new grant

● Over 200 small charities have now been backed with vital funds since Hendy Foundation was created

In its latest funding round, Hendy Foundation has selected eleven small charities to support across six counties. These include:

The Sampson Centre for MS (Surrey)
Mid Kent Community Radio (Kent)
Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services DAVSS (Kent)
Life Education Wessex (Dorset)
Bournemouth Food Bank (Dorset)
Dorset Mind (Dorset)
Wild and Free Therapy (Dorset)
Aldermoor Community Farm (Hampshire)
PEDALL Inclusive Cycling (Hampshire)
City Gate Community (East Sussex)
Estuary League of Friends (Devon)

Hendy Foundation has chosen to support the Sampson Centre in this latest round of funding. They currently support 250 registered disabled people who live with Multiple Sclerosis, providing oxygen therapy, physiotherapy, exercise and advice to help relieve and minimise their symptoms. Hendy Foundation helped the charity with funds to pay for one month's supply of oxygen therapy.

Since its launch, Hendy Foundation has granted over £350,000 to more than 200 charities in communities that are local to Hendy Group’s car dealerships across Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

On average, Hendy Foundation receives between 50 and 100 applications for each funding round, which typically occur two to three times per year. A panel of volunteer trustees carry out a detailed due diligence process to determine which are most eligible to receive support.

Some of the charities previously supported by Hendy include:

· Dyscover, Surrey: Hendy Foundation donated to this specialist charity, which supports people with aphasia, a speech and language disorder which is acquired following a brain trauma. The grant has enabled the charity to buy new laptops for specialist staff.

· Jigsaw South East, Surrey: Hendy Foundation has supported this charity twice since 2019, first in 2021 when providing support for bereaved children and young people who have suffered a bereavement of a loved one and the second in 2024 with a grant specifically for family bereavement groups.

Launched in 2019, Hendy Foundation is a dedicated charity that provides grants to local charitable projects, people and charitable organisations. The family-run Hendy Group’s commitment to supporting local communities goes back generations, and the Hendy Foundation continues to explore exciting new ways to strengthen and improve upon these links.

About Hendy Foundation

Hendy Foundation is an independent charity affiliated with the family-run automotive dealer group Hendy Group, established in 2019. Run by a number of trustees, Hendy Foundation supports small, local charities that fall within the footprint of Hendy Group across the South Coast.

About Hendy Group

Hendy Group is a family-run automotive dealer group, established in 1859 and celebrating 165 years of operation in 2024. With fifth generation family member, Paul Hendy, currently CEO, the business now employs over 1,700 colleagues. In 2024, the Group is ranked 18th in the AM Top 100, with a 2023 turnover of just over £1bn. The Group proudly represents 22 automotive brands across the South Coast and is committed to providing world-class customer service at all of their dealerships.

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Roundtable Gives Charity Bosses Chance To Discuss New Fundraising Rules

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