MoneyMatters Plus initiative

Information from CERT’s website, September 2009: CERT has just launched the Money Matters Plus project – an important initiative that could benefit many Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) in the Humber region. There are two aims to the project: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE: To raise the level of financial awareness and the standard of record keeping [...]

Information from CERT’s website, September 2009:

CERT has just launched the Money Matters Plus project – an important initiative that could benefit many Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) in the Humber region. There are two aims to the project:
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE: To raise the level of financial awareness and the standard of record keeping and accounts preparation in the voluntary sector.
CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT: To engage with and encourage corporate sector organisations to provide financial accounting expertise to VCOs, bringing tangible benefits to both sectors.

Research has shown that many voluntary organisations see better management of their finances as an important element of improving the well-being and efficiency of their organisation as well as removing fears and uncertainties. Proper management of money matters will also ease the burden of preparing accounts for the Charities Commission and, should the need arise, the completion of statutory returns for items such as tax, VAT and PAYE. Applications for funding are also increasingly likely to rely on sound financial systems.

The Financial Assistance Service can help VCOs in a number of ways:
•Assessing the type of systems required to manage their finances.
•Devising the acceptable minimum level of money management necessary.
•Utilising the skills and resources already available in the organisation.
•Providing training to fill any gaps in knowledge.
•Linking them with other organisations that can provide practical help and advice.
•Providing general advice, information, and pointers to other useful resources.

The service is free: we do not sell hardware, software, or services through the Money Matters Plus project.

For more information on the Financial Assistance Service, or to register interest as a VCO, please contact:
Ian Oxley
Financial Assistance Manager
ian@cert-ltd.co.uk
01469 572313 Ext 21

The Corporate Engagement Programme will operate in tandem with the Financial Assistance Service and will actively be identifying companies (of all sizes), and other corporate organisations, that are willing to support VCOs through the provision of finance & accounting expertise. This is very much seen as not only a way of helping VCOs, but also of facilitating corporate social responsibility, improving business’s connections to the local community, and enhancing staff and organisational performance.

For more information on the Corporate Engagement Programme, or to register interest as an organisation potentially wishing to support the Programme, please contact:

Brian Howell
Corporate Engagement Manager
brian@cert-ltd.co.uk
01469 572313 Ext 22