The ICAEW Charities Online Financial Report and Accounts Awards recognise those charities which have demonstrated the highest levels of accuracy and transparency in their accounts and reports and which have communicated most effectively with their beneficiaries, donors and stakeholders.
The awards are designed to encourage charities to make their websites and reports and accounts more attractive and accessible to potential donors.
These awards were presented by Graham Ward CBE, Chairman of the judging panel. They were in the following categories:
Income below £100,000
Joint winners
Mexborough and Swinton Astronomical Society
Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir
Income between £100,000 and £500,000
Winner - Cecily's Fund
Runner up - South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau
Income between £500,000 and £2m
Winner - Dance United
Income over £2m
Winner - The British Library
Runner up - Plan UK
Top 100 Fundraising Charities
Winner - The British Red Cross Society
Runner up - Islamic Relief Worldwide
Commenting on the awards Graham Ward said:
“The challenge for charities is how to bring the financial statements to life and link them to tangible activities and case studies. They must remember their websites are a means of telling the world what they stand for and future goals that will affect their ability to secure funds.”
The judges of this year’s Awards were surprised by how few charities are exploiting the internet to their advantage. He noted that “many charities had not made progress in improving the web presentation of their reports and accounts.”
The smaller charities with incomes of less than £100,000 were praised for their constant innovation in presenting their accounts on the web. “Smaller charities consistently innovate the most,” said Graham Ward, chair of the judging panel. “However, he continued, “charities with incomes between £500,000 and £2m show a disproportionately poor record of innovation, which is why this year, after much deliberation, we have chosen not to award a second prize in this category.”
The ICAEW also announced the winners of its Everybody Counts Awards which recognise the outstanding voluntary work of chartered Accountants in this sector. The winners, each of whom receive a £2,000 prize for their charity, are chosen for their commitment to a charity and the difference their work has made.
During the same evening, Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, presented an honorary award to Paul Palmer, Professor of the Voluntary Sector at Cass Business School, in recognition of his contribution to charity accounting.
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