Government’s new giving strategy puts West Midlands in the spotlight, says Charity law specialist Kirsty McEwen
A new Government strategy, Our Place to Give: a plan for growing place-based philanthropy, has put a national spotlight on how charitable giving is distributed across the UK and highlights the significant need for a more structured, regional philanthropic approach.
Responding to the new strategy, Kirsty McEwen, Head of Charity and Not-for-Profit at Higgs LLP, says it represents an opportunity for businesses in the West Midlands, but also highlights the importance of seeking specialist legal advice to help with making any strategy such as this as impactful as possible.
“Many businesses want to give back, particularly in regions like the West Midlands where there is a very strong sense of community and identity. Residents are so proud to be from the region so it makes sense that they would go the extra mile to support it” she explains. “But without the right advice and structure, as the Government has highlighted, that giving can often be reactive and lack focus, rather than impactful and transformational.”
Kirsty McEwen
Head of Charity and Not-for-Profit, Higgs LLP
The strategy has also drawn attention to a geographical or regional imbalance, with too much philanthropic funding concentrated in London and the South East, leaving regions like the West Midlands under-supported, despite a clear need.
Research has consistently shown that London attracts a disproportionately higher share of charitable funding, even though regions like the West Midlands experience some of the highest levels of deprivation in England.
“For those of us working closely with charities and not-for-profit organisations across the region, this isn’t new, but what is new is the level of focus and the potential for opportunity that it could create” Kirsty continues.
The West Midlands is home to a powerful combination of entrepreneurial success through owner managed businesses (OMBs) and deep-rooted legacy identity, particularly in areas such as the Black Country. A strong base of OMBs sits alongside a plethora of charities and grassroots organisations, often with limited resources and visibility and this is where this new structured approach would make a significant difference.
Kirsty highlighted that the need is to refocus the purpose of the giving, rather than the frequency, she added. “Speaking with charity clients and trustees, I see and hear it all the time that the challenge has never been a lack of willingness to give from people and businesses. If you look at this through a wider lens, there is a clear lack of awareness and understanding on a regional level.”
“We know that we’re a generous nation in the UK. That is not the issue. Billions of pounds is donated to charity each year, but it isn’t always necessarily directed to the places, projects and people where it could have the greatest impact.”
At its core, the Government’s plan is about creating stronger, more coordinated local ecosystems which brings together philanthropists, advisers, local authorities and the voluntary / charity sector to unlock more effective, long-term investment.
“From a personal perspective, for the West Midlands, this is a real opportunity to lead the way and demonstrate the positive impact such a strategy could have, if directed in the right way and in the right places” Kirsty says. “I am so passionate about having clear pathways for philanthropic engagement that in turn, give people the confidence that their donations will deliver meaningful and tangible change. I am speaking to more and more clients who want to have conversations about purpose and impact alongside profit and done well, philanthropy has a vital part to play in those discussions.”
“The strategy is about more than funding. Ultimately, it is about recognising the role that businesses and their owners can play to shape the future of their communities. The Government has set out the framework and now it is up to people in the West Midlands to bring it to life.”
