Third Sector
@thirdsector.co.uk
The UK's leading title for the voluntary and not-for-profit sector. Home of the Third Sector Podcast: https://podfollow.com/thirdsector/view
"I was myself particularly critical of the GirlGuiding decision to exclude trans girls – but on reflection I was probably a bit unfair and could have been more understanding" - Debra Allcock Tyler
Debra Allcock Tyler: Charities need legal and regulatory support to navigate a hostile debate on trans inclusion
Organisations are being left to deal with the mess created by the Supreme Court ruling – and amid the noise, basic humanity is also lost
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
"I was myself particularly critical of the GirlGuiding decision to exclude trans girls – but on reflection I was probably a bit unfair and could have been more understanding" - Debra Allcock Tyler
Charities ‘behind the curve’, NSPCC chief warns
Charities ‘behind the curve’, NSPCC chief warns
The need for transformation is only going to speed up, Chris Sherwood says
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Charities ‘behind the curve’, NSPCC chief warns
The National Coal Mining Museum said it was “deeply disappointed” that union members voted to extend strike action into the summer
Charity ‘deeply disappointed’ after long-running strike action extended until June
More than 40 workers at the National Coal Mining Museum began their walkout in August in a dispute over pay
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:57 AM
The National Coal Mining Museum said it was “deeply disappointed” that union members voted to extend strike action into the summer
Cyrenians chief to step down
Cyrenians chief to step down
Ewan Aitken has led the charity for almost 12 years
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Cyrenians chief to step down
About 50 jobs could be cut at a Shropshire-based museum that is set to be taken over by the National Trust
About 50 jobs could go at heritage museum set to join the National Trust
All 188 staff at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust are taking part in a consultation
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:56 AM
About 50 jobs could be cut at a Shropshire-based museum that is set to be taken over by the National Trust
Three Kent-based Citizens Advice charities have merged in a bid to increase their capacity and expand services
Three Citizens Advice charities to merge
The organisations say the move will build capacity and enable them to expand their services
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Three Kent-based Citizens Advice charities have merged in a bid to increase their capacity and expand services
Former charity chief denies fraud charges
Former charity chief denies fraud charges
Nathan Sparling is accused of embezzling £15,984 from the now-defunct HIV Scotland
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Former charity chief denies fraud charges
Regulator opens case into charity embroiled in long-term strike action
Regulator opens case into charity embroiled in long-term strike action
The Charity Commission says it is examining the organisation’s governance and management
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Regulator opens case into charity embroiled in long-term strike action
Budget shows voluntary sector being treated as the ‘poor relation', SCVO warns
Budget shows voluntary sector being treated as the ‘poor relation', SCVO warns
The Scottish budget confirmed the government's ‘fairer funding' pilot for charities but the membership body says it had hoped for more
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Budget shows voluntary sector being treated as the ‘poor relation', SCVO warns
Christian charity ‘loses three-quarters of staff’ amid long-running governance dispute
Christian charity ‘loses three-quarters of staff’ amid long-running governance dispute, accounts show
The charity has been the subject of a Charity Commission inquiry since September 2024
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Christian charity ‘loses three-quarters of staff’ amid long-running governance dispute
Digital inclusion charity appoints new leader
Digital inclusion charity appoints new leader
Vicki Sellick joins from St John Ambulance
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Digital inclusion charity appoints new leader
Long-term grant funding is on the rise, research suggests
Long-term grant funding is on the rise, research suggests
The conclusions are based on survey involving more than 8,600 charity leaders
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Long-term grant funding is on the rise, research suggests
Views sought on impact of Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ+ charities
Views sought on impact of Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ+ charities
The survey is open to anyone who works for, volunteers, or receives support from civil society organisations
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Views sought on impact of Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ+ charities
"We need to fund the ‘glue’ of charities if we are serious about healing communities riven by division and increasingly susceptible to hate."
@barelycivilsociety.bsky.social
@barelycivilsociety.bsky.social
Alex Evans: It’s time for trusts and foundations to fund the glue
Without the tiny kitchens and corridors of community organisations, we may as well give up
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:28 AM
"We need to fund the ‘glue’ of charities if we are serious about healing communities riven by division and increasingly susceptible to hate."
@barelycivilsociety.bsky.social
@barelycivilsociety.bsky.social
360 Giving and Funders Together to merge
360 Giving and Funders Together to merge
360 Giving will become part of Funders Together but retain its name and activities
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:19 AM
360 Giving and Funders Together to merge
Veterans employment charity chief to retire
Veterans employment charity chief to retire
Alistair Halliday will step down at the end of July
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Veterans employment charity chief to retire
Almost half of UK adults likely to volunteer this year, research finds
Almost half of UK adults likely to volunteer this year, research finds
People were more likely to sign up for short-term opportunities or ones with flexible hours
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Almost half of UK adults likely to volunteer this year, research finds
ActionAid UK appoints permanent co-chiefs
ActionAid UK appoints permanent co-chiefs
Hannah Bond and Taahra Ghazi led the charity on an interim basis for nearly two years, alongside another director
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:19 AM
ActionAid UK appoints permanent co-chiefs
‘UK’s largest’ relationships charity created through multiple mergers
‘UK’s largest’ relationships charity created through multiple mergers
Six former Relate charities have become part of Talk, Listen, Change
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:18 AM
‘UK’s largest’ relationships charity created through multiple mergers
Museum workers vote to continue strike until the summer
Museum workers vote to continue strike until the summer
More than 40 workers have been on strike since August
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Museum workers vote to continue strike until the summer
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into a theatre charity that has not filed its annual report for almost two years
Regulator probes theatre charity
The Charity Commission says it has concerns about late accounts and possible unmanaged conflicts of interest
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:18 AM
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into a theatre charity that has not filed its annual report for almost two years
UK’s largest grantmaker reports £2bn rise in value of its investment portfolio
UK’s largest grantmaker reports £2bn rise in value of its investment portfolio
Wellcome’s portfolio is worth almost £40bn, according to its latest accounts
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 9:17 AM
UK’s largest grantmaker reports £2bn rise in value of its investment portfolio
For years now, the charity sector has faced a lot of headwinds that only seem to be strengthening. The question is, can we use them to move us forwards instead of blowing us backwards?
@martyndrake.bsky.social
@martyndrake.bsky.social
Martyn Drake: How can charities take advantage of adversity?
The headwinds facing the sector are strengthening, but some organisations have worked out how to become ‘antifragile’
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:54 AM
For years now, the charity sector has faced a lot of headwinds that only seem to be strengthening. The question is, can we use them to move us forwards instead of blowing us backwards?
@martyndrake.bsky.social
@martyndrake.bsky.social
Scottish charity promotes veteran worker to top job
Scottish charity promotes veteran worker to top job
Paul McCrory will succeed Linda Tuthill in February
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Scottish charity promotes veteran worker to top job
JustGiving’s website not fully compliant with fundraising code, regulator warns
JustGiving’s website not fully compliant with fundraising code, regulator warns
The Fundraising Regulator is ‘in dialogue’ with JustGiving and other online fundraising platforms, it says
www.thirdsector.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:53 AM
JustGiving’s website not fully compliant with fundraising code, regulator warns