Acevo
Priority has been 'managing the transition to a reduced turnover'
Acevo’s total membership fell from 1,971 in 2010 to 1,877 in 2011, according to the chief executives body’s annual report.
The report, which was distributed at last night’s annual meeting, attributes the decline to the tough economic climate.
The number of full members fell from 1,702 to 1,586. One of Acevo’s key performance indicators for the year was to increase the figure for full members to 1,810.
But the report says membership recruitment remained strong, with 442 new members joining.
Income declined slightly from £3.18m to £3.16m, but a fall in costs enabled Acevo to record a £38,543 surplus compared with a deficit of £11,135 the previous year.
The report says that the end of a number of grants in March 2011 meant it would run fewer events and training courses in 2011/12 and total delegate numbers were likely to be 30 per cent lower.
"The priority for the year has been to develop scenarios and strategies for managing the transition to a reduced turnover," the report says.
"In January 2011, a restructure took place within the policy, professional development, income generation and Acevo North teams with the unfortunate loss of six members of staff.
"The board have approved a break-even budget for the 2011/12 financial year and led a refresh of Acevo’s strategy to ensure that Acevo is fit for purpose to meet future challenges."
The report reveals that Acevo comfortably exceeded its press coverage target of being mentioned in an average of 26 news stories a month. It achieved 35.
It says demand for its crisis service, which offers members legal and emotional support, had increased by 21 per cent.
Acevo’s highest staff wage for the year was between £100,000 and £110,000.
Cath Lee, chief executive of the Small Charities Coalition, Allison Agius, executive director of third sector intermediary body Catalyst Stockton, and Paul Martin, chief executive of the Lesbian & Gay Foundation, were elected as new trustees at yesterday’s annual meeting.
Virginia Beardshaw, chief executive of children’s communication charity I Can, was re-elected as a trustee.
