ACAT are thrilled to announce that this year's conference will take place on Saturday, October 19th. We are moving around the country and this year we will be meeting at Eden Baptist Church, Cambridge, CB1 1ER.
Bookings are now closed; if you still wish to attend, please contact Cath via our enquiry form to check availability.
We want the conference to be attended by all, so this year, we have dramatically dropped the price to £20. Do bring along anyone connected with church finances or management.
Although we wish to meet you in person at the conference, we understand that not everyone can attend in person. We have arranged a livestreamed option for those unable to join us physically bookable HERE. This way, you won't miss out on any of the valuable insights and knowledge shared at the conference.
The 2024 AGM will also take place as part of the Conference. Members attending online will not be able to vote.
We aim to aid churches in their mission to grow the church. By meeting together, we will provide a space where you can hear from industry experts and meet fellow church treasures and trustees. Creating a space for questions and community. Our goal is to equip and inspire churches to fulfil their mission and create a meaningful impact in God's Church.
We will soon release more details about the conference!
The ACAT conference is ideal for anyone connected with the finances or management of a church. Whether you are the Treasurer, Chair or a Trustee. Whether you are part of a church of 20 or 20,000, there will be something for you.
The programme will be accessible to all, whether you are new to the role or have been there since the church began.
The conference is here to help you gain new knowledge of the world of finance and management in the Church.
Richard leads CAF Bank’s Charity Lending team. He is dedicated to providing a first-class lending service for charities and housing associations, so they can support their beneficiaries further.
His previous experience spans banking and educational finance, through a range of roles including commercial banking, branch and relationship management. Since joining CAF Bank in 2012, Richard has overseen the evolution and growth of CAF Bank's lending offering, working with a range of innovative and inspiring organisations to help them achieve their goals.
Heather Ford started off her career as a Housing Association Development Manager, project managing large housing projects from inception to completion. Her passion for historic church buildings led her to become a Church Buildings Officer with Manchester Diocese, supporting churches on fundraising campaigns, capital building projects and maintenance programmes.
Now as a Church Support Manager with Ecclesiastical she provides bespoke support and training for churches on a variety of topics including health & safety, insurance, risk management and fundraising. She sees this role very much as a way of supporting and enabling churches to deliver their mission and ministry.
Andrew Robinson MBE, Director, Market Development of CCLA. Prior to joining the Company, Andrew was Head of Community Development Banking for RBS and NatWest, responsible for the not-for-profit and social enterprise sectors. Before joining NatWest, he was the founding Executive Director of the UK’s first community development finance institution to provide loan finance to voluntary and community sector organisations working in the most disadvantaged communities in England.
Paul has spent most of his career, both as an employee and a trustee, in the fundraising, charity, and voluntary services sectors. He is employed by the Diocese of Manchester and is their Diocesan Giving Advisor. Over the last six years, as HMRC agent for the Gift Aid Lite scheme, he has modernised Gift Aid and GASDS claiming using web-based software to maximise individual church claims whilst also ensuring robust audit trails are in place. During the last tax year, the diocese claimed back almost £800k in Gift Aid and GASDS from HMRC on behalf of around 200 churches. Paul has also developed and implemented a diocesan Giving, Generosity, and Thankfulness strategy to support churches develop and enhance this important area of their mission and ministry. This has included organising, developing, and delivering high-quality training for Treasurers, Gift Aid Secretaries, clergy, and laity.
Gavin Smith has 20 years of church management and administration experience. He is passionate about the gospel and strengthening the church by supporting the work that happens behind the scenes. He currently serves as the Church Manager at Christchurch Newport and is the Founder of The Church Office, a CIO designed to support leadership and ministry work that happens behind the scenes. In his spare time, he's one of the Board Directors of UCAN (UK Church Administrators Network).
Karl Newton is the Deputy CEO of the National Churches Trust, responsible for supporting the Chief Executive in providing strategic and operational leadership for the charity. He joined the charity in 2023, having previously worked at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the University of London and the London School of Economics.
Livia is a charity lawyer at Bates Wells, a charity specialist law firm.
As part of her role, Livia advises a number of faith-based clients, providing support on a range of issues ranging from governance matters to guidance around trustee duties. Livia also regularly advises on matters relating to charity intellectual property.
Prior to joining Bates Wells in 2019, Livia was a paralegal and trainee at Stone King.
| Time | Details |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration |
| 10:00 | Welcome & opening prayer – Chairman of ACAT |
| 10:05 | Introducing our sponsors: - CAF Bank: Richard Hunt - Ecclesiastical: Heather Ford - CCLA: Andrew Robinson ‘Faith Consistent Investing’ |
| 10:45 | Key speaker – Paul Bailey from Manchester Diocese |
| 11:30 | Tea Break – an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 12:00 | Heather Ford from Ecclesiastical |
| 12:40 | Eddie Tulasiewicz – National Churches Trust (TBC) |
| 13:00 | Lunch - an opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 13:45 | ACAT AGM 2024 - An update on the work of ACAT and an opportunity to ask questions |
| 14:15 | Q&A sessions: - Richard Hunt – CAF Bank (main room) - Livia Velicu – ACAT - Karl Newton - NCT |
| 15:00 | Break – a final opportunity to visit our exhibitors and take some refreshment. |
| 15:15 | Q&A sessions: - Gavin Smith - Church Office (main room) - Heather Ford – Ecclesiastical - Paul Bailey and Others |
| 16:00 | Closing session – Errol Vassell: ACAT Chair |
| 16:30 | Cambridge Heritage Walk – meet at the Round Church (20 places) |
CAF Bank is more than a bank. We are dedicated to supporting charities and social purposes enterprises and understanding the pressures they face. Owned by a charity, the Charities Aid Foundation, we share the ethos of the 14,000 organisations using our banking, deposit account, and lending services. From the one-person causes to the large-scale organisations, we are the bank charities turn to. We believe in the power of good, and in treating the goals of charities as our own.
At Ecclesiastical, church insurance is not just something that we do, it’s our reason for being. You’re choosing real people that really care who know that a church is more than a building and what to do should the worst happen, because we've been doing it for 135 years.
CCLA is committed to delivering sustainable returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission. Our philosophy as an asset manager, our aim is to deliver superior, sustainable risk-adjusted returns to our clients in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission.
Since 1985 Data Developments have provided software, services and training for churches, faith-based organisations, foodbanks and charities. Our software and services greatly simplify the accounts, administration and donations work for your organisation and enables you to focus on your mission
Fundraising website easyfundraising turns online shopping into money for your church. When anyone in your church community shops online with any of over 7,500 well known retailers, every purchase they make results in a free monetary donation for your church.
Online since 2003 Liberty Accounts cloud accounting and payroll is designed to meet the requirements of not-for-profits. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it simplifies financial management. From tracking donations to generating reports, Liberty Accounts ensures transparency and compliance, allowing charities to focus on their mission while staying organised and efficient.
With more than three decades’ experience in the charity sector and an unparalleled network of expert consultants to draw on, we are able to provide valuable, cost-effective support across all facets of running not-for-profit organisations including: Charity governance, Strategy development, Fundraising consultancy, Marketing consultancy, Measuring outcomes and impact, Charity recruitment.
Venue: Eden Baptist Church, Cambridge, CB1 1ER
This is a full day conference, with registration at the venue from 09:30 and the conference itself running from 10:00 to 16:15. Refreshment and lunch are built into the programme & are always a great opportunity to interact with fellow treasurers.
The cost includes all materials, lunch and refreshments. All ACAT events are open to members and non-members.
Eden Baptist Church, Fitzroy Street, Cambridge CB1 1ER, UK
