The greatly anticipated Rathbones’ Annual Charity Symposium took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 7 September inside the grand Merchant Taylors' Hall, Threadneedle Street. Charity trustees, advisers and charity investment managers came together to discuss the future of the charity sector, what can be done in the current climate and illuminating talks were given by guest speakers from the charity finance world and beyond.

To commence the event, Mark Nicholls, Rathbones’ chairman, warmly welcomed guests from all corners of the charity sector. Many were eye opened, intrigued and entertained by the editor-in-chief of Money Week and Financial Times writer, Merryn Somerset Webb, as she informed us in her notoriously frank and witty style of the current state of the gloomy global economy. Rathbones’ Head of charity investment, Ivo Clifton, examined some less commonly thought of high return investments, in terms of handbags, whiskey and high speed rail, reminding us to remain open to all opportunity. Ivo took us through changes to the components of a company that the markets can determine and how this can impact charities too, with case studies of long and highly established companies, such as Pearson.

The significance of the role of charity in society today was addressed by politician and charity entrepreneur, Lord Wei, former UK government adviser to the ‘Big Society’. Lord Wei focused on social investment and the benefits and disadvantages of taking social enterprise status. He confidently summarised the importance of current social initiatives and the vital role in society charities now find themselves in. The seminars ended with a moving send off by four time Olympic gold medallist rower, Sir Matthew Pinsent. By drawing on his career as a competitive athlete, he gave insight to the challenges he experienced and how persevering and seizing the challenges of competing in difficult and unfamiliar times can be applied in our current climate.  His story engrossed listeners as he told of the fine line between success and failure by testimony of his race in the Athens 2008 Olympics, when the fate of victory came down to a distance of a pen.

The day concluded in the magical open air courtyard where many could not resist staying for the delicious canapés and drinks, a perfect opportunity to come together with diverse missions, objectives and ideas to share and develop further as a sector.

We do hope that everyone who joined us is already looking forward to next year's Symposium.

Further event information:

• Watch the Charity Symposium 2011 video
• View the photographs from the Charity Symposium 2011.
• Read more about what our guest speakers had to say:

        Merryn Somerset-Webb
        Ivo Clifton
        Lord Wei
        Sir Matthew Pinsent

‘Winner of the £500 charitable donation is Dr G Mizer of the Engineering Development Trust, congratulations’