Bright One Communications bids for charitable status

The volunteer-led agency, set up in 2008 by Ben Matthews to offer pro-bono support to the voluntary sector, is looking to become a registered charity so that it can grow its profile.

Matthews said: 'This means that we will be able to build stronger links within the sector, become more established and achieve a higher profile.

'By turning into a fully fledged charity, we will be able to receive more donations and it should ensure we have a sustainable organisation.'

The fate of the proposals, which have led to the agency recruiting new trustees to its board, is currently in the hands of the Charity Commission. A final decision is expected by May at the latest.

Vicky Browning, director of CharityComms, welcomed the development, adding that the offering of pro-bono comms was needed more than ever in the face of cuts to the sector.

A recently leaked report from the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations estimated that the charity sector as a whole faces local and national government cuts of between £1bn and £5.5bn.

The leaked report, obtained by the Labour Party, claimed that the 1,725 organisations applying to a new £100m transition fund, set up by the Government in order to help charities in financial trouble, faced losing 45 per cent of their total income as a result of the cuts.

Browning added that she would be 'astonished' if the cuts did not have an impact on charities' ability to communicate.

'Charities are already feeling the strain and you can see people being cut all over the place,' she added.

This article was first published on prweek.com