Press Release: New group to support learned societies to be led by Chantrey Vellacott DFK

A new group to support learned societies is set to be launched.
The Learned and Professional Societies Forum is made up of key professionals from a range of disciplines and is co-ordinated by leading accountancy firm Chantrey Vellacott DFK.
The forum, which has held its first two meetings, is planning a number of seminars for learned and professional societies covering a range of relevant topics specifically for this sector.
Helena Wilkinson, a partner at Chantrey Vellacott and a specialist in the audit of charities and other not-for-profit organisations, said there was a need for the 600-plus societies to ensure they were supported in their role.
“The Foundation for Science and Technology used to organise a range of seminars and events until attendees began to dwindle but there is undoubtedly a need for the societies to share a great deal of experiences and knowledge,” she said.
“That will include things such as ensuring they can get the best out of their investments and reserves, managing risk and using insurance to mitigate risk and considering the merits of indemnity insurance.
“But while those issues are pressing for all charities and organisations, bringing the learning societies together will help them share good practice on key issues such as membership, publishing, seminars and conferences. 
“We are hoping to hold the first seminar in February and then others to follow for five or six events a year to start with and build the activities from there.”
One of the members of the new forum Keith Lawrey, Learned Societies Liaison Office, at the Foundation for Science and Technology, said the new forum would be well received.
He said: “We are sure there is a market out there for seminars which are of use across the sector. When we used to host them we had audiences of up to 100 but we had to charge, and when professional firms started to stage them for free, ours began to wane.
“I think this a very exciting development and the concept of an independent body holding these sort of sessions will prove very popular as we know there is a demand.”
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