SAVE THE CHILDREN UK NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
Introduction
Save the Children U.K., a non-profit organization main purposes include helping children and families in poverty, building communities in deprived areas, and focusing on early years intervention with a vison to help children survive and be protected (appendices: 1).
Analysis of Three Management Challenges in Save The Children U.K.
The organisation has been facing many management challenges; and mainly acquire money through donations (Farragher, 2020). The three analysis will focus on; Staff and volunteer Management, Marketing Branding and Cooperate Identity, Income generation and financial management supported by a SWOT Analysis.
Staff and Volunteer Management
Save the children’s Human Resources weaknesses (appendices:5) on processes and practices failures due to poor leadership with inadequate work place culture resulted to loosing public trust and employees. The Independent review findings indicated that employees were ignored, humiliated ridiculed, gender harassment, sexual attention and bullied. (Ratcliffe. R. 2018). The organisations implemented a new strategy’s to improve the working culture however, former employees suggest that these practices have failed continuously time after time (BBC, 2020). Oxfam has also been scrutinised for its toxic culture and management practices (O’Neil. Sean, 2019).
Save the children since has improved its internal mamagment and working culture and recruiting a skilled workforce globally (appendices:2).
Marketing, Branding and Cooperate Identity
Save the children U.K. has significant weaknesses (appendices:5) , which lost public trust, and in return, this affects the methods of marketing, branding and the corporate identity of the organisation (appendices: 3). Analysis indicated the efficiency and integrity of the organisation had a decrease in donations due to public trusting the organisation similar to Oxfam since the public have lost trust in the charity sector (Booth, 2018).
The organisation advocacy a strategy campaigning method such as the coronavirus pandemic (STC, 2020), with various external market channels (appendices: 3) is delivering the message directly to the audience allowing to raise funds and rebuild trust.
Income generation and financial management
The organisation challenges significant weaknesses of low-income generation (appendices: 4), unrestricted and restricted funds from various sources such as closure of charity shops and fund raising events being cancelled are having departmental effects causing many charities to sink (Kay, 2020).
The organisation in 2018 withdrew government funding (BBC, 2020), having to use reserve money to cover the losses. Charities such as Oxfam are facing income generation problems since most governments and other donors are focusing their finances to fighting the current pandemic. It’s estimated the sector could lose up to £4.3 billion (Hurst .G, 2020) resulting charities in a similar situation petitioning for government to support the charity sector (May, 2020).
The social economy with the aim of reciprocity is human bonding or solidarity (Pearce (2003), the organisation is using its far-reaching abilities to convince other bodies to donate money since more children need help during this pandemic.
Conclusions
In short, Save the children U.K. should always follow the charity commission guidelines, monitor management practices, take responsibility, accountable be transparent to have a trusted cooperate identity. The government and people must come together as the children are the future.
References
.
BBC, 2020 Save The Children ‘let down’ Staff And Public Over Harassment Claims [Online]
Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51749168 [Accessed on: April 9th 2020].
Booth. R., 2018. Charities Need To Stop Slide In Public Trust Warns Regulator.
[Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/03/charities-need-stop-slide-public-trust-warns-regulator [Accessed on May 7th 2020].
Farragher, J., 2020. What Are Some Of The Biggest Challenges Facing Not-For-Profit Organisations In 2020?. [online] Theaccessgroup.com. Available at: <https://www.theaccessgroup.com/blog/what-are-some-of-the-biggest-challenges-facing-not-for-profit-organisations-in-2020/> [Accessed 14 April 2020].
Hurst .G, 2020. Charity Cashflow Crisis Caused By Coronavirus. [Online] Available at:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charity-cashflow-crisis-caused-by-coronavirus-ngtz8jk9z [Accessed on April 20th 2020].
Kay. L, 2020. Coronavirus: Save The Children, CRUK, British Foundation and Oxfam Close All of Their Shops. [Online] Available at: https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/coronavirus-save-children-cruk-british-heart-foundation-oxfam-close-shops/fundraising/article/1677551 [Accessed on April 19th 2020].
May. M, 2020. Coronavirus: Charities Cannot Meet Surge In Demand Without Urgent Government Funding. [ Online] Available at: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/03/31/coronavirus-charities-cannot-meet-surge-in-demand-without-urgent-government-funding/[Accessed April 20th 2020].
Pearce. 2003. Social Economy & Solidarity Economy.[Online] Available at: https://base.socioeco.org/docs/lewis-swinney.pdf [Accessed on May 5th 2020].
Ratcliffe. R. 2018. One In Four Save The Children Staff’ Suffer Discrimination Or
Harassment .[Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/oct/09/one-in-four-save-the-children-staff-suffer-discrimination-or-harassment-review-finds [Accessed on April 24th 2020].
Save The Children U.K., 2020. Coronavirus Standing With Families Together.[Online] Available at:
https://action.savethechildren.org.uk/page/58032/data/1?_ga=2.45951268.1862348055.1586813700-967377021.1586813700 [Accessed on April 9th 2020].
O’Neil. Sean, 2019. Oxfam Culture Still Toxic, Says Whistle blower. [Online] Available at:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/oxfam-culture-still-toxic-says-whistleblower-8btwjsrsq [Accessed on April 24th
Appendices
Appendices: 1
Portfilo:1 Mission & Vison
| Purpose: | Help children & families in poverty Support home learning environment. Build communities in deprived areas. Key agencies work together. Children don’t fall behind. Fill gaps of denied chances to succeed. Focus on early years intervention(Savethechildren.org.uk, 2020a). | Established: | MAY 1919, Founders Eglantyne Jebb & Dorthey Buxton, aftermath of first world war children starving and lack of malnutrition globally. To improve children lives, Healthcare, Education. Close gaps between poverty. (Savethechildren.org.uk, 2020b).. |
| Vision: | Work with families. Decrease gap of poverty. Children work to full potential. Work with homes, nurseries, schools and communities, narrow gap between child poverty (STC.org.uk, 2020b). | Mission | To help children survive. Protected with opportunities to learn. |
References:
Savethechildren.org.uk. (2020a). HOW ARE YOU MEANT TO HELP?” PARENTS’
PERSPECTIVES ON SUPPORTING THEIR CHILDREN’S LEARNING. [online] Available at: https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/gb/reports/education/haymth_lcpw_final_report.pdf [Accessed 5 Feb. 2020].
Savethechildren.org.uk. (2020)b. England | Save the Children UK. [online] Available at:
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/what-we-do/uk-work/england [Accessed Feb 6th. 2020].
Appendices : 2
Portfolio:3 Analyse Your Organisation’s Human Resource
Over the past four years, the organization has deployed 25 times across 23 nations and trained more 5000 health employees. Currently, the organization is employing about 25000 staff. The company offers careers across a wide range of professions- whether in hands-on humanitarian work or international development or with the support functions such as global assurance, legal, finance, information technology, or human resource. About 8000 staff are employed permanently. As of December 31st 2016, the organization had 1148 employees with 9 percent working internationally and 91 percent working in the United Kingdom to support the firm with technical expertise and humanitarian surge capacity (STC,2020). The organisation has about 13000 United Kingdom volunteers who provide a critical force behind the organization’s work. Save the Child has 112 specialist staff members that are distributed internationally to offer technical support and humanitarian capacity to the overseas program (Ahammad, Glaister and Junni, 2019).
Reference:
Ahammad, M., Glaister, K., & Junni, P.,2019. Organizational ambidexterity and human resource practices. The International Journal Of Human Resource Management, 30(4), 503-507. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2019.1538651
STC., 2020. Our Organisation. [Online] Available at:https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-organisation. [Accessed on February 24th 2020]
Appendices: 3
Portfilio:4 Branding & Marketing
The organisation uses various channels of social media such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. On Instagram photos of children are used in order to show the success of their projects and encourage recognition of the programmes like Wonder books, creative workshops, and raise awareness of global issues in places like Yemen and Syria (Save the Children, 2020a). Over the past years, the organisation success in its course of actions particular showing powerful advertising of children in the U.K. unable to have one meal day due to high levels of poverty. Essentially, the public can acquire information from social media and make their contributions through the same channel i.e. Instagram. (Auter & Fine, 2018). For purposes of running successful fundraising campaigns, the brand management links donations with impact keep their brand front and centre and soft launches their campaign. They also apply different approaches such as phone solicitations, E-mail marketing, and crowd funding(Save the Children, 2020b). Over the past years, the organisation success in its course of actions particular showing powerful advertising of children in the U.K. unable to have one meal day due to high levels of poverty. Essentially, the public can acquire information from social media and make their contributions through the same channel i.e. Instagram. (Auter & Fine, 2018). For purposes of running successful fundraising campaigns, the brand management links donations with impact keep their brand front and centre and soft launches their campaign. They also apply different approaches such as phone solicitations, E-mail marketing, and crowd funding(Save the Children, 2020b). Generally, the organisation links its fundraising and campaigning through building the brand with emotions as a personal as it gets that make us act instantly by donating after listening to the message . The brand itself showing children suffering tells the audience the main objective by giving a message and campaigning to fundraise, as mentioned previously advocacy is a powerful tool and who delivers the message can be as powerful as the campaign itself. Generally, the organisation links its fundraising and campaigning through building the brand with emotions as a personal as it gets that make us act instantly by donating after listening to the message . The brand itself showing children suffering tells the audience the main objective by giving a message and campaigning to fundraise, as mentioned previously advocacy is a powerful tool and who delivers the message can be as powerful as the campaign itself.
Refences
Auter, Z.J. and Fine, J.A., 2018. Social media campaigning: Mobilization and
fundraising on Facebook. Social Science Quarterly, 99(1), pp.185-200.
Save the Children., 2018. Annual Report. Available at:
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/gb/reports/annual-report-2018-save-the-children.pdf [Accessed: 12 March 2020].
Save the Children.,2019a.Today’s Youth Leaders for Nutrition. Available at:
https://blogs.savethechildren.org.uk/2019/08/todays-youth-leaders-for-nutrition/ [Accessed: 12 March 2020]
Save the Children.,2020b. Centennial. [Online] Available at:
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/more-ways-to-help/campaign-with-us/centennial [Accessed10 March 2020].
Appendices: 4
Portfolio:2 Income Generation and Financial Management
In 2018, the organisation raised 303 million pounds from corporate, individual, and large institutional donors that comprised of the United Nations, the Department for International Development, and the European Union. The total revenue for 2017 was 759.5 million pounds (KMPG, 2017). The restricted income for 2017 and 2018 was 211 and 314 million pounds, respectively, which indicates a reduction of 103 million pounds (STC, 2018a). In the year 2018, the organisation used 276 and 39 million pounds on charitable events and raising money, respectively (Save the Children, 2018). The NGO keeps a reserve of between 33 and 40 million pounds (STC, 2018a). In 2018, the reserve was 33 million pounds to cater to a temporary loss of income. The organization agreed to contribute a deficient recovery plan where 4.7 million pounds would be contributed yearly between 2018 and 2020. Since March 2019, the NGO started to pay its employees an hourly wage of 10.55 and 9 pounds in London and the rest of the U.K. In 2020, the organization will spend more on the safety of children in conflict regions (STC, 2020b).
References:
KMPG.., 2017.Income Tax Returns 2017.[Online] Available at:
https://www.savethechildren.org/content/dam/usa/reports/advocacy/stc-990-2017.pdf [Accessed on MAY 10th 2020].
STC., 2018a. 100 Years of Fighting For Children [Online] Available at:
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/gb/reports/annual-report-2018-save-the-children.pdf [Accessed on May 10th 2020].
STC., 2020b. Stop The War On Children.[Online] Available at:
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/gb/reports/stop_the_war_on_children_report_2019.pdf [Accessed on May 10th 2020].
Appendices: 5
SWOT Analysis: Internal/External On Save The Children U.K.
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| Strengths | Weaknesses | Opportunities | Threats | ||||
| *Mission and vison to help and protect children in poverty ensuring they safe. *STC UK work with families around the U.K. helping children in poverty focusing on early learning allowing them to fulfil to tear full potential. *Helping families create theirs homes into a learning environment. *Early learning development. *Build blocks programmes allowing families to have the essential resources like book, toys , table to eat on and a bed to sleep in. *Early learning packs , *Parents supported through programmes. *Innovation such as wonder words campaign to help families talk, sing and play. *Decrease gap of poverty. *Better Healthcare *Work with Nurseries , schools and communities . *Work around England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. *Always promoting for volunteers, fundraising and lately the coronaviruses appeal. *Financial Position: STC Raised 314 million between (2017-2018). *Work force: STC has deployed staff globally, trained more than 5,000 health employees. Wide range of carers with 8,000 permanent staff with 91% up staff and 13,00 up volunteers. *Social Media advocacy campaigns have been successful getting public attentions and donations through different channels such as tv, radio, verbally and on the phone allowing different ways for donations. *Partnerships : with private sectors such as , PepsiCo, google, Facebook, Johnson &Jonson, Ikea, GSK, and many more as well as INGOs. | *Securing long term Research Development *Cash flow problems: Income raised in 2018 was 303, using million and dip due to scandals , and had to use 33 million reserves to compensate loss of income. *Workforce issues and company culture: STC UK former Chief Executive Justin Forsyth recently faced complaints on his behaviour which came to attention in 2018, also former chief strategist Bredon Cox was accused of sexual harassment and resigned. The Independent Review report stated that there were 13 complaints in the organisation between 2016-2018 (Dr Shale. S, 2018). This indicated that the senior management had serious management workplace culture issues (Stowell, 2020). *Regulations: the organisations working culture did not follow regulations with scandals which had=s left the public to feel uncertainty about the organisation as a whole, effecting the decrease in donors. *Covid-19: Furthermore, STC UK like many other charities and organisations are facing uncertainty affecting its growth, revenue, and fundraising due to Covid-19 pandemic. | Social media increase in donations due to current pandemic. Population growth: mire families in poverty and could be an advantage for more donations . *Movement to bail out None profit organisation sector. benefits for STC. Tax policy : tax exemptions and reliefs. Government funds to help support STC . *Recruiting skilled people: The Chef Executive is Kevin Watkins and leadership team are Sam Sharpe Financial officer, Kirsty McNeil Executive Director, Gemma Sherrington Executive Director, Gwen Hines Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and Patron HRH princess Ann. Other Executives all have a fast experience and knowledge in working aboard and all bring valuable knowledge to the board room. *Operations can in the U.K. and globally with collective resources and capabilities. Regulations more of favour governed by the charity act 2011 allowing to campaign with objectives. | *Competitors and technology is moving fast and STC need to keep up with new innovations. * Increasing Competitors such as Oxfam stores may result to STC reducing prices instore. Uncertainty due to coronavirus with losses exceeding over 1 billion in the charity stores. *Regulations: the organisations working culture did not follow regulations with scandals which has left the public to feel uncertainty about the organisation as a whole, effecting the decrease in donors. *Promotions by competitors i.e., constant advertising are threats to STC and affordability constraints. |
Reference:
Brindle. D, 2019. Fewer Britons Donate To Charities After Scandal Erode Trust. Sector Faces
Challenges As Study Shows Proportion Directly Pledging Cash Falls to 57% [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/07/fewer-britons-donate-charities-after-scandals-erode-trust [Accessed April 9TH 2020] .
Dr Shale. S, 2018. The Independent Review of Workplace Culture at Save the Children U.K.
[Online] Available at:
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/content/dam/gb/reports/independent-review-of-workplace-culture-at-save-the-children-uk.pdf [Accessed on April 9th 2020].
Hurst .G, 2020. Charity Cashflow Crisis Caused By Coronavirus. [Online] Available at:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charity-cashflow-crisis-caused-by-coronavirus-ngtz8jk9z [Accessed on April 20th 2020].
Kay. L, 2020. Coronavirus: Save The Children, CRUK, British Foundation and Oxfam Close All of Their Shops. [Online] Available at: https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/coronavirus-save-children-cruk-british-heart-foundation-oxfam-close-shops/fundraising/article/1677551 [Accessed on April 19th 2020].
Save The Children U.K., 2020. Coronavirus Standing With Families Together.[Online] Available
at:https://action.savethechildren.org.uk/page/58032/data/1?_ga=2.45951268.1862348055.1586813700-967377021.1586813700 [Accessed on April 9th 2020].
Stowell, R., 2020. Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. [Online] Available at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/870390/The_Save_the_Children_Fund__Save_the_Children_UK__Inquiry_report.pdf> [Accessed 20 April 2020].