We are aware that numerous registered charities have received donations from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust and may be unsure about what to do with these donations.

Accepting or refusing future donations

It is up to a charity’s trustees to make the difficult decision as to whether they should refuse a donation. They must make this decision on the basis of the best interests of the charity. That will include weighing up any issues around how the funds were raised, which may include reputational concerns, against the financial impact on the charity of turning the donation down.

Different charities may legitimately come to different decisions, and trustees can approach the Commission for advice if they are unsure about their approach.

Keeping or returning donations already accepted

As with accepting or refusing future donations, when deciding whether to keep or return donations that have already been accepted, trustees should think carefully about, and be able to demonstrate, what is in the best interest of their charities.

Depending on the terms of the donations and how the funds were raised, there may be restrictions on whether a donation can be returned and the Commission may need to authorise such returns. Charities should seek the Commission’s advice about whether our authorisation is required in their specific case. Trustees may wish to seek their own legal advice. The Commission does not expect trustees to return funds raised for charitable purposes in the circumstances but understands if they wish to consider doing so.

Trustees should remember their duty to report any serious incidents which could harm their charity’s reputation to the Commission. See our guidance on How to report a serious incident in your charity.

To seek the Commission’s advice on this matter please contact rauemailteam@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk with The President’s Club in the subject line.

A flourishing export market has been vital in helping to make Wales one of the fastest growing economies of all UK regions and nations, worth £60 billion.

Highlighting Welsh exports worth nearly £15 billion in 2016, a rise of more than 10% year-on-year, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Elizabeth Truss said the UK Government is committed to a post-Brexit economy that gives Wales more freedom to export goods abroad and continue to grow.

Visiting the brand new Sure Chill headquarters in Cardiff, Elizabeth Truss and Alun Cairns saw for themselves the lifesaving technology being exported from Wales to 47 countries around the world. Sure Chill manufacture and create technology that provides medical refrigeration without any power, even in the hottest conditions.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Elizabeth Truss, said:

Whether it’s globally renowned Welsh food or advanced technology, the UK Government wants Wales to sell even more of what it has to offer around the world.

The Welsh economy continues to grow, in part thanks to the strong export economy here.

That’s why the UK Government is investing hundreds of millions of pounds in Wales and we are fully committed to ensuring Welsh businesses are able to benefit from the independent trade deals we are preparing for after Brexit.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Wales is an ambitious outward-looking nation, home to some of the most innovative businesses developing products that are being sold around the world.

Sure Chill is a shining example of a company capitalising on the global demand for their goods. It goes to show how ambitious Welsh innovation can go a long way – saving and protecting the lives of those hundreds and thousands of miles away.

The UK Government is ready to support any Welsh business looking to follow in their footsteps and take advantage of every opportunity available to them to grow and expand into new markets.

Latest figures show that export goods from Wales to Europe were valued at £9.5 billion and sales to North America were worth £2.5 billion.

The UK Government in Wales has sent a copy of the Wales Export Guide to more than 26,000 Welsh businesses identified as potential exporters.

The Wales specific guide sets out the full range of support available to Welsh businesses from the UK Government and contains inspiring stories of companies based in Wales that are successfully exporting.

At Budget, thanks to the decisions taken by the UK Government, the Welsh Government’s budget was increased by £1.2 billion. The UK Government is also investing more than £615 million in the Cardiff and Swansea City Deals over the next 20 years, alongside working on growth deals for North Wales and Mid Wales, and vital transport upgrades for West Wales.

The Ministers also met with representatives from Wales’ burgeoning tech sector at a meeting at Caspian Point in partnership with the ESTnet – a network of technology organisations whose members design, develop, manufacture or integrate electronic and software technologies.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry, Copeland MP Trudy Harrison, and Sellafield Ltd head of community and development Jamie Reed

From its world-renowned castles to our home-grown theatre productions, UK Government Minister Lord Bourne will see first-hand the crucial contribution the North Wales tourism and culture industries makes to the Welsh economy today (26 January).

The Minister will visit Rhyl’s Sea Quarium and attend further business meetings in other tourism destinations in North East Wales, as the latest tourism figures reveal the number of overseas visits to Wales are on the rise.

Lord Bourne said:

Tourism is big business in Wales and our outstanding attractions are regularly highlighted as some of the best places in the world to visit.

It is encouraging to see how North Wales is harnessing the appeal of its cultural and heritage attractions to benefit communities right across the country.

The visit comes as the latest tourism figures reveal there were 909,000 overseas visits to Wales from January to September last year, up 6% compared to the same time in 2016. Visitors to Wales also spent £337 million, boosting the Welsh economy.

Lord Bourne added:

Tourism is one of the UK’s most valuable export industries.

It is also a fiercely competitive global industry and these results not only demonstrate Wales’ continued ability to compete internationally for visitors, they are testament to tourism’s importance as a driver of economic growth.

ENDS