Considering a Business Continuity Scheme for a Charity

In contrast to my previous blog I am now going to consider some work I have done for a small charity.

This gives a real life approach to a real life problem.

This blog focuses on the resilience journey of the public and not for profit sector.

So here goes!

The organisation I will consider is a small charity which offers meals twice weekly to members of the aged community. It offers trips and speakers and games and other distractions. It charges nominal fees for lunches and offers welfare advice.

The organisation needs a bcm for the following reasons;

1. Identify the challenges/risks the organisation faces

2.prioritise those challenges.

3.plan approaches to mitigate those risks and

challenges the organisation faces.

4.Instigate a process for any unknown risks and challenges.

5. Implement and review the approaches to expexpected and unexpected risks.

The risks are being analysed properly. The risks need to be put to a time frame whether they are short, medium and long term risks.

We need to identify how we move forward and be in a position to bounce back from any expected or unexpected disruption.

Risks could entail funding, right people,modern processes and procedures, proper and up to date processes and procedures for our clients and effective leadership, management and democratic consultation with our stakeholders.

Only after taking out these points could we aim towards providing a specific bcm for our organisation.

The specific steps I would follow to achieve an effective bcm for my organisation are as follows:

1. Workshop with staff and key stakeholders to identify the key risks to my organisation, including their likelihood and impact and when they might occur.

2. Prioritise the risks identified in 1, within a wide workshop context.

3.Action plan to mitigate, transfer or eliminate the risks identified in 1. above

4.agree a process for blackswan type risks that you will not foresee. At least you will have a process for these unknown unknowns that you can default to. At least you will have a chance then!

5. Implement and review strategies to cope with expected and unexpected risks.

We need to ensure the organisation can continue after it has experienced shocks, changes and disruptions. It must be in a position to do so, this must be our ultimate goal.

To do this we must work very closely with staff and stakeholders to ensure we are in the right place to do so.

Our small charity would clearly benefit from such an approach.

This is a way forward for

charities!

We have explored risks and risk

register construction.

I will move on to reserves and risk policy next!