Pilotlight initiative sparks Audit Scotland staff to volunteer their skills to charities

Audit Scotland is supporting three charities across the country to improve their financial planning and structure, as part of a scheme which recruits skilled business volunteers to provide expert advice to charities.

Since becoming a corporate partner of the capacity-building charity Pilotlight in spring 2013, Audit Scotland has teamed up members of staff – also known as 'Pilotlighters' – with Dundee Independent Advocacy Support, Home-Start Edinburgh West & South-West and PLUS Perth & Kinross.

Angela Cullen, assistant director,(left) was part of a team that worked with Home-Start Edinburgh West & South-West, a charity based in the capital which provides valuable services to families with children under the age of five.

Kasey McCall-Smith, chair of the board of trustees, explained: "When we began working with Pilotlight, Home-Start was struggling to focus on how to improve and expand our service to best serve the families in our area.

"Our Pilotlight team dissected every aspect of our business model and challenged us to think about how to effectively deliver high quality services. Angela played an instrumental role in getting us to consider strategic finance options that would maximise our current staff and assets, while building sensibly toward a brighter, more stable future."

Angela added: "I had a real buzz from working with my charity and learnt that a small organisation can make changes quickly. It’s been really satisfying to see that the Pilotlight team has been able to make a difference."

Meanwhile, PLUS Perth & Kinross, a charity which enables people who have accessed mental health services to get involved in their communities, was guided by Pilotlighters on how to improve its financial planning, board structure and fundraising.

Susan Scott, PLUS Perth development manager, said: "I picked up a good deal of practical information from the Pilotlight team; we spent a lot of time talking about boards and how to manage them effectively, which previously I knew nothing about.

"I felt very privileged to have had this opportunity. It has given me so much in the way of improved confidence and useful knowledge to put to good use in my organisation."

Speaking about her experience, Audit Scotland's Claire Sweeney, senior manager, (left) said: "Working with PLUS Perth & Kinross has made me see the city differently. I've been given an insight into the lives of a group of people who are passionate and imaginative about using the city’s space and resources."

Angela Canning, an assistant director at Audit Scotland, is working with Dundee Independent Advocacy Support, and praised the "ambition and forward-thinking" that was evident in the organisation, which provides independent advocacy for people with learning or physical disabilities, dementia or mental health issues, as well as those aged over 65.

Gillian Murray, Pilotlight's Chief Executive, said: "All the charities that we work with have great expertise in their field and the determination to support their communities, but too often the day to day gets in the way and it's hard to focus on strategic goals and the bigger picture.

"Partnering them with a team of professionals, like Pilotlighters from Audit Scotland, has allowed the charities to look at their work differently, plan for the future and ultimately, help more people. And of course, our Pilotlighters learn a great deal too."

For information on how to take part in Pilotlight, visit www.pilotlight.org.uk