{"id":47998,"date":"2026-09-11T17:27:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T16:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47998"},"modified":"2026-09-11T17:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T16:38:32","slug":"ihbcs-newest-branch-committee-bulletin-from-the-ihbcs-director-ihbcs-national-updates-for-local-volunteer-leads-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=47998","title":{"rendered":"IHBC\u2019s newest \u2018Branch Committee Bulletin, from the IHBC\u2019s Director\u2019: IHBC\u2019s national updates for local volunteer leads \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The IHBC\u2019s new Branch Committee Bulletin<\/em> has been issued, updating our Branch committees<\/a> on strategic developments and current priorities, while if you want to find out more just check the NewsBlogs<\/em><\/a> or contact your Branch Officers or the IHBC\u2019s National Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click on the image below to sign up for IHBC member and network alerts:<\/p>\n\n\n

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IHBC Director Sean O\u2019Reilly writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear IHBC Branch Committee\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With apologies offered for an uncomfortably full Bulletin update, I do hope that the content serves well as explanation for the delay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are pressed for time, I\u2019d encourage you to skim forward to select the sections of most interest, and come back to the others as needed.  Please remember too that these are all informal guides and updates, and we\u2019ll confirm details separately when more formal statements are ready to be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As ever, do feel free to circulate this Bulletin to your Committee or more widely through your Branch networks or communications.  If some content can help any of your own Branch communications or networks, please also adapt them as needs too.  These updates are always provisional and subject to change, however, and more current and updates of mainstream IHBC news appear in our NewsBlogs<\/a> service, so keep an eye on those too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you will see from the content below, the IHBC\u2019s National Office support service has seen even more changes in recent months.  We have been extending support for volunteers and our members\u2019 networks and enhancing our own infrastructure, all while maintaining our core services \u2013 publications, training, accreditation and advocacy etc<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we continue to grow, some areas have come under particular pressure \u2013 especially our accreditation assessments which have been running a little behind the curve for a while due to member interest and internal capacity.  Similarly our in-person MATE session guidance for accreditation has been in abeyance.  And, as Branch Treasurers especially will know, this year – for the first and only time – our income has exceeded the threshold that triggers a full and, for all the IHBC, a more complex audit of our finances, one that matches listed companies better than small charities.  These audits contrast starkly with the usual lighter touch \u2018examination\u2019 by our accountants that you will know well.  We did hope we could stay under the threshold \u2013 even, finally, changing our Financial Year for accounting purposes to the more familiar tax year\u2013 but to no avail.  However this audit is a one-off event, while resources and plans to address all these and other pressures are tied to initiatives reported on below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So while I\u2019d ask for patience in these and other pressured areas, I\u2019d encourage also a focus on the progress that we can celebrate, all much tied to our Charter progress and allied growth.  Perhaps the most important recent and current matters to be aware of just now are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n