Building a lasting partnership: UHY and Burton upon Trent YMCA
Rising costs, reduced funding opportunities and increased financial pressures are putting significant pressure on many charities in the UK. In such a challenging environment, a long-lasting client/adviser relationship can only be forged through trust, understanding and a commitment to delivering above and beyond.
For over a decade, these principles have formed the foundation of our relationship with Burton upon Trent & District YMCA, a charity providing accommodation, support, food and furniture to people in Burton upon Trent and the surrounding area.
Burton upon Trent & District YMCA (YMCA Burton) is an independent Christian charity dedicated to supporting individuals in times of need, regardless of gender, race, ability or faith. They provide a safe and supportive environment for homeless individuals, offering 71 single-occupancy units across three sites in the Burton area. Beyond housing, the charity offers practical and emotional support to help those in need address past challenges and develop skills for independent living. Other services provided include a food bank distributing emergency food and three stores supplying affordable furniture and household effects to families across Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
There are 83 local YMCAs across England and Wales, collectively supporting over 375,000 young people each year. While each YMCA shares common values and collaborates with other YMCAs, the local YMCAs operate as autonomous entities. This structure allows YMCA Burton to tailor their services to the specific needs of their local community, but it also requires an accountant with a deep understanding of their federation structure, unique funding arrangements and the need to satisfy a number of regulatory authorities.
Our Nottingham office first began providing audit services to YMCA Burton more than 10 years ago. Today, the audit is led by UHY Director, Chris McKain. With a collaborative relationship in place between YMCA Burton and UHY, Chris’ team can start the audit quickly and effectively each year, always seeking improvements in efficiencies and processes where possible. The audit process is thorough and tailored to the specific needs of YMCA Burton, ensuring that all financial practices are in line with regulatory requirements and best practices.
YMCA Burton’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Laffey, explains our long-standing relationship is centred around mutual trust and understanding. Describing his relationship with the UHY team, Paul says "They have exceptional knowledge of the charity sector, particularly how our federation structure works, a deep understanding of complex funding arrangements, funders' requirements, and the need to satisfy a number of regulatory authorities."
Sharing good practice and continuous learning
The charity sector is unique, demanding a strong understanding of financial intricacies, the regulatory environment and changing market dynamics. Over the past decade, we have seen reduced government and local authority funding with increased demand for homelessness support, food banks and crisis services put pressure on resources. YMCA Burton has expanded its income streams through charity shops, fundraising initiatives and partnerships as a result.
"Our partnership with UHY has not only been about completing the audit, but also about sharing good practice and learning," says Paul Laffey. "They meet all the deadlines agreed and deliver their audit findings and presentations to the Senior Management Team, Chief Executive, Treasurer and Board of Trustees. This comprehensive approach is important to keep us informed."
Our UHY team’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and the charity’s evolving needs has been instrumental in our relationship. Central to our success has been ensuring all team members assigned to the YMCA Burton audit have a deep knowledge of the charity, its strategy, and the unique requirements of its funding and regulatory obligations. This ensures the service we provide is based on real understanding and empathy.
Support that goes beyond compliance
The long-standing relationship between UHY and YMCA Burton is built on trust and confidence. Communication channels are always open, with direct lines to Chris and the senior UHY team. We are available throughout the year as a sounding board for any issues or concerns, including those outside of the audit. The value placed on this support was summed up by Paul Laffey, who added:
"Burton upon Trent YMCA has been working with the Director and management team at UHY Hacker Young for over 10 years. I have no hesitation in recommending Chris McKain and his team to any charity seeking top-quality professional service and good value for money.”
Building long-term resilience
The partnership between our UHY team and YMCA Burton exemplifies the importance of tailored financial support and sector expertise. Through a comprehensive audit service, strong sector knowledge and commitment to sharing good practice, our UHY team have helped the charity build long-term financial resilience and stability.
With the same dedication that has fuelled our decade long journey, we look forward to continuing to support YMCA Burton’s audit requirements and contributing to their continued success for years to come.
