Despite recent negative press coverage on the performance of hedge funds, charities should still consider this alternative asset class. Alex Dolbey, director of Fauchier Partners, put the case for hedge funds of funds gaining credibility as an alternative to bonds and a diversifier of equities.

An ongoing research project has revealed that more than twice the number of young people volunteer than the rest of the adult population, with 41 per cent of the interviewed ˜youth' claiming to volunteer in comparison to just 19 per cent of the remaining population.

The number of charities using the internet for their banking continues to increase according to new research. The Charity Finance banking survey 2006 reveals that over a third of respondents use a website to make transactions with their bank, up from 22 per cent last year and only 8 per cent in 2004.

Delegates were reminded of the benefits of thin client technology by Richard Barrington, head of government affairs and public policy for Sun Microsystems, at the recent annual CFDG IT Conference. Barrington displayed awareness of environmental and humanitarian issues as he outlined Sun's corporate vision, focusing in particular on the Sun Ray thin client range.