St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon has seen an 80 per cent saving in its phone bill by working with Support Telecom, a partner programme set up by a local entrepreneur to reduce charities’ phone bills.

We’ve had new philanthropists, philanthropcapitalists, Felicity donors and now, strike the drumroll, the sector has a cute new catchphrase to describe another new kind of donor.

The Charity Commission board has agreed to add the issue of environmental responsibility to its guidance documents the Hallmarks of an Effective Charity and, when next updated, the Essential Trustee.

The sector's fears about the impact of the abolition of cheques has reached parliament, with the government expressing “concern” over the plans.