A coalition of benevolent charities has begun working with the wider third sector in an effort to develop channels for greater cooperation in an effort to reach more people in need.

The coalition, Benevolence Today, is contacting umbrella organisations and charities which provide services to individuals, in an effort to create “referral relationships” between them. The coalition itself consists of 31 charities, all of which are also members of the Association of Charity Officers.

The coalition’s chair, Fred Payne, said: “In order to reach out to a wider community and gain in effectiveness, we aim to develop referral relationships with other charities which provide services to people, who in the course of illness, crisis, old age, disability or sudden events face hardship or social exclusion.”

For more information visit www.benevolencetoday.org