Insight Articles
Our straight-talking articles and guides are designed to cut through charity professional industry jargon and answer your pertinent questions.
Market Perspectives April 2024
Welcome to our April edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays Pr...
Global Market Review - March 2024
N.B. All performance details are in GBP terms unless otherwise stated.A combination of continued resilience i...
CCLA Sustainable Investment Outcomes 2023 report
Despite the growing attention on ESG, we believe the investment industry has not truly understood that the onl...
Market Perspectives March 2024
Welcome to our March edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays Pr...
2024 Engagement Action Plan
At Rathbones we are committed to being good stewards of our clients’ assets. This means we look to use the in...
Guide to Giving
Welcome to our ‘Guide to Giving’Created by our in-house philanthropy team, its 12 chapters are designed to hel...
Should charities invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a business tool and as an investable theme presents a compell...
Why should charities use an Investment Manager?
Having joined Harris Allday this last autumn as Head of Charities and Philanthropy – Rupert Cecil will be writ...
Market Perspectives February 2024
Welcome to our February edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays...
Biodiversity and climate change: A joint challenge
The emergence of nature and biodiversityThe case for tackling climate change has become increasingly clear to ...
5 Investment themes for 2024: Opportunities after ‘The Great Escape’
In the classic Second World War film ‘The Great Escape’, the odds of Allied prisoners of war escaping captivit...
Outlook 2024 - Barclays Private Bank
Strong economic headwinds will likely persist in 2024, amid an increasingly fraught geopolitical backdrop, and...
An ESG Christmas Carol
Let Dr James Corah, CCLA’s Head of Sustainability, take you on a journey through ESG past, present and future ...
Launch of the CCLA Modern Slavery UK Benchmark 2023
The benchmark assesses the largest UK companies on how they are taking steps to eradicate modern slavery in th...
Practical guide for trustees to the Charity Commission's guidance on investing charity money (CC14)
In August the Charity Commission published an update to their guide ‘Investing charity money: a guide for trus...
Just keep digging? Commodities and the energy transition
Within the energy transition debate, an area of particular contention is commodities – those who mine them, pr...
Investment Insights Q4 2023: Higher for longer
The inflationary shocks caused by the pandemic and war in Ukraine are finally unwinding. But the welcome fadin...
What are the key challenges facing charities who own direct real estate?
The changing face of property management:Until a few years ago, the management of a property portfolio was rel...
Market Perspectives October 2023
Welcome to our October edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays ...
Castlefield Sustainability Review
As specialists in sustainable investment, we like to be able to substantiate how our funds make a positive dif...
Launch of the CCLA Corporate Mental Health Benchmark Global 100+
The CCLA Corporate Mental Health Benchmarks provide a window into how more than 200 of the world's largest lis...
Artificial intelligence: addressing or distorting the modern slavery challenge?
With an estimated 50 million people worldwide in modern slavery1, the financial sector faces growing expectati...
Sustainable cities: Building for the future
By 2050, the cities of the world are expected to be home to more than two-thirds of the world’s population1and...
The Property Income Trust for Charities 2023 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Result
We are delighted to announce that the PITCH Fund has received its 2023 GRESB results, with PITCH gaining an a...
Featured holding - ASML
Our featured stock stories help to illustrate how our active, sustainable investment approach works in practic...
Market Perspectives September 2023
Welcome to our September edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclay...
Climate Confident: Charity investments and net zero
Cazenove Capital, in association with the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), has published a report...
Bank of England hits the brakes
In a surprise move, the Bank of England (BoE) has decided to pause its recent run of rate rises, opting to kee...
LF WAVERTON CHARITY GROWTH & INCOME FUND
Charity Growth & Income Fund Factsheet, 31 August 2023
Why investors should heed this summer’s climate warnings
Key pointsAs heatwaves, wildfires and other extreme weather events increasingly ravage the planet, what can in...
Philanthropy in Asia: The power of next gens
Whatever your chosen cause, there has arguably never been a more exciting time to be involved in philanthropy....
Castlefield In the News
Part of our role as the Thoughtful Investor ® involves raising awareness and speaking out about environmental,...
Bank of England slows hiking pace
The Bank of England (BoE) has announced a 14th consecutive rate rise, taking the base rate to a 15-year high o...
Market Update- August 2023
Investors are growing increasingly optimistic about a soft landing. READ MORE
Updated Charity Investment Guidance for trustees
After a number of years of consultation, a court case and various delays the Charity Commission for England an...
Advancing Racial Equity
In this thematic piece, Castlefield's Eleanor Whalley discusses the ethnicity pay gap and how the scope of div...
5 common philanthropy myths
If you have the resources and motivation to do so, supporting the causes you care about can be one of the grea...
Monthly Factsheets
Please click Read More button below for a link to the factsheets on our website.
Charity Times Roundtable in partnership with Swiss Life Asset Managers UK, Future-proofing property
Charity Times, in partnership with Swiss Life Asset Managers UK (formerly Mayfair Capital), hosted a roundtabl...
Using benchmarks for charity investment portfolios
Understanding the main types of charity investment benchmarks and how charities can effectively use them. The ...
Charities and risk management in an uncertain world
What key risks are involved in running a charity?There are risks involved in running any organisation, includi...
How to compare investment manager returns for charities
Despite the best efforts of the regulator, and warnings that ‘past performance is no guide to the future’, tru...
Five questions for charities to ask about ethical investing
What charities should consider when planning to make ethical investmentsIf you plan to make ethical investment...
Five ways your investment process can go wrong
Charity investors can give themselves a better chance of achieving stable, long-term returns by avoiding a num...
Developing effective Impact Investing partnerships
There has been a subtle but insistent shift in the way a growing number of charities are looking to allocate t...
Total Return for Permanently Endowed Charities
For permanently endowed charities, the challenge of creating sufficient income for today’s beneficiaries while...
Mid-Year Outlook 2023
Welcome to our “Mid-Year Outlook”, the investment strategy update from Barclays Private Bank. In this edition,...
Charity Matters - Summer 2023: Laying sustainable foundations for your charity’s future.
Changes to our ways of working, combined with the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and...
Swiss Life Asset Managers UK is proud to announce the launch of the ‘Empowering Places’ UK social value strategy and community fund
Swiss Life Asset Managers UK is proud to announce the launch of the ‘Empowering Places’ UK social va...
The Charity Commission must close the investment guidance gap
There has been a groundswell of public opinion in recent years for sustainable change, driven by passionate ca...
Writing & Reviewing your Charity's Investment Policy
Whether you are considering investing for the first time or due to undertake a review of your existing investm...
Investing your Charity's Money for the Frist Time
We know that investing for a financial return in not a simple or quick decision for many charities.This guide ...
Writing an Ethical Investment Policy
A charity’s ethical investment policy should sit within, and form a part of, the wider investment policy. ...
Swiss Life Asset Managers signals UK expansion plans with Mayfair Capital rebrand
Mayfair Capital Investment Management Limited, the specialist UK real estate investment arm of Swiss Life Ass...
Market Perspectives May 2023
Welcome to our May edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays Priv...
To spend or not to spend - a charity's question
When we’re talking about adaptability in the charity sector, our first thought is naturally of the COVID-19 pa...
Market Update April 2023
Recent banking sector stress has clouded the outlook for monetary policy. Read more
Market Update March 2023
MARKET UPDATE MARCH 2023 The key headlines from this month’s update • Major economies’ resilience continue...
PITCH receives Living Wage accreditation
Following the work undertaken last year to review our PITCH suppliers, I am very pleased to share that we have...
Market Perspectives April 2023
Welcome to the April edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays Pr...
Barts Charity appoints Mayfair Capital as Property Adviser, March 2023
Mayfair Capital have been formally appointed by Barts Charity as strategic property adviser to its c...
How does the banking crisis impact the market outlook in 2023?
Although markets appear to have regained some composure, it has been an unsettling period for investors. The ...
Inside the mind of an investment manager
By Mark Hinds Branch Manager & Investment Manager, Charles Stanley NorwichIt already feels like we ar...
Market Perspectives February 2023
Welcome to our first edition of “Market Perspectives” for 2023, the monthly investment strategy update from Ba...
Market Perspectives March 2023
Welcome to our March edition of “Market Perspectives”, the monthly investment strategy update from Barclays Pr...
Investing for Global Impact
We’re delighted to unveil the ninth edition of the ‘Investing for Global Impact: A Power for Good’ report. Dev...
Improving air quality and health through community action
By Amy Coyne Communications Manager, Sustainable MertonSustainability and wellbeing go hand-in-hand, so our ...
Charity law in Scotland – a 2023 update
Charity law in Scotland is due for an update Turning the clock back two decades or so, in the early years of t...
A bit about Castlefield (video)
In this video Founder John Eckersley introduces Castlefield and explains about our purpose and how we help cli...
Market Update February 2023
Markets are increasingly anticipating that inflation can be tamed with only a mild slowdown. That may be over-...
Find it, Fix It, Prevent It
Despite the fact that slavery is illegal, it is estimated that today 50 million people find themselves in som...
Visible sustainability – IBA – innovation plus impact can help our failing health system.
In this stock feature, Castlefield Fund Manager Rory Hammerson examines Belgian listed Ion Beam Applications (...
What is ESG?
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are non-financial considerations that inform investment dec...
What Bill Gates needs to know about preventing the next pandemic
By Ellie Parravani External Affairs team, BrookeOne Health is a concept that recognises that the health o...
Next generation philanthropy
With trillions of dollars of family wealth expected to transfer across generations in the coming decades, next...
Barclays' commitment to tackling climate change together
Our climate strategy is informed by our purpose: we deploy finance responsibly to support people and businesse...
Barclays Private Bank - Global Outlook 2023
Welcome to our annual Outlook publication, entitled ‘A rebalancing act’ in recognition of the multi-faceted gl...
COLWMA Best Discretionary Investment Manager 2023
We are delighted to announce that we won the COLWMA Best Discretionary Investment Manager!We want to give than...
Industry consultation
CCLA is undertaking a survey of the not-for-profit sector. We want your views on the issues that are most crit...
The year ahead – economic recession, market recovery
Amid one of the most widely anticipated recessions ever, Ben Funnell, Head of Investment Solutions at CCLA, f...
Common grounds - The story behind our sustainable coffee producer
In this blog, Castlefield Investment team member Eleanor Walley explores the ethical credentials of Castlefiel...
Market Perspectives January 2023
Read our latest outlook on interest rates/bonds and equities.
2022 Sustainable Portfolio Management Report
Welcome to our Sustainable Portfolio Management Annual Report 2022.Sustainability challenges are increasingly ...
H2 2022 Outlook
Few investors will mourn the passing of 2022 into the history books. The year has been characterised b...
H2 2022 Market Review
On the face of it, this was a period of relative calm when compared to the previous reporting period but the ...
Longer-term investing – can we predict the future?
By John Redwood Chief Global Strategist, Charles StanleyMany charities are long-term investors. Charities...
2022: A year of significant change
By Patrick Farrell, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Research, Charles StanleyStock markets have ...
PITCH Announces Net Zero Carbon Commitment and Interim Target
We are pleased to announce our latest Net Zero Carbon commitment for Mayfair Capital’s, Property Income Trust ...
Castlefield receives Good Business Charter accreditation
Castlefield is proud to be accredited by the Good Business Charter (GBC) following our application to join in ...
Social capital - reporting and measuring
For trustees, social investment offers an opportunity to align a charity’s investment strategy with its charit...
Castlefield Insights Winter 2022
Welcome to the final Castlefield Insights quarterly newsletter of 2022. Within this last issue of 2022 we co...
Charity insight and investment outlook November 2022
Why the S in ESG? The case for managing the environmental impact of the companies in which we invest is clear....
Workplace wellbeing
Everyone has a responsibility to protect the mental health of our society, including ourselves, and of our loc...
Mayfair Capital Investment Management 2022 GRESB results
We are pleased to announce that The PITCH Fund received its 2022 GRESB results in October, where PITCH maintai...
Charity Matters Autumn 2022
Tackling the cost-of-living crisis: insights on managing through challenging times. Welcome to our autumn edit...
Mayfair Capital buys £40m Bristol office in larger asset push
We are pleased to announce the recent purchase of The Paragon office building in Bristol on behalf of Property...
Charity Times Awards 2022
Charity Times Awards 2022We are delighted to announce that our charity fund, The Property Income Trust for Cha...