Alex and I were thrilled to receive a call from our friends at Marks Sattin this summer, letting us know we’d been shortlisted as a potential charity partner for the Manchester Chartered Accountant Student Society (MCASS) Ball. MCASS is the official body representing ACA students under ICAEW training contracts in Greater Manchester. Established way back in 1882 (!!), it’s a charitable society run by an amazing team of student volunteers who organize a wide array of social, well-being, and educational events to support members throughout their training.
The highlight of the MCASS calendar is undoubtedly the annual autumn ball, where, with great generosity, they host a major raffle to raise funds for charity. This year’s Casino Royale-themed event promised an unforgettable night.
Alex joined one of MCASS’s planning meetings to share Charterpath’s mission: to inspire finance professionals (including students!) to volunteer their skills for good. The team loved how our mission aligned with theirs and selected us as their official charity partner for the ball, giving us the chance to speak directly to a crowd of over 450 people.
On Friday 4 October, we made our way to Manchester for the ball at the Hilton Deansgate. After a quick sound check, we met our witty compere for the evening, Radio X presenter, Adam Brown. A pre-party drink with Marks Sattin, lead sponsor and the MCASS team followed in the Sky Bar, and we were genuinely blown away by such an impressive, driven and enthusiastic group. They spoke about the incredible personal and professional growth they’d gained through the MCASS Committee—real-life role models for the volunteering we aim to inspire at Charterpath.
After some rousing opening speeches, Alex and I took to the stage to say a few words about Charterpath. We centred our message on how financial skills are real superpowers for charities, with the potential to make finance professionals real superheroes by using their skills for good. We wanted the audience to recognise the powerful impact they could have—while supercharging their own CVs along the way.
We also shared a short, moving film from Claire Baldwin at the Manchester Deaf Centre, who shared how Charterpath volunteers had helped to strengthen their organisation and allowing them to focus on getting their critical mission done.
The speeches were followed by a fantastic dinner, a game of heads or tails, and the much-anticipated raffle draw. With prizes including a group sauna session for four (?), the raffle raised an impressive £1,700 for Charterpath. Accountants might not be known for their gambling streak, but they certainly made an exception for a good cause! All of the funds raised going to enable Charterpath to connect even more charities with the financial expertise they need to deliver their vital work in communities.
As the evening continued, we enjoyed chatting with guests over drinks, hearing about their experiences with volunteering, and answering questions about how to get involved. Since the event, we’ve been thrilled to connect with other ICAEW student societies across the UK, as well as with a Big Four charity team. We left the ball feeling inspired and motivated—though it’s safe to say we realised our stamina isn’t quite what it used to be in our student days…unlike the tireless Marks Sattin team!
A huge thank you to everyone who made the night possible, from lead sponsor Marks Sattin to the MCASS Committee AND everyone who bought raffle tickets and joined in the fun. Full photo gallery here.
If you’re interested in exploring a charity partnership with Charterpath, please get in touch with us at info@charterpath.
If the idea of volunteering your skills with a non-profit has caught your imagination - follow these 3 simple steps:
Follow Charterpath on LinkedIn for all the latest news, inspiration and roles
Have a look around our website at www.charterpath.org.uk for case studies, helpful resources and live volunteer opportunities
Sign the Charterpath pledge to show your support for our mission and volunteer your skills for at least 2 days each year
About Charterpath
Charterpath CIO is a UK registered charity (1207509) on a mission to chart a path between non-profits and volunteers with financial skills. Charterpath was co-founded by Alice Clementi and Alex Marsh, both chartered accountants with extensive volunteering and fundraising experience alongside their professional careers. They were inspired to start Charterpath in 2020, after seeing first-hand the unprecedented financial challenges facing the non-profit sector from the pandemic.
Inspired to support our mission? Follow Charterpath on LinkedIn and join our community at www.charterpath.org.uk to access our newsletter, exclusive events and volunteer roles!