Rob Preston

@JAHeale @redhistorian @dank_ackroyd is this true?

Never knew that "May the Fourth Be With You" was originally a Tory campaign slogan, coined for Margaret Thatcher on election day in May 1979 h/t @redhistorian

Enjoying a more positive @LastWordOnSpurs episode on my commute to the #londonmarathon starting line

Target met, thanks to all who donated!

One week to go! 2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/rob-preston…

A 160-year-old sight-loss charity has transferred the last of its statutory services to another organisation after failing to raise £2m in a recent appeal #sthash.qMXcVLjN.dpuf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">civilsociety.co.uk/news/sight-los…

I’m running the London Marathon for Action on Postpartum Psychosis (@ActionOnPP) in a couple of weeks. Please consider donating to my page. It’s a great cause and the charity offers great support to new mums and their families. Link in comments.

@s8mb Essex is literally named after Joey Essex

Crass, unimaginative and, in the case of “Seacole”, desperate. English towns are not named after historical figures - this isn’t America.

Ministers’ plans to expand the Charity Commission’s powers could threaten the sector’s freedoms without proper consultation and safeguards, writes @muslimcharities CEO @elitanifadi

A large modern slavery and crime reduction charity that delivers government-funded services has announced it will undertake a “managed closure” this year civilsociety.co.uk/news/modern-sl…

@Helen_Barnard Sorry but I love pianos in stations and Dame Claudia Winkleman's The Piano is one of my favourite shows

Pianos in stations are an abomination.

Three months into her role as the new chair of the Charity Commission, Julia Unwin already has very clear ideas about its regulatory role and mandate, as she tells George Hayes... #sthash.fmQ9IZfI.dpuf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">civilsociety.co.uk/governance/jul…

@bbcpress @BBCiPlayer Sheen's gearing up for another acting masterclass as Richard Osman

📢 Michael Sheen to host House Of Games! Sheen has been confirmed for the next series on @BBCiPlayer and BBC Two More ➡️ bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/20…

@Steven_Derby @RoyalMintUK @CivilSocietyUK @IslamicReliefUK Good spot, Steven, now corrected. 5kg would have been very generous.

Is @RoyalMintUK really donating two *5kg* bars? In support of the charity’s Sudan Emergency Appeal, the Royal Mint will also donate two 1g and two 5kg Kaaba bars for Islamic Relief UK to auction. #sthash.W5JHXK5R.dpufw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">civilsociety.co.uk/news/royal-min… ww.civilsociety.co.uk/news/royal-min… @CivilSocietyUK @IslamicReliefUK

This week's Society Diary features Altrincham Cheshire RSPCA's ingenious Valentine's Day fundraising idea civilsociety.co.uk/voices/society…

@FramedTree According to its most recent report, 10% growth last year and 11.7% average over past decade civilsociety.co.uk/news/wellcome-…

@rb_preston “Wellcome’s investment executive team earned £11.1m last year as its funds gained £800m in value, up from the £9.45m given to the team in 2022-23 when the charity’s assets declined by £1bn.” So they got £20 million in remuneration for returning about 1% return over 2 years??

Wellcome Trust pays its investment team handsomely because they generate its income by achieving high returns on its ~£40bn endowment

@CharlotteCGill It’s a massive charity so will get huge tax reliefs. But it spends a lot more (~£1.5bn a year) on scientific research grants.

Time to cut the amount taxpayers are charged for the Wellcome Trust then? £105,998,100 between 2020-24