The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) opened in Lincoln in April 2018. The £13 million centre includes the UK’s tallest war memorial, standing at 31m. It tells the story of some of the one million volunteers from over 60 countries who came together to serve and support Bomber Command during WWII.
Nicky Barr, IBCC Chief Executive said: "The veterans, their memories and their struggle for recognition have always been at the heart of this project.”
Duncan & Toplis worked with the IBCC through eight years of planning, fundraising and construction. Alistair Main, IBCC’s dedicated business adviser from Duncan & Toplis, said: “This is a fantastic Lincolnshire-based charity that we’ve been able to support from the first pound raised to the final brick laid. It’s been very complex, but very rewarding, interesting work.”
Nicky Barr explained the impact of this support: “We were a charity starting from scratch with a very ambitious and challenging aim to raise a lot of money for a big vision. Duncan & Toplis’ advice and support has been invaluable from day one."
“Fundraising throws up a lot of additional challenges. We have had to make sure our finance function is fit for purpose, dealing with complex financial regulation, particularly around VAT rules."
“We have relied on the team at Duncan & Toplis at each and every stage to make sure we’re operating in the best possible way. They have really taken the pressure away from us. Their work has made sure we keep our Charitable Status, and helped us keep more of our funds within the charity.”
“Without Duncan & Toplis’ support and without their experience of how we would work our way around the charity sector, the VAT elements, all of those things, I think it would have been a much rockier journey than it has been.”
“The Duncan & Toplis team were always at the end of a phone or at the end of an email so we knew who we need to call for each of those areas there was always that support.”
Duncan & Toplis continues to work closely with the IBCC now that the centre is open, putting in place the right structures and systems for this next commercial stage of the project.
Alistair Main said: “We are proud to support this important project and landmark. Now completed, we help the IBCC to run as efficiently as possible. Our work frees up the Centre to better do its work - to tell the story of those who gave their lives for Bomber Command.”
For more details visit internationalbcc.co.uk.
