Guardian Society and KnowHowNonProfit, Cass Business School’s Centre for Charity Effectiveness, have collaborated to release a series of polls and podcasts examining issues facing the charity sector in the context of economic and political uncertainty. This first episode offers a great introduction to the sector with contributions from the likes of Public Services Editor at Guardian David Brindle, Chief Executive of NCVO Stuart Etherington and a number of small- and medium-sized charity executives and workers. The panel discuss a broad range of issues from fundraising to charity branding to how the sector should be defined, (suggestions include the ‘giving something back’ sector, ‘civil society’ sector and plain ‘charity’). There is also an opportunity to contribute to the debate and get your opinion aired by e-mailing charityeffectiveness@guardian.co.uk. TSIC will keep an eye out for new episodes that may be of interest.