Of course, there’s a careful balance to be struck. The vast majority of charities wouldn’t want to give the impression that too much precious funding has been diverted to pay for new deep-pile carpets, luxury Italian sofas and chrome-plated coffee machines. It’s about maintaining a balance between not appearing to be too opulent while creating an inspirational working environment. For example, when Constructive Space was asked to design new offices for the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), it had to create a workspace that was functional, attractive and motivational – yet with a standard of fit-out commensurate with CAF’s charitable status. A dynamic and productive ambience was created by effective use of natural light – which also helps to cut energy usage.

Investing in good workplace design can help to make best use of supporters’ money. For example, embracing new ways of working often means that less space is required. And less space means lower costs, in terms of rent and maintenance.

So, what should the effective workspace for charities look like? There are as many solutions as there are charities, but consideration should be given to a few common issues. The overarching question to ask is: What makes a successful working environment?

The answers to this are many and varied. However, most workspaces considered to be a success share similar features: They support an organisation’s business strategy, facilitate its functions while motivating and inspiring its staff. A successful workspace can reinforce an organisation’s vision and values, be flexible to change and make best use of supporters’ money.

One of the first questions to ask is how will the charity use their workspace. For most organisations, a hybrid solution is probably most appropriate, somewhere between a traditional, completely fixed, work-place and the other extreme of a totally flexible interior. Incorporating flexibility can make a real difference to how an organisation copes with short-term change.

For one London-based aid charity, massive fluctuations in the number of staff requiring desk space are a fact of life. The recent refurbishment of the charity’s workspace by Constructive accommodated this: When a disaster strikes, the number of office desks diminishes as employees and volunteers are sent to the disaster zone.

Moving to more open-plan and flexible space offers many benefits. Not only does it make better use of space but also supports better communication between staff, and the sharing of information. However, making the leap from traditional cellular office to open-plan space littered with bean bags can be a major upheaval for an organisation in the short-term. Such change needs to be planned and managed carefully, so that staff feel a sense of belonging to the new workspace, and know how to use it properly.

When planning a workplace, it’s important to get the big picture right. This means paying attention to “invisible” aspects of a scheme – such as IT and communications – as much as “visible” factors such as furniture and desk layout. With technology changing at an accelerating pace, and many charities working internationally with a dispersed team of volunteers and staff, it’s vital to incorporate the “right” IT and communications systems – and plan for expansion.

Choice of colours and use of graphics can assist in reinforcing a charity’s brand identity. While largely “internal facing” to staff, this can also be used to communicate a charity’s vision, mission and culture to visitors and stakeholders such as supporters, institutions and trustees. This is becoming ever more important in a competitive – and increasingly design-savvy – market. Reinforcing the unique passion of an organisation in the scheme design can make a real difference to exciting, motivating and inspiring staff and visitors alike.

Even small details can make all the difference. Particularly in London, many charities have a young work-force, with many staff cycling to work. Providing somewhere to “park” cycles, as well as changing rooms with showers, can make a real difference as to whether a charity can attract and retain new talent.

Environmental factors are becoming an increasingly important design consideration – and not just for charities involved in “green” issues. For example, it might be possible to reuse existing furniture and fittings in a new workplace, recycling unwanted pieces and only disposing of items where absolutely necessary. Only after these considerations have been fully explored should it be necessary to think about buying new furniture. Or it might be possible to source sustainable alternatives for a wide range of products including carpets and wall finishes, perhaps using locally-certified products wherever possible.

Energy usage can also be reduced in many cases, using natural light, low-energy fittings and an effective facilities management system. At Constructive Space, we also believe that simple considerations for choice of products and functionality of a scheme can cut water usage by a third. Indeed, there are many options for the procurement of furniture and fittings. The solution can be tailored to provide the optimum balance between budget, function, sustainability and aesthetic considerations.

As well as green issues, broader considerations regarding corporate responsibility are increasingly important. Constructive Space understand that operations – and those of our clients – impact not only on the environment but also on the people employed and the wider community. It’s vital to ensure that these impacts are as positive as possible.

It’s by thinking of the bigger picture that charities can really benefit. And this usually means sourcing a complete turnkey solution to deliver a workplace design and fit-out project. After all, most charities don’t have the expertise – or a facilities manager – to make it happen.