Useful Information – w/c 02/12/24
December 2, 2024
Events, training, charity news, surveys, research, feedback, reports, services and much more – in one handy place!
This page will be updated with new information as we receive it during the week. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 06/12/24 – items added on this date are marked as [NEW])
You’ll also find the latest Health and Wellbeing news, events and opportunities in the current post on our News page here.
You can view previous Useful Information posts here to catch up on our archive of information.
For useful resources, information, news and events, updates on our climate commitment, blog posts from colleagues about what they’re doing (in a work capacity and privately) to minimise environmental impact and more take a look at Cumbria CVS Green
If you’ve seen something you think we should be sharing, let us know! Email us: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Looking for funding information? Check out the latest edition of Focus on Funding here
Training and Events
[NEW] New open-access courses for mental health first aid and suicide first aid
Lancashire Mind has released new open-access course dates for mental health first aid and suicide first aid (Orange Button approved courses).
The Orange Button scheme has been running in Lancashire and South Cumbria for about five years and it is a way of identifying people that have undertaken suicide prevention training, who now have the confidence to talk to others about suicide. It is a way of showing others in their community who are having thoughts of suicide, or are worried about somebody else, that they are:
- Comfortable to say or hear the word suicide
- Can listen without judgement
- Can inform people where to find help and support
The scheme began on World Suicide Prevention Day 2020, because Lancashire wanted to begin creating a community of Orange Button wearers. A community who want to challenge the stigma around the word suicide. A community that can listen non-judgmentally and be a first step to helping move people towards the information and support they need. It is not a substitute for counselling, mental health support or a crisis service. It is a community scheme made up of members of the public. It is about listening, information giving and signposting.
The training offered by Lancashire Mind is mental health first aid and suicide first aid. It is fully funded and available to anyone living or residing in Lancashire or South Cumbria, face-to-face or online. In-house courses can be arranged for teams, or individuals can attend the open-access courses.
Take a look at the upcoming dates
Please feel free to contact Alice Newton-Leeming on 07856 913301 to discuss this further, or by email: alicenewtonleeming@lancashiremind.org.uk
[NEW] Village Halls Week 2025
Village Halls Week will take place on 17-23 March 2025. This week is an opportunity to spotlight the efforts of volunteers who keep these important venues open for the benefit of local residents, groups, and rural businesses.
In England alone, it is estimated that over 80,000 people regularly volunteer their time with village halls, from those on management committees who oversee the day-to-day use of the building and its finances, to those who organise events and group activities for the benefit of the local community.
Village hall groups can register their interest in the campaign here, which will enable them to receive news and updates as well as resources to help them get involved.
Listen Up! Rethinking Mental Health & Hearing in the North
Wednesday 12 March 2025, online and in-person (Newcastle). Event co-organised by the NIHR North East & North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration and the Sustainability & Resilience Institute. Join us for an important event exploring what we know, and what should be done, about the connections between mental health and hearing. Mental health issues and hearing loss affect millions in England and around the world, with research showing that individuals with hearing loss are twice as likely to experience depression and other mental health issues.
In the North, where historically industrial areas have experienced higher rates of hearing loss, this connection highlights how environmental and socioeconomic factors drive health inequalities across regions. We’ll explore the latest findings on these issues, their impact on living and ageing well, and strategies to improve health and economic outcomes in areas most affected by these challenges.
Online booking
In-person booking
Planning for Fundraising Success: The Impact of Learning and Development on Charity Staff
22 January 2025, online. Fundraising Everywhere are hosting a virtual event report launch. They will explores the impact of access to professional development on charity staff wellbeing and performance.
They discovered that not investing in learning and development could have a negative effect on staff morale and retention, as well as an organisation’s performance and culture.
Find out more and register here
Practical uses of AI for your charity
4 February 2025, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to boost your everyday use of AI.
The course takes a hands-on, practical approach, showing charities how to use AI to improve meetings, boost email marketing, smash data analytics, enhance workflow efficiency, and so much more.
Maximising opportunities and minimising risks in partnership working
Thursday 5 December, Online. In the voluntary sector, partnerships can amplify impact and drive meaningful change. Successful collaboration requires strategic planning and careful management.
Join NCVO and Zurich for this free webinar to learn how to get the most out of partnership working.
Bid Writing Workshop
Monday 24 February 2025, online. In this friendly 90-minute session, you will have the chance to:
- Get an introduction to what Bid Writing is all about
- Explore what Grant Applications Look like
- Consider the importance of Needs and Outcomes
- Pick up lots of Top Tips to improve your Bid Writing
- Build your confidence and be inspired!
Creating inclusive and accessible remote volunteering opportunities
Tuesday 10 December, online. By the end of this NCVO event, you’ll:
- understand how to overcome barriers that disabled adults may face to volunteering online
- learn how remote volunteer roles can help small charities involve a diverse community of volunteers
- find out how NCVO member organisations create inclusive, accessible and impactful remote volunteering opportunities.
Civil Society Covenant – online workshops
3 December: NCVO invite you to join them for an interactive workshop to help shape a new agreement to improve the relationship between civil society organisations and government.
You can drop in for as much time as you have available.
Get Grants free Bid Writing Workshop
Monday 24 February 2025, online. Whether you have a wealth of experience in fundraising or are new to applying for grants this Bid Writing Workshop will help you explore how to identify grant funding opportunities whilst providing advice on writing successful applications and thinking about the common mistakes made by applicants.
How to master email marketing
17 December, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to boost your email marketing.
The course provides a hands-on approach, showing charities the basics of email marketing, the best platforms, strategies for effective list-building, the importance of segmentation, tips and tricks for crafting effective emails, the best way to write a subject line, the virtues of personalisation, and so much more.
Supercharge your use of social media
10 December, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to supercharge your use of social media. We’ll explore how you can pick the right platforms for your charity and how to know whether you should invest, or divest, in other platforms.
We’ll show you how to increase social media engagement, how to extend your reach, and how to ensure you target the most rewarding demographics.
Webinar: Building financial sustainability for your charity
5 December, online. The charity sector has faced major financial challenges recently due to the pandemic, recession, and cost-of-living crisis. This has made it harder for charities to plan and deliver essential services.
This webinar will explore strategies for ensuring financial sustainability and long-term success. We’ll cover key fundraising tactics, diversifying income streams, and smart financial planning to help your organisation thrive in uncertain times.
Learning Events – 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence
Monday 25 November – Tuesday 10 December, online. Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Community Safety Partnerships are delighted to present a series of Learning Events during the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence 2024.
This is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. We have developed a suite of learning events during the 16 days, delivered via Microsoft Teams – no need to book, simply log in at the required time via the link in the attached poster.
Start a purpose-driven business – free training
The School of Social Enterprise are offering free training for anyone wanting to learn how to transform their ideas into a purpose-driven business that not only makes a positive impact, but also connects you with your community.
There are sessions in Penrith in November and December, and Kendal in November, December and January. See the flyers below for more information.
SOSE KENDAL FLYER
SOSE PENRITH FLYER
VCFSE News and Information
[NEW] Community Payback
Do you have any indoor work that can be completed by Community Payback?
Unpaid Work, known as Community Payback, is a requirement of a Community Order or a Suspended Sentence Order and allows for convicted offenders to pay back to their communities they have offended in.
Our people on probation complete a wide range of community pay back work, supervised by trained supervisors. We have multiple outdoor projects in West Cumbria, but are looking for more indoor projects, particularly looking forward to the winter months.
Charity Commission boss plans impact reporting requirement change
The Charity Commission’s chief executive has told voluntary organisations to “stop being shy” about the impact they make and discussed plans for a change in reporting requirements.
At the commission’s annual public meeting recently, David Holdsworth said he would change reporting requirements for charities “to make more visible the sheer scale, impact and outcomes charities achieve”.
Chancellor refuses concessions for charities on estimated £1.4bn employer NICs rise
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to exempt or reimburse charities’ estimated additional £1.4bn tax bill after announcing an increase in employer national insurance contributions (NICs).
Reeves announced in her first budget that employer NICs would increase from 13.8% to 15% from April 2025 but that the employment allowance would more than double to £10,500 to shield the smallest organisations from the tax.
Orlando Fraser to step down as Charity Commission chair
Charity Commission chair Orlando Fraser has announced he will step down as chair of the regulator next year.
Speaking at the commission’s annual public meeting in London recently, Fraser said he had agreed with culture secretary Lisa Nandy to “hand on the baton to a successor at the end of my term in April”.
Extending marketing ‘soft opt-in’ to charities could raise £290m, government told
Charities have urged the government to amend proposed changes to email marketing rules in order to increase annual donations by an estimated £290m.
The Data & Marketing Association (DMA) wrote to science secretary Peter Kyle on behalf of its charity members, asking him to amend the data (use and access) bill to allow charities to contact people in the same way businesses can.
Best charity and council partnerships
Charities and councils are successfully working well together to improve people’s lives despite their budgets being squeezed.
This article includes a piece about helping asylum seekers in Barrow in Furness.
‘Growing space for connection’ – why charities are finally moving to Bluesky
Charities, their leaders and many other social media users have joined social media platform Bluesky recently, with several leaving X (formerly known as Twitter) in the process.
Disability charity Sense, anti-poverty charity Trussell, Scottish children’s charity Children First are among those that have set up Bluesky accounts in the past week, with the latter announcing its departure from X.
HEAT – Energy support
HEAT provides mentoring support and advocacy to vulnerable households to ensure no one has to struggle between choosing to heat or eat.
We help households experiencing energy crises through the provision of independent, tailored advice. By working with households to optimise their relationship with fuel consumption and efficiency over time, we reduce fuel poverty and help more people live comfortably in a warm home. We also aim to ensure emergencies are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
HEAT offers households impartial advice and support, providing them with a first-class mentoring service when they need a helping hand to:
- Develop skills and confidence to manage their home energy
- Pay their bill
- Deal with accumulated/unexpected fuel debt
- Address complex, historic billing issues
- Access the right and affordable home energy systems
A consultation on ward boundaries for Cumberland Council has begun
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking for your views on our electoral review of Cumberland. The review will agree new ward boundaries across the council.
- Do you have suggestions about where your ward boundaries should be?
- Where do people in your area go to access local facilities, such as shops and leisure activities?
- Which areas do you identify as your local community?
Consultation closes: 24 February 2025.
Find out more and share your views here
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
[NEW] Latest VCSE Barometer Survey Results
The results of the latest VCSE Barometer, themed around trustees and Boards, have been published. Findings show that high vacancy rates and skills gaps in fundraising, impact evaluation, and digital expertise may be holding many boards back. In today’s challenging landscape, rethinking both board composition and the specific skills and perspectives required could be crucial to ensuring that charities thrive into the future.
Check out the two links below to find out more.
- Taking Skills on Board: a blog by Pro Bono Economics about Boards
- Barometer Interactive Dashboard: an interactive tool which shows the latest quarter’s data on trends in the sector
NYA – Workforce Survey and Digital Skills Survey – growing the youth work workforce
The National Youth Agency (NYA) is urging everyone who is working or volunteering in the youth sector, whether for a large charity or a small grassroots organisation, to complete their 2024 Workforce Survey by the end of the year. The data gathered will help inform government, policymakers and funders of the investment, infrastructure and support needed to create a youth sector which meets the needs of young people and is ready to respond to the capacity demanded by the upcoming National Youth Strategy.
Complete the survey by 31 December and be in with the chance to win a Love2Shop voucher worth £50 for your youth club or provision.
The NYA is also seeking views from all youth workers, volunteers and managers on how well equipped you feel about using digital in your youth work activities and services. Your feedback will inform the guidance and support developed by the NYA to improve the digital skills of the sector.
Click here to complete the digital skills survey by 31 December.
Over 90% of charities experienced banking issues in past two years, report says
Over nine in 10 charities have experienced at least one banking-related difficulty in the past two years, according to new research by the Civil Society Group.
The Civil Society Group published its Charity Banking Challenges 2024 report, which follows on its previous survey carried out in 2022, recently.
Help to shape future of your waste and recycling collections
Residents are being invited to help shape the future of waste and recycling collections in Westmorland and Furness. A ‘Community Conversation’ has been launched by Westmorland and Furness Council to gather people’s thoughts on current services in their area – what they like, what they would like to change and what they’d like to see in the future.
The feedback received will help inform the council’s emerging options for creating consistent waste and recycling services across the whole of Westmorland and Furness.
Find out more and take part in the survey here
Exploring lived experience roles and stigma in the homelessness sector
Groundswell has launched their new research “It comes before your name”, which explores how lived experience roles can both reduce and amplify the stigmatisation of people who have been homeless.
The report explores lived experience roles and stigma in the homelessness sector.
‘Persistent problem’ of insider fraud at charities, report finds
Researchers have warned of a “persistent problem” of insider fraud at charities after finding that half of cases are still carried out by employees despite efforts within the sector to tackle the problem.
The latest annual Charity Fraud Report 2024, produced by BDO and Fraud Advisory Panel, found that 50% of fraud in charities were committed by staff, which remained the same as last year’s result.
Key findings from the Charity Digital Skills Report 2024
Explore the insightful results of the 2024 Charity Digital Skills Report, which covers digital marketing, digital fundraising, service delivery, artificial intelligence, and so much more.
Fewer donations on Giving Tuesday than other days of festive period, research finds
Fewer members of the public donate to charities on annual fundraising event Giving Tuesday than other days over the festive period, according to new research.
The Christmas Giving Insights report, produced by fundraising platform Enthuse, found that 1 December was the most popular day for people in the UK to donate in 2023 rather than Giving Tuesday, which fell on 28 November.
Calling All Adult Men and Women
RNIB’s latest survey is available to both blind and partially sighted men and women living in the UK, aged 16 years or over and is open until 20 December 2024.
The survey will filter questions dependent on whether the person completing it is male or female. There are questions relating to people’s experiences of getting around, personal safety, employment, family, and relationships.
We are keen to have representation from across the UK, from people of all ages particularly those aged 16 to 34, and all ethnicities. So, if you are interested and fit the criteria, please complete the survey here
Disclaimer
The information above is provided in good faith. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that it is correct, Cumbria CVS cannot accept liability for any omissions or inaccuracies and does not take responsibility for the quality for any services or products mentioned.
