April 9, 2025

Our South Copeland Development Officer, Beresford Moyle Rosser, ponders pesto, considers sustainability, and bigs-up Business Plans in his latest blog:

The sun is shining in Millom, daffodils are out in abundance here in South Copeland and I have made my first batch of wild garlic pesto, gathering the garlic leaves in the nearby woods. When I make the pesto I really feel Spring has begun and the whole process of making the pesto – combining the garlic leaves with the pine nuts and oil and freshly grated parmigiano – makes me almost feel like I am holding Spring and tasting the fresh fruits of the season on my pasta.

But, the pesto does not last for long and nor do the garlic leaves. It is here for a short season and then it is gone. It is not something that lasts forever. Which leads me to the subject of this blog – how sustainable is your group or organisation? Are you here for the long term or, like the spring flowers or garlic leaves, just here for a season and then gone?

Its an important question to reflect on. Increasingly, when talking to funders and grant providers, the one question that is so often asked is how sustainable is the organisation that is asking for financial support?

First thing to think about is: what kind of group are you? A registered charity? A company limited by guarantee, an unincorporated association or a Community Interest Company (CIC)? Is that the right form of organisation for what you do? And, if you are a charity, is the information you submit to the Charity Commission done so in a timely manner or are you sometimes late in the filing of accounts and reports?

In terms of governance, does your group have a Management Committee or a Board of Trustees and are there clear objectives and a Constitution in place? Are Trustees trained in their role and know what is expected of them – not only by the organisation itself but also by the Charity Commission?

In a world where money is increasingly scarce – especially grants – it is vital that the funder can see that your organisation is doing all it can to be sustainable and is here for the long haul.

Recently, I have been working with a Millom-based Charity to help them create a 5 year Business Plan. Increasingly, funders will expect to see a document like this and it is important to have one – whether you’re a village Hall, a small voluntary group, or a charity. It shows potential funders you are serious about your long-term presence and you have thought about your immediate needs and that of the future.

Having a Business Plan enhances your credibility and shows that the organisation you work with is professional, is organised, and has a strategy for the future. You know what the potential obstacles are and have thought about how you will overcome them, and thus continue to provide the service you are delivering. Funders will see immediately, you are intending to be around for a while and that provides them with reassurance when considering any grant application you present.

You might be wondering what a Business Plan should look like. Here is a quick overview:

1. A Summary: A short description of your vision, mission and key objectives which you are trying to achieve. What are your values? In the summary, detail your financial projections and future funding needs and what that funding is needed for and why it is important.
2. Organisation Profile: Describe your organisation’s structure and governance. What are some of your achievements to date? Who are your trustees and what skills do they bring to your organisation? How many employees do you have, and volunteers? How do volunteers contribute to your organisation?
3. Service Delivery: Outline here what services you currently provide and to whom. How will you expand these services over the next 5 years and are there other services you would like to introduce which you have not done so as yet? Describe how you measure the impact of your services to the community you are reaching out to serve and how do you use the information you collect to determine areas for improvement? One important thing to think about is are the services you provide as part of your objectives, which you detailed in your Constitution or founding document? You will be surprised at how many voluntary organisations go ‘off track’ and have drifted away from their original purpose!
4. Market Analysis: From a funders viewpoint, this section is actually quite important. Here you detail the needs of your target community you wish to serve and how you will meet those needs. Do you have other organisations also doing the same service in your area and if so, who are they and where are they based? What makes you different to them? What are emerging trends or challenges and how will those affect your organisation or group in the delivery of the work you do?
5. Goals and Objectives: Over the next five years what are the key goals you wish to achieve and how will you achieve them? With each goal use SMART (Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound). Also, think about how you will promote these objectives on social media and get the word out there of what you are providing and to whom.
6. Finances: Your business plan needs to have a detailed budget showing projected income and expenses. Identify your potential funding sources and decide how you will obtain the funds you need for what you wish to provide. Consider whether you can raise money yourself through events, or are you relying solely on grants? If so, what will you do if grants are NOT available?

If, like the charity in Millom, you would like to have a Business Plan for your local group, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to assist you. At Cumbria CVS we have a fact sheet called Are you fit for funding? If you would like a copy please contact me and I am happy to send it to you. I can be reached on 07826284929 or by email beresford.moylerosser@cumbriacvs.org.uk

To finish, some dates for your diary:

27th May 1000 – 1300: Voluntary Sector Networking Event for Copeland. An opportunity to meet other voluntary groups working in Copeland and learn from each other of some of the services you are providing.

4th June 1400 -1600: Training on The Theory of Change and how this powerful tool can help you in your organisation.

16th July 0900 -1200: Training on the Theory of Change Part 2.

Have a fantastic Easter and try and enjoy this glorious sunshine!

Berry