Useful info – February 2023
January 26, 2023
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 February. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 22/02/23)
You can view last month’s Useful Information here to catch up on new information added during January ’23.
If you’ve seen something you think we should be sharing, let us know! Email us: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Training and Events
Made in Barrow exhibition
Friday 3 March. A special preview and a chance for a chat over a drink to celebrate the opening of the Made in Barrow exhibition (Click on thumbnail for more info). There will be light refreshments and children are welcome.
The exhibition showcases the wide range of creativity that BarrowFull have supported, produced and enabled over the past two years – as well as giving visitors a peek behind the scenes of an Arts Council Creative People & Places programme and its Consortium – and we’d love it if you were able to join.
Learn about the NENC Integrated Care System and VCSE Partnership Programme
27 February, Zoom. What is the Integrated Care System (ICS) and how can the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector feed into healthcare changes that are happening in our region?
What is the North East and North Cumbria VCSE Partnership Programme and how can my organisation be involved?
VONNE are running a regular monthly information session which looks at these questions. You’ll hear a presentation about the ICS and VCSE Partnership Programme, and have the opportunity to ask your questions and discuss how you might like to get involved.
ACAS and EHRC – How to close your gender pay gap
22nd February, online. Join ACAS and the Equality and Human Rights Commission for this webinar to learn how to bust your gender pay gap.
From closing the gender pay gap with effective action plans, to strategies for improving the recruitment and retention of women in workplaces, this session will cover a range of useful and informative topics.
easyfundraising Events
Thursday 9 March. Get Grants have partnered with easyfundraising, the UK’s biggest charity shopping site, because we want charities, community groups, sports clubs, and schools to have access to our expertise and insights.
Across the next year we will be delivering friendly bi-monthly events, with the aim of bringing fundraisers together.
Online Using Data to Increase Fundraising Success Course
Friday 3 March & Friday 10 March. Get Grants Online Using Data to Increase Fundraising Success Course adapts our face-to-face Using Data to Increase Fundraising Success Course online. It will aid you in incorporating freely available data, simple analysis, monitoring, and evaluation into your fundraising efforts.
During our course, you will learn the importance including a range of data in your funding applications and implementing effective project monitoring & evaluation to improve your chance of fundraising success.
Online Major Donor Fundraising Course
Wednesday 29 March & Wednesday 5 April. Get Grants Major Donor Fundraising Course offers a comprehensive overview of the major donor fundraising process and includes practical examples for you to apply to your organisation.
Major gifts fundraising is an income stream with one of the highest returns on investment. Major Donor fundraising has been identified, along with legacies, as areas of fundraising growth for the coming years.
Online Bid Writing for Charities and Community Groups Course
Tuesday 21 March & Tuesday 28 March. Get Grants Online Bid-Writing Course will give you practical support to improve your grant fundraising success and inspire you to become a more confident grant fundraiser.
In attending our course, you will access expert insights, crucial information, and friendly advice that will help you increase your organisation’s income through grant funding.
Online Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Training Courses
Tuesday 7 March & Tuesday 14 March. Get Grants’ Trusts and Foundations Fundraising Course will equip you with the techniques and practices you need to increase your organisation’s income through Trusts and Foundations fundraising.
This course supports attendees to establish, deliver, and manage an effective Trusts and Foundations fundraising programme that works for your organisation.
British Liver Trust Support Groups
The Trust run virtual support groups for people living with liver disease, so anyone in the UK can sign up to access these:
Hepatitis B, Liver Cancer, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), Genetic & auto-immune, Pre & Post transplant, Alcohol related liver disease, Hepatic encephalopathy, Young adults (under 40), England general drop in and a Celtic drop in. Click on the thumbnail for session details/days.
Migrant Champions Network launch event
Thursday 23 February, Online. The Migrant Champions Network brings local councillors together to champion the rights of migrants in their local areas and beyond. The network is an independent group of local councillors from across the political spectrum and from different parts of the UK, supported by JCWI (The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants).
Everyone is welcome to learn more about how to fight for migrants rights locally. The network will support members to advocate for migrants’ rights in their local authorities, and take coordinated actions across the UK.
Carbon literacy training for voluntary groups & social enterprises
28 February & 7 March. Take your organisation on its first steps to environmental sustainability on a Cumbria Action for Sustainability accredited carbon literacy course.
Half-price subsidised places are now available. The course, hosted on Zoom, will give you the facts about the latest #climate science. You’ll come away with the skills to calculate your carbon footprint and see where you can make improvements to reduce it. You’ll also explore the kinds of actions needed to put those improvements in place – in your organisation, community or at home. The course is delivered over two half-day sessions.
A Day with Professor Tony Attwood
Thursday 18 May. Professor Attwood is one of the world’s leading experts on Autism and will be doing a full day of presentations specially chosen to benefit parents, carers and people who support those with Autism as well as individuals themselves.
Webinar: How to build your fundraising strategy in 2023
Thursday 23 February 2023. This webinar will explore how to optimise your fundraising strategy for 2023, including an insight into fundraising trends, donor expectations, and so much more.
Webinar – how to communicate about the climate crisis effectively and tackle misinformation
Wednesday 8 Feb, in partnership with marketing and climate comms experts ACT Climate Labs, and Catalysing Innovation.
Find out more and register here (This event is open to groups in #Cumbria)
Skills Bootcamps in Project Management
1-31 March 2023. This taught, on-line course is aimed at employed learners who would benefit from formalising their existing practical project delivery experience or learners who may be required to initiate and deliver projects in the future.
The course begins with an introduction to Project Management and then develops knowledge and skills through completing practical exercises over a number of areas in a supportive learning environment. Special subsidised prices available.
LGBT History Month
February. LGBT History Month is a whole month dedicated to promoting LGBT equality. The theme this year is #BehindTheLens, celebrating LGBT+ people’s contribution to cinema and film at a time when LGBT+ lives are in the media, you’re encouraged to look ‘Behind the Lens’ to listen to lived experiences.
Kendal ‘Sustainability Hub’ Community Shaping Event
Wednesday 1 February. Please join us (Kendal Town Council, Waste into Wellbeing & Stricklandgate House) to help shape what Kendal’s ‘Sustainability Hub’ is called, how it will look and feel and what it can offer communities across Kendal. Email helen@kendaltowncouncil.gov.uk for more info/questions.
Click the thumbnail to view a flyer with more details.
The cost-of-living crisis: lived experiences of residents of Blackpool
Thursday 16 February. The NIHR ARC NWC project (Community Research and Engagement Network – CoREN) would like to invite you to attend an online lunchtime workshop, led by Tracy Hopkins, the CEO, and Conal Land, the Research and Campaigns Officer at Citizens Advice Blackpool, who are going to share what their clients have told them about the cost of living crisis.
This workshop will provide a platform for the lived experience of people in Blackpool to be shared. The health impact of the cost-of-living crisis will also be discussed, showing how the wider determinants of health are being exacerbated in the current economic climate. (Open to organisations in South Cumbria only.)
Online Corporate Fundraising Course
Tuesday 21 February & Tuesday 28 February. Get Grants Online Corporate Fundraising Training Course is a practical learning session designed to support fundraisers and non-profit organisations to increase their Corporate Fundraising success.
Increasing your knowledge of Corporate Fundraising will help you to develop new business relationships and diversify your organisation’s potential income. In doing so, you have the potential to increase your organisation’s financial sustainability, aiding you in meeting your organisation’s objectives.
Online Developing your Individual Giving
Friday 10 February & Friday 17 February. Get Grants Developing Your Individual Giving Course will give you practical solutions and ideas for growing your charity’s income through support from individual donors. By developing an individual giving offer, organisations can diversify their income, strengthening resilience and sustainability (which is needed now more than ever).
Many organisations have communities of people that are enthusiastic about their work and willing to give their support. However, often organisations aren’t making the most of these opportunities as they lack the confidence and knowledge to progress this.
Online Storytelling for Fundraising Training Course
Tuesday 7 February & Tuesday 14 February. Get Grants Online Storytelling for Fundraising Training Course is designed to support fundraisers to improve their fundraising confidence and success through effective use of storytelling.
Telling stories is a powerful tool that is too often overlooked. Stories are used to engage, inform, persuade, and create connections between people. As a fundraiser, storytelling is a valuable skill that can be used to influence your potential supporters and maximise on your fundraising efforts.
Online Bid Writing in Sports & Physical Activity Workshop
Thursday 2 February. Get Grants have developed an Online Bid Writing in Sports & Physical Activity Workshop in response to request for Fundraising support from local clubs and sports organisation.
The Workshop is a two-hour online session aimed at organisations who are delivering sports and physical activity projects who are interested in growing their grant fundraising confidence and increasing their income through grant funding.
Online Community Fundraising Training Course
Thursday 23 February & Thursday 2 March. Are you making the most of your ability to engage with your community to raise funds? Do you want to launch or grow your Community Fundraising income but you’re not sure where to start?
Get Grants Online Community Fundraising Course is designed to support fundraisers to tap into the potential of their community to increase your organisation’s income.
NAVCA Annual Conference 2023
Online conference, 27 April 2023. We’re so excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for our next annual conference. After listening to your feedback and reporting on the conference, we have decided that we are going to move to having an in-person conference in springtime rather than November.
Find out more and buy tickets here
Every Life Matters: new training dates for 2023
Every Life Matters strives to take a fresh, innovative and long term approach to suicide prevention and suicide bereavement support in Cumbria.
Our training aims to reduce the stigma attached to suicide, increase understanding of when someone is at risk of suicide, raise awareness of how to practically support someone, and the range of services and resources available for people in our communities experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Course dates are available through to April for: Suicide Alertness; Suicide First Aid; Safety Planning; Supporting Children’s Mental Health; Self Harm Alertness; Understanding Suicide Bereavement; Suicide Awareness; ASK – Assessing Suicide in Kids; Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Click here for more information and to book. Most are free.
Virtual Fundraisers Networking Events
Monday 27 February. Since April 2020, Get Grants have delivered monthly Virtual Fundraisers Networking Events – supporting the sector whilst it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These friendly sessions involve a Get Grants Expert providing an update on the current grant fundraising landscape, before facilitating discussions about how the grant fundraising world continues to change, and what opportunities and challenges this presents to you as fundraisers.
Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) BGKT 2023 meeting dates
Please view this document to see details of events taking place in 2023, including monthly open meetings and Vesak Celebration in May.
Meet the Funder Events
Dates through until May ’23. There has never been a greater need for fundraisers to get-together and share knowledge and experience. Get Grants FREE Virtual Events bring fundraisers across the UK together to share experiences and connect with other fundraisers.
In our popular Meet the Funder Virtual Events, Get Grants Funding Experts are joined by funders to talk about their funding programmes. These events give attendees the opportunity to speak directly to funders, take part in discussions, get unique insights, and ask questions specific to their project or organisation.
Dementia Information Sessions
Monthly dates through to March ’23 at Longtown & Brampton Community Centres, from Carlisle Dementia Action Alliance.
Click here to see more details.
Eden Project Communities Camp applications are open
Community Camp is the Eden Project’s annual immersive learning experience for people who are interested in, or new to, community action. If you want to make a positive change in your community but don’t know where to get started, this is for you. There are Community Camps coming up during February, which will take place online.
VCFSE News and Information
Disappointing’ lack of charities at PM’s health summit, say sector bodies
Charity infrastructure bodies have expressed disappointment after it was revealed that only two of 52 organisations that attended a recent health and social care policy meeting with the prime minister were charities.
The two charities in attendance at NHS Recovery Forum in January were think tank the King’s Fund and the Royal College of Surgeons, according to a Freedom of Information request from Local Government Chronicle published this week.
The ultimate guide to writing a content strategy
Charity Digital explain how you can write an incredible content strategy, examining the best ways to set content goals, how to perform effective user research, the elements that you should include in your content strategy, the value of podcasts and webinars, the benefits of video, and so much more.
88 charities form coalition to campaign on unpaid care
More than 90 organisations, including 88 charities, across the UK have formed a coalition with the aim to end financial hardship among unpaid carers.
The Carer Poverty Coalition will campaign for targeted financial support for millions of unpaid carers as well as changes so that they can combine caring with paid employment.
Cheaper broadband and mobile deals available through social tariffs
The Government is raising awareness of cut-price broadband and mobile deals through a UK-wide public awareness campaign. Providers are offering cheaper, reliable packages to people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. The social tariff deals will help people to save money on their bills and pay less to stream, chat and shop online. You can find out more about these social tariffs on Ofcom’s webpage.
DCMS is encouraging charities and third sector partners to raise awareness of these products and has produced a stakeholder toolkit which includes social media materials, posters and leaflets to help share this information across their communications channels.
Find out more on the Help for Households campaign homepage, which brings together over 40 support schemes such as this to help with the cost of living.
Internship investment funding available for charities
Career Ready is offering funding to enable charities to host young people for paid internships during the summer holidays. Career Ready is a social mobility charity that builds networks of employers, educators and volunteers across the UK to give young people the career support, experiences and insights they need to kickstart their futures.
They are working with Bupa Foundation to launch this internship investment initiative to boost social mobility and diversity in the third sector. The deadline to apply is 24 February 2023.
‘Here to help’: Commission launches trustee guidance campaign
The Charity Commission is launching the next stage of its campaign to raise awareness of core trustee duties and guidance as the sector faces a challenging year ahead.
The Commission has developed a collection of short and engaging, 5-minute guides covering essential trustee duties like safeguarding and managing conflicts of interest.
Top tips on how to unlock restricted funds
In this cost-of-living crisis, many charities will be looking at whether they can unlock their restricted funds and endowments to use them for other purposes, including to support their core operating costs.
In this article, you’ll find a jargon buster to better understand funds and top tips on how to check, review and unlock your restricted funds.
Lloyds Bank Foundation – Organisational Resilience Programme
This programme and accompanying guide supports charities and organisations to look at their resilience. It will support you to identify strengths to build upon and your weaknesses that may need addressing.
In partnership with The Good Ship, Embrace Finance and Mavrix Innovations and developed with charities funders and commissioners, we have created a simple programme and accompanying guide to help organisations look at their resilience. The approach is made up of three pillars, Purpose, Money and People and under each pillar sits a series of organisational resilience principles.
The Centre for Social Justice awards now open
The Centre for Social Justice awards are now open for applications and 2023 prizes have doubled to £20,000 per category. Winners will have the opportunity to share their amazing work among senior politicians, journalists and philanthropists on a national platform.
The awards seek to celebrate the amazing work taking place on the frontlines in the fight against poverty. They’re looking for exceptional grassroots organisations who are using innovative and impactful methods to address deep-rooted social problems. If you’re based in the UK and have a turnover of under £2m, please follow this link to find out more and apply.
How AI can boost user experience
Artificial intelligence can help your charity to thrive by making online interactions easier, quicker, and more effective.
DEC Turkey-Syria appeal raises more than £65 million in four days
The Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal has raised more than £65m since opening for donations, including £5m in UK Aid Match.
JustGiving, meanwhile, has seen £4.1m including Gift Aid raised through its platform for the Turkey-Syria response since the disaster occurred on 6 February.
What donors want in 2023
Charity Digital explores recent trends in donor behaviour and considers how they fundraise for the charities they support, with help from a new report.
Latest News from Cumbria County Council
You can view Cumbria County Council’s newsletter from 10 February here, including:
- New Deputy Lieutenant appointed in Cumbria
- County Council seeks Government backing for Lakes Line Railway improvement
- Last chance to have your say on Westmorland and Furness council tax proposals
Mealbank 108 Crowdfunding
Mealbank 108, which provides a welcoming place of safety and a hot meal for people who find themselves in times of hardship every week, is Crowdfunding to raise £3,000. All donations will be matched by the Co-op Warm Spaces Funding Boost.
Read about this great project and donate here
Charity sector coalition urges Hunt to overhaul tax system in Budget 2023
A coalition of more than 50 organisations has urged chancellor Jeremy Hunt to streamline and review the charity tax system ahead of the Spring Budget next month.
In a recently published submission, the Civil Society Group said that it was a “critical moment” for charities as demand for their services is skyrocketing while operational costs have hugely risen due to soaring inflation.
Government to match fund up to £5m for DEC Turkey-Syria appeal
The government has announced it will match fund up to £5m donated by the British public to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)’s fundraising appeal for Turkey and Syria, which opened yesterday.
Launched in response to earthquakes that occurred this month, which have killed more than 15,000 people, DEC’s appeal will fund 15 aid charities that are working in the affected regions.
Charities respond to DCMS shake-up as Lucy Frazer appointed
Charity sector bodies have responded after Lucy Frazer was appointed the new culture secretary, making her the 13th to hold the position in as many years.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced the creation of four new departments, including that the former Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will return to its former title and lose responsibility for the digital sector.
A simple guide to presenting brilliant webinars
How you can present an engaging webinar, with tips on timing, skills, length, slides, imagery, promotion, and so much more.
How to audit content for quality and user needs
How can charities audit legacy content, evaluate each page, and decide what to keep, what to delete, and what to revise or update?
Charities launch emergency appeals after Turkey and Syria earthquakes
Humanitarian aid charities have launched emergency fundraising appeals to support people in Turkey and Syria affected by earthquakes that occurred this month.
Oxfam, Christian Aid, ActionAid and Islamic Relief are among the charities that have launched emergency appeals to support the relief effort.
Podcast: How to create an environmental policy
In this podcast, Charity Digital explores the policies charities are pursuing to tackle climate change and offer inspiration for other organisations looking to start their own environmental journey.
Cost-of-living crisis: time to talk finance
Research shows that donors care about the finances of the charities they support, as much as their impact. Here’s how charities can use that to their advantage.
Could match funding launch a giving boom?
Match funding is an effective way to engage government, small-scale donors, and philanthropists alike.
The best alternatives to AmazonSmile
More than one million charities around the world relied on AmazonSmile for passive income. What are the alternatives now that it’s closing?
Latest News from Cumbria County Council
You can view Cumbria County Council’s newsletter from 3 February here, including:
- Eden Local Committee agree to funding for support services
- Community Wheels launches between Caldbeck, Wigton and Carlisle
- Westmorland and Furness Council consult on council tax
Sector Focus: Reporting on environmental sustainability in your financial statements and reports
Currently, there are limited reporting requirements for the vast majority of charities in relation to their environmental impact.
There is nothing related to environmental impact or sustainability included in the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), and only those charities that meet the “large company” criteria are required to provide comment in their trustees’ report on the impact their organisation has on the environment; their policies in relation to this, alongside disclosures about their greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption data.
‘Missed opportunity’ as government rejects social value procurement clauses
MPs have voted to overturn amendments made by the House of Lords to embed social value in public procurement processes.
Earlier this month, the procurement bill started its committee stage in the House of Commons where the proposals for change were discussed and voted on.
Climate change: how charities can transition to net zero
Charities have a big part to play in helping the UK reach Net Zero by 2050. In this article, Charity Digital share tips and advice on how charities can lower their carbon footprint.
Also, Charity’s Digital’s ultimate climate resource bank for charities is a great resource.
How charities are changing imagery to decolonise their work
Many charities put out powerful imagery to show the work they are doing, and to communicate the importance of their projects. Fundraising campaigns are often reliant on evocative imagery, which can elicit powerful responses.
But recently there has been an increasing awareness of the problematic use of imagery in some cases.
What is the great attrition?
The great attrition. The great resignation. The big quit. Whatever you choose to call it, the bottom line is that are people are leaving their jobs, in huge numbers.
How to train and develop staff on a budget
Charity Digital’s top tips for training your employees without breaking the bank.
Charity Commission Consultation on Draft guidance: charities’ use of social media
Social media has become a powerful way for many charities to promote their work, engage their supporters and campaign for change. The public is also using social media to engage with or debate the work of charities.
Casework by the Charity Commission suggests that some trustees have limited oversight of their charities’ use of social media compared to other aspects of their communication and engagement strategy. This might be due to a lack of confidence or understanding, or because uptake of social media has developed through staff or volunteers.
The Charity Commission is asking for responses to their draft guidance
New photo ID requirement for voting
The government has recently introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. From Thursday 4 May, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.
We know that many of you will work with groups that are already marginalised from the democratic process, and who may find it difficult to access a form of photo ID. Individuals who don’t have an accepted photo ID can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Individuals will be able to use the Voter Authority Certificate to vote in person in some UK elections and referendums.
More information here about applying for a Voter Authority Certificate
Connecting Locally deep dive: What is local infrastructure?
Following the publication of Connecting Locally: local voluntary and community sector infrastructure in England, NAVCA have produced the first in a series of further explanatory and developmental deep dives based on the research findings.
What is local infrastructure? is the first of these, providing an explanation of the value and importance of local infrastructure based on sound research. It can be used with funders, commissioners and others needing more detailed information.
Read the first deep dive here, and you can access the original full report here, where you can also download the infographics.
GCHQ offers free support to small charities at risk of cyber attack
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has announced it is offering small charities free support to put protections in place against cyber attacks. It has launched the initiative to help organisations that support the most vulnerable in society boost their cyber resilience.
The Funded Cyber Essentials Programme will offer practical assistance to small charities to put baseline cyber security controls in place.
British Liver Trust
The British Liver Trust raises awareness of liver disease and liver cancer, and their Outreach Development Officer, Louise Parker, is working to increase the reach of their work.
They have a range of posters and leaflets available (click on the thumbnails to see examples) and their website https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/ contains a wealth of information. Louise would like to connect with organisations in Cumbria regarding delivering virtual liver health awareness presentations, attending events, and joining relevant networks.
Convention of the North – 5 takeaways from the conference
In January, leaders in politics and business joined forces to lobby government to address the stark regional inequalities and hard-wire levelling up into law. Read the top five takeaways from the convention in this article from Place North West.
Four ways inflation will affect your charity
Some of the most important things your charity needs to know in an era of high inflation.
Cost-of-living crisis: reporting your finances
Charity Digital explores how charities can embrace sustainable finance in times of financial uncertainty, including during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
AmazonSmile closes: Charities say they will suffer
Charities have told the BBC of their disappointment at Amazon closing its charity donation scheme by 20 February.
The BBC has spoken to several UK charities about the end of AmazonSmile, a scheme that allows customers to donate to a charity of their choice when purchasing items on Amazon.
Next six months ‘crucial’ for political lobbying, NCVO tells charities
The next six months are crucial for voluntary organisations to influence future government policy, NCVO has advised.
NCVO’s latest edition of its annual Road Ahead report series suggests that politicians from all major parties are looking for ideas to include in their policy manifestos, with a general election potentially on the horizon.
Cost-of-living crisis: the challenges in 2023
Amid rising costs, falling income, and increasing demand, charities are facing another tough year.
Multiplier Leadership Programme
The Cares Family are inviting people to apply for The Multiplier, our national leadership programme, Bringing together a diverse group of change-makers on a nine-month journey The Multiplier is designed to increase confidence and capability in building more socially connected communities.
The organisation is looking for local community leaders across the UK who have a project or organisation that is at least six months old, and who need support to deepen and grow the impact of their work. Their projects will be connecting people across generations, backgrounds and experiences and has potential to make bigger systemic and cultural change. In return we will support change-makers to develop their skills in fundraising, storytelling, coalition-building, and more through specially designed workshops, peer support and mentoring plus an unrestricted £4000 grant to support their project.
FCDO rejects MPs’ call to require charities it funds to submit diversity data
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has rejected a recommendation from MPs to enforce the larger charities it funds to publish their diversity data.
Last year, cross-party politicians on the International Development Committee (IDC) recommended that FCDO should require all organisations with more than 50 staff that it funds to publish diversity data on their workers as well as ethnicity pay gap figures.
New chair appointed at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Steven Morgan has been appointed as Chair of North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC).
The appointment follows a comprehensive recruitment process led by the Trust’s Governors Council after the current interim chair, Peter Scott, announced he was stepping down.
How to write a mission statement
Here is Charity Digital’s step-by-step guide to writing a mission statement.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
State of the Sector Survey now open
Wave 2 of the State of the Social Sector Survey has now launched, and there is still time to share with your networks. By taking part, organisations will help inform government, media, and many others, of the pressures that charities, community groups and voluntary organisations are facing, across areas such as income, people, demand and impact.
The results of this survey will provide essential information on issues such as retention, recruitment and skills, which chime with many current debates. For example, in Wave 2, the thematic focus will be on workforce.
Third Sector Trends: relationships, influencing and collaboration
This is the fourth report from the Third Sector Trends study of England and Wales in 2022.
Assessing the whole sector’s value in England and Wales involves more than simply ‘adding up’ the contributions of individual organisations. This report shows that Third Sector organisations can rarely, if ever, achieve everything on their own.
Read a blog by author Tony Chapman, and access the report here
Understand how donors are behaving in 2023
Many charities will want to understand how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting donors. Blackbaud have put together a free report for charities to download that provides up-to-date donor trends and behaviours.
Find out about:
- The differences between age groups and their preferred way of donating
- The importance of providing ad-hoc donation options
- How likely individuals are to support charities through donations, volunteering, and fundraising
Nearly three-quarters of local charities avoid politics, survey finds
Almost three-quarters of local charities do not engage in political debates, according to new research.
The latest Third Sector Trends report, published recently, found that voluntary organisations based in poorer areas were more likely to engage in local lobbying while larger organisations said they did so more than smaller ones.
Pay rises for charity comms staff lag behind wider economy, report finds
Charity communications professionals were paid 1.2% higher salaries in 2022 than in 2021, according to a new report, lower than average rises for employees in the wider economy.
The survey by CharityComms and Charity People found that most (62%) respondents worked beyond their contracted hours, a higher proportion than the year before.
Charity mergers slump after Covid year spike, report suggests
Charity sector mergers have fallen to their lowest level in eight years, despite some predictions that the Covid-19 pandemic may cause an enduring increase in activity, a report has found.
The Good Merger Index 2021-22, published recently by Eastside People, found mergers declined by around a third during the year after activity rose to a five-year high in 2020-21.
Disability Voices Survey
The purpose of this Healthwatch Cumbria (HWC) project is to amplify the voice of people living with disabilities in Cumbria. To ensure that your voice is being listened to when changes are being discussed, decisions are being made and services are being developed.
We want to hear everything about your experience living with a disability, including your daily activities, your worries/frustrations and what changes would improve life for you.
Find out more and take the survey here
Autism peer research
Your Voice Counts want to hear from people who have gone through or are waiting for an autism diagnosis and are over 18, do not also have a learning disability and live in the North East or North Cumbria region.
They would like to hear your ideas on the types of support you would have found helpful before and after receiving an autism diagnosis. They will be sharing your ideas with the NHS in order to help improve autism assessment for those going through it in the future.
The research team launched a survey but have realised that many autistic people can find surveys difficult to complete and they would like to offer other ways for you to have your voice heard. You can email your thoughts at yvc.uk@nhs.net or call 0191 478 6472. As a thank you for your time, you’ll have the opportunity to enter a prize draw for a £100 shopping voucher.
SEUK State of Social Enterprise Survey 2023
Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) needs your help to produce the most accurate and up to date picture of the key trends and issues affecting social enterprise. They are collecting data for the State of Social Enterprise Survey – the most comprehensive UK research on social enterprise. This vital evidence helps shape local and national policy, influence support, funding and finance to grow the social enterprise movement.
Social enterprises can register interest to take part by emailing research@socialenterprise.org.uk and will then be contacted by BMG Research to take the survey.
BBO SROI Participant and Stakeholder Surveys
Nicola Lynch is working with the team at the BBO My Future project to gather some information about it. We really want to know if people have found the project useful and if it’s helped them make the changes they wanted to make in their lives. So we’d love it if you could answer a few questions in the survey attached here.
We don’t ask any personal questions in the survey and it’s completely anonymous – that means we don’t ask for your name or any contact details at all. There are 8 questions and it takes just 3 minutes to complete (because we know you have lots of other things you’d rather be doing!). If you have any questions about this you can reach Nicola at nicmarylynch@yahoo.co.uk.
Nicola Lynch is working with the team at the BBO My Future project to carry out a Social Return on Investment evaluation. We really want to know if the project has helped participants make the changes they wanted to make in their lives and we’d love to hear if there have been any outcomes for other organisations as well.
‘An attack on civil society’ – charities react to Shawcross’ Prevent review
Several charities have criticised William Shawcross’ review into the government’s anti-terrorism scheme Prevent, after the former Charity Commission chair published his findings.
Shawcross’s review, published recently, claims some organisations have promoted extremist narratives, and that a few registered charities in the UK are listed as terrorist groups by key international allies.
Complete the National Youth Sector Census
Anyone who delivers support to young people, in places where they can have fun, with the support of a youth worker and volunteers who advise, guide and create opportunities for young people is being urged to complete the National Youth Work Census by the end of March.
The Census is an annual survey carried out by the National Youth Agency in order to capture an accurate picture of youth services and out of school activities. There are lots of reasons why you should complete the Census:
- It will help provide a case for greater investment in youth work
- It will help commissioners and funders to make decisions about services they want to fund
- It will highlight where there are gaps in provision, as well as pockets on best practice
- It will show you what else is being delivered in your area and help you to identify partnership opportunities
Find out more about the Census and how to ensure you’re included
National Cyber Security Centre’s Charity Sector Threat Report
This recently published report has been developed with Boards and trustees in mind, highlighting key threats charities face in 2023 and beyond. It reflects the ongoing threat to the sector as more charities run services and fundraising online and highlights how the sector is particularly attractive to attackers seeking financial gain.
It provides case studies showing how disruptive and costly incidents can be, it also warns about the threat from cyber criminals taking advantage of public generosity during times of hardship by masquerading as charities to receive donations.
Law Family Commission: Unleashing the Power of Civil Society
The Law Family Commission: Unleashing the Power of Civil Society was published in January 2023. The Commission makes important and relevant recommendations on productivity and effectiveness of civil society; data collection and use; funding; relationships between with business and policy makers; and unleashing the potential of civil society.
Local infrastructure is mentioned frequently, particularly in relation to the necessary capacity building it provides for the VCSE but also in the need for secure, long term, flexible funding; consistent quality; and strategic partnership working. Of major significance to us is the recommendation for a ‘root and branch’ review of local social sector infrastructure.
Research Engagement Network Development (REND) Programme
North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) is working in partnership with Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East (VONNE) and Cumbria CVS on a programme of work which seeks to increase the involvement of voluntary and community sector organisations in engaging children and young people in mental health research.
The Research Engagement Network Development (REND) Programme recognises that mental health services for children and young people are experiencing a significant rise in demand across the country, and to help reverse this trend it is essential that we develop a deeper understanding of the diversity of views and the experiences of children and young people, as their families, in our communities.
£64,000 of funding is available for the North East and North Cumbria region, to fund up to two VCSE organisations in each of the four Integrated Care Partnership areas.
The programme will support awarded VCSE organisations to co-design a programme of engagement with their respective communities and develop an evaluation plan to monitor the outcomes of each approach.
VCSE organisations of all sizes involved in supporting children and young people under 18 years old, and/or their families based in the North East and North Cumbria are invited to apply.
If you have any questions about the REND Programme, please email necsu.icb.involvement@nhs.net
Help shape ‘Introduction to research’ training for VCSE sector
VONNE is working with local researchers from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR ARC) for the North East and North Cumbria to provide opportunities for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to develop knowledge and skills around research.
Our aim is to support organisations to carry out and get involved in research that supports their work – for example getting feedback to inform how a service could be improved or to understand the issues impacting a community.
We are planning an ‘Introduction to research’ training session this Spring which will be free to anyone working in a VCSE organisation within the region, and open to those with and without any previous knowledge or experience of research.
We want to make sure this training is relevant and shape it to meet what people in the sector need. We’d welcome any views from people working for VCSE organisations with an interest in getting involved in or conducting their own research, particularly in relation to health and wellbeing. Please share your views in our short survey by 14 February.
State of the North 2023 – Looking out to level up
2022 was another tumultuous year for the North, and for levelling up. Severe regional inequalities endure despite government claiming it remains committed to the levelling up agenda.
The latest publication from IPPR North highlights how the UK is the most regionally unbalanced large, advanced economy and draws from international experience to demonstrate how empowering local places to level up is the key to success.
Boost for young people’s mental health research
The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) care system is set to receive almost £100,000 to help increase diversity and inclusion in children and young people’s mental health research participation across the region.
Funding will support up to two VCSE organisations in each of the four integrated care partnership areas, to co-design, alongside VONNE (the regional support body for the North East VCSE sector) and Cumbria CVS a programme of engagement, with their respective communities and develop an evaluation plan to monitor the outcomes of each approach.
Nearly half of homelessness charities fear service closures, survey says
Hundreds of homelessness charities may close or reduce services, due to the cost-of-living crisis, research has revealed.
Homeless Link, the national membership charity for homelessness organisations, conducted a survey in England between September and November 2022, before the government announced post-March energy support.
North Cumbria – Adult Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism place-based plan
North Cumbria ICB is developing its 5-year Adult Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism place-based plan. The plan is being developed over the next few months and we would like to hear from as many Third Sector organisations within North Cumbria as possible.
We have several different ways in which you can get involved in the development of this plan, including surveys, drop-in sessions and 1-2-1 interviews.
Find out more and get involved – details here
More partnerships with businesses will ‘unleash’ civil society’s power, says report
Strengthening relationships with policymakers and businesses could enable charities to unleash their full potential, a landmark report has argued.
Unleashing the Power of Civil Society calls on the government, private sector and charities to work together to bring mutual benefits and tackle society’s biggest problems.
Shift from local to national charity registrations over past decade, figures show
The number of new charities working exclusively in local areas has steadily declined over the last 10 years while England-wide charity registrations have risen, according to Charity Commission data.
Civil Society News’ analysis of the regulator’s data shows new charities focused on working in the 119 local areas in England have fallen steadily in the last decade from 2,974 in 2012 to 1,701 in 2022.
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.
