Useful information – w/c 18/05/26
May 18, 2026
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: 22/05/26 – 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 and news? Check out Focus on Funding here
Free short workshops for volunteers and staff
Adult Learning Kendal provide a range of short, free, workshops, which can be run at your premises. Topics include:
- Safeguarding
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
- Health and Safety
- Understanding Dementia
There is further information on the workshops in these flyers:
Dementia workshops for staff and volunteers – June 26
Workshops for staff and volunteers
To find out more please contact Helen Edmonds on 07500 922781 or email helen.edmonds@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Practical uses of AI for your charity
Tuesday 19th May, 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.
Making Sense of the ICO Soft Opt-In Guidance: What it says, what it means, and what to do about it
Wednesday 20th May, online. Join Fundraising Everywhere as they explore the new charitable soft opt-in guidance, bringing one of the biggest changes to supporter communications in years.
The session will focus on clear, practical guidance on staying compliant and making the most of your supporter data.
Let’s talk about menopause at work
Wednesday 20th May, Online. The menopause is a natural occurrence, yet up until recently, it has received little attention despite the impact it is known to have on women at work.
Join Acas for this free webinar where we will discuss the importance of supporting those experiencing the menopause.
Will your website still matter in an AI world? How AI Is Transforming How People Discover and Engage with You
Thursday 21st May, Online. AI-driven search is transforming which organisations are found, seen, and trusted.
Join Hart Square for this free webinar to explore the patterns we’re seeing across NFPs, charities and membership organisations: why content built for traditional channels can be overlooked, why trusted organisations are getting outranked, and how AI is reshaping authority and relevance.
Get Your Charity Featured in the Media
Thursday 21st May, online. Get your Charity Featured in the Media is a practical workshop for people in marketing and communications roles in charities who want to gain positive media coverage for their cause — even without prior media experience or big budgets. Over the course of the session, you’ll learn how to craft and share stories that grab journalists’ attention, how to pitch them effectively, and how to turn coverage into long-term impact for your organisation.
Whether you’ve never written a press release before or you’ve dabbled in media outreach but want better results, this session will give you clear strategies, real-life examples, and simple tools to help you approach the media with confidence. You’ll leave with practical techniques you can use right away — and the resilience to keep going until your story gets told.
Supporter Experience Conference 2026
Thursday 21st May, online. Join Fundraising Everywhere for a half-day conference dedicated to helping you smash your supporter experience strategies and raise more money with your supporters.
Join fundraisers from across the sector for a day dedicated to helping charities build stronger, more meaningful supporter relationships. Hear from expert speakers, explore fresh ideas, and discover practical strategies to improve supporter journeys, strengthen engagement, and boost long term loyalty.
Making the most of M365 apps – tips and tricks
Tuesday 26th May, online. This three-hour session shows you how to master 365 apps.
The first section will cover an overview of the apps available. It will explore web vs desktop applications, the joys of Copilot, the best way to use Microsoft Forms, and the secrets of Sway.
The second section is dedicated to Teams, exploring meeting and channel management, file storage, whiteboards and polls, and so much more.
Preventing Charity Fraud
Thursday 28th May, online. Combining 25 years’ expertise as a charity lawyer and governance trainer with frontline experience from various voluntary leadership sector roles, Claris D’cruz will lead this half-day training course to help your charity prevent and deal with fraud or suspected fraud.
This training is relevant to charity trustees, CEOs, finance directors, finance managers, charity advisors and anyone with responsibility for dealing with fraud in their charity.
Throughout the morning we will explore the types of fraud and financial crime to be aware of, the controls and procedures to prevent fraud and how to handle a fraudulent incident.
Good governance – Addressing the investment skills gap
Friday 29th May, online. A practical guide to understanding and approaching risk, setting and understanding investment objectives and working with advisors to ensure strong governance and financial resilience.
Crisis Fundamentals by Horizon Resilience
Tuesday 2nd June, online. The VCSEP are running a free training session for organisations in the voluntary sector.
Drawing on experience at the heart of UK government crisis management, this training by Horizon Resilience will provide participants with a strong practical foundation in crisis management principles, supported by a scenario-based discussion and applied learning. Attendees will leave with an improved awareness of crisis and resilience in the UK context, including how the voluntary and community sector fits within the wider resilience system and a practical understanding of the crisis lifecycle, from anticipation and response through to stabilisation and recovery.
March attendees rated this training 4.6/5 and commented positively on its content and relevancy. This training is aimed at those new to, or less familiar with, formal resilience structures.
Register by emailing marcusbowen@vcsep.org.uk
Understanding Governance: The Trustee Role
Wednesday 3rd –Thursday 4th June, online. Governance fundamentals for new and experienced trustees.
If you are new to the role of being a charity trustee, this course will provide the perfect introduction, while experienced trustees will also benefit from a refresher of their responsibilities and comprehensive updates on evolving elements of the trustee role.
Improve your funding strategy with expert insights
Thursday 4th June, online. Join GrantFinder for a focused 45-minute session exploring practical funding strategies and emerging opportunities in 2026. The session is designed for:
- Local authority teams
- Charity and VCSE leaders
- Anyone looking to strengthen their funding strategy
Join leading experts from the National Lottery, Local Authority and a National Children’s Charity and discover what drives winning bids. You’ll gain practical insights, insider strategies, and a clear view of funding opportunities in 2026.
Supercharge your use of social media
Tuesday 9th June, 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.
What does local government reorganisation mean for you?
Tuesday 9th June, online. Join NAVCA for this practical, insight-led webinar designed for VCFSE organisations navigating local government reorganisation. We’ll explore what’s happening now, what to expect over the next two years, and what it means for your organisation — from funding and contracts to partnerships, rural issues and service delivery. With expert input on the political context, timelines, and emerging intelligence from across affected areas, we’ll share real examples and key lessons to help you plan ahead with confidence.
If you receive funding from your local authority, deliver public services, advocate for rural communities, are working in partnership across health, care or prevention, or are interested in how these changes will affect you — then this session will help you understand what’s changing, what matters now, and how to prepare for what comes next.
All VCFSE organisations, and everyone with an interest in this important topic, are welcome.
Energy Market Insights for Charities: Managing Risk & Collective Purchasing
Thursday 11th June, online. In a volatile energy market shaped by ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, charities are under increasing pressure to manage costs effectively while avoiding unnecessary risk.
This free webinar, hosted by Ben Mason, will explore current energy market conditions and provide practical guidance on:
- Understanding recent energy market movements
- Reducing procurement risk in gas and electricity contracts
- The benefits of collective purchasing for charities
- Practical considerations when reviewing energy agreements
This session is particularly relevant for organisations looking to improve financial resilience and make more informed energy purchasing decisions.
Nonprofit Summer Customer Round Table
Thursday 11th June, online. Join Mhance for an in-Person Nonprofit Summer Customer Round Table.
Here you will be joined with other like-minded charitable organisations and key members of the mhance team to discuss key topics.
Data Protection Training for Charities
Thursday 11th June, online. It is important for every charity leader to ensure their organisation is fully compliant with the latest data protection regulations.
This half-day course will guide you through the key points to consider and what measures you should have in place. You will also learn how to avoid some common data protection pitfalls.
Excel: Advanced
Excel is an incredibly useful tool to help you store, analyse and present your data. Even with basic skills there’s a lot you can do to help with your organisation’s monitoring and evaluation practice – but how do you get started?
➡️ Advanced: Tuesday 16th June, online. More information here
Impact Reporting for Charities
Tuesday 16th June, online. Funders want proof of the difference your organisation makes. They want to understand your charity’s impact across services and locations, and what the benefit is of the services they have agreed to fund.
Amongst other things this session looks at ‘what is impact and how do you measure it’, ‘what does impact look like’ and how do you engage with your stakeholders to maximise impact.
How charities can build financial resilience in an uncertain funding environment
Wednesday 17th June, online. Charities are operating in an increasingly challenging funding environment. Rising demand for services, sustained cost pressures, uncertainty around public spending and policy change, and volatile markets are forcing charity leaders to rethink how they fund their missions – both now and for the long term.
In this Rathbones Charity Expert Series webinar, we are joined by Emma de Closset, Chief Executive of UK Community Foundations, to explore how charities can strengthen their financial resilience in the face of ongoing pressure and uncertainty. Drawing on her extensive experience across the charitable and philanthropic landscape, Emma will share insights into how charities are adapting their funding strategies, reassessing risk, and planning for a more unpredictable future.
This session will be particularly valuable for chief executives, finance directors, trustees and senior charity leaders who are navigating difficult funding decisions and looking for informed, practical perspectives on building resilience in an uncertain landscape.
Finance for Trustees
Thursday 25 June, online. How confident are you that you really understand your charity’s finances? It’s a complicated business, what with managing different types of funds and income, the accounting and reporting rules, as well as dealing with tax and VAT.
This course, lead by the team from leading accountancy firm BDO, will give you the tools to get to grips with how all that works in your own organisation, and includes time to chat with fellow trustees over the practicalities and challenges you face.
Reserves Policy Training
Thursday 2nd July, online. Learn how to develop a reserves policy for your charity.
This half-day online course has been designed to help charity finance professionals develop a reserves policy that meets the requirements of the Charity Commission and SORP but which is also focused on financial risk and forms an integral part of the charity’s financial strategy.
Cyber Essentials Training: Mastering the Five Key Controls for Digital Security
Tuesday 7th July, online. This three-hour workshop offers an accessible introduction to Cyber Essentials, a government-backed framework designed to help organisations protect themselves from the most common cyber threats.
It also includes coverage of the 2026 ‘Danzell’ updates, explaining what has changed and what it means in practice for your organisation.
Over two engaging sessions, we’ll break down the scheme’s five critical controls and run a live hack, including reconnaissance and initial access, where you will play a lead role in the operation. By the end of the training, you’ll be equipped with actionable strategies to strengthen your organisation’s digital defences.
Get Grants FREE Virtual Conference
Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th October, online. Join Get Grants for two days of expert fundraising advice, top tips, Q&As, networking, peer-support, and lots of chat!
The Conference is a celebration of fundraisers, with a programme designed around the topics you want to talk about.
Bringing together thousands of fundraisers from across the UK every year, this fun and heart-warming event with lots of practical advice is not your typical fundraising conference!
[NEW] Social media updates and resources
CharityComms’ social media hub is here to support you in navigating the social media sphere. They’ve recently updated it with the latest reports and platform news, from Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
[NEW] Developing better user-generated films for your charity
Emma Bracegirdle from The Saltways shares practical tips on user-generated films to help you get started with (or rethink) your approach.
The Diverse Cumbria Awards
The Diverse Cumbria Awards exist to recognise and celebrate those who are making our region more diverse, more representative, and more welcoming, across business, education, the voluntary sector, and beyond.
These are people who often go unrecognised, and that’s exactly what the awards want to change.
Nominations are now open – If there’s an individual, team, or organisation in your network doing outstanding work in this space, please nominate them here. It only takes a few minutes. Nominations close on 15th July at 5pm.
A guide to authentic marketing with influencers
Charity Digital look at how the creator economy has evolved and how charities are getting involved.
Westmorland & Furness Council newsletter
You can view Westmorland & Furness Council’s newsletter from 15/05/26 here, including:
- Care homes consultation – have your say
- Council sets out vision for thriving, resilient and sustainable economy
- Funding available for arts and culture sector in Eden and Furness
Cumberland Council newsletter
You can view Cumberland Council’s newsletter from 15/05/26 here, including:
- Hall Garden, Workington opens
- Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycling after you throw it out?
- Donate your old children’s books
500 large charities approached for regulator’s fundraising complaints data review
The Fundraising Regulator has revealed that 500 large charities will be asked to take part in its review of how it collects complaints data.
Earlier this year, the regulator announced that it had commissioned an 18-month research project into complaints that charities receive about their fundraising during 2026-27, in partnership with BMG Research.
A sample of charities are currently invited to take part voluntarily in the research project, which is expected to conclude with a report on the findings in mid-2027.
Over 500 charity shops to participate in A Million Acts of Hope campaign
More than 500 charity shops across the UK will be taking part in A Million Acts of Hope, a week of community action that began last week to tackle hate and division in the country.
Charity shops from Crisis, Mencap and Oxfam will be supporting the campaign with displays of what gives them hope in their communities, as well as inviting local people to share messages of what gives them hope locally.
Robin Osterley, chief executive of the Charity Retail Association, said: “We’re obviously delighted that so many charity shops have participated in this great initiative.”
CIOF to replace flagship Fundraising Convention with ‘more affordable’ events
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) will hold its last Fundraising Convention in the summer before replacing it with a “more flexible, affordable and practical” events offer next year.
In place of the flagship convention, CIOF plans to hold two one-day events in 2027: the Fundraising Summit, focused on leadership, strategy and the future of the profession, and Fundraising in Action, focused on practical skills and development.
CIOF announced the decision last week after consulting its members, partners and the sector, and said the move was “not about stepping back from events or professional development”.
Social media trends for 2026
Charity Digital explore the direction of social media in 2026 and how charities can grow their reach this year.
Helping veterans and serving personnel and their families across W&F
Veterans and serving military personnel and their families across the Westmorland and Furness area are benefitting from a new service helping them secure access to support, get advice or simply have someone to talk to.
The council has funded, in partnership with Defence Medical Welfare Service, a Welfare Officer at the Furness General Hospital to support veterans and armed forces family members in the hospital. There are also monthly drop-in sessions in Barrow town centre at The Bridge and at the Barrow Family Hub.
The council is prioritising earlier intervention and support in its Annual Plan. This project is already having a substantial impact with 61 people supported since it launched in November 2025.
Watch a video about the service here
JustGiving launches ‘UK’s first’ AI fundraising coach
Fundraising platform JustGiving has launched what it describes as the “UK’s first” AI fundraising coach.
The platform’s virtual coach, named Hope, will provide personalised advice to members of the public with fundraising pages to help boost donations to their chosen cause.
JustGiving made the announcement after conducting internal research which showed that the period after creating a fundraising page can be “quite daunting”, particularly for those raising money for the first time.
In-depth: How LGBT+ charities are bearing the financial brunt of the anti-DEI wave
Charities working with marginalised communities are no strangers to threats, intimidation, and facing financial challenges.
Recent years have seen charities of all types contend with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, soaring demand, rising costs and inflation. But now, many organisations face an existential threat as far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-migrant rhetoric abounds both online and offline.
Against this backdrop, an alarming trend has been emerging – and even major charities are not exempt. The Guardian reported in December that the UK’s largest corporations were rolling back on public support for LGBTQ+ Pride, mirroring a trend also seen among large US firms amid President Trump’s rolling back of DEI policies.
Third of charity comms staff ‘burned out’ and seeking career change, survey finds
One in three charity communications professionals feel “burned out”, with the same proportion planning a career change in the next year, a survey has revealed.
Charity Comms’s latest annual survey found that communications professionals’ job satisfaction was lower (48%) at larger charities than at smaller organisations (82%).
In particular, staff at charities with more than 1,000 employees cited a “lack of role definition” as a key problem.
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.
