Useful Information – August 2023
July 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 August. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 25/08/23 – items added on this date are marked as [NEW])
You can view last month’s Useful Information here to catch up on new information added during July ’23.
If you’ve seen something you think we should be sharing, let us know! Email us: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Training and Events
Joining community insight with academic research – a case study
Weds 27 September. The NIHR ARC NWC project (Community Research and Engagement Network – CoREN) would like to invite you to attend a FREE online lunchtime workshop on Joining community insight with academic research – a case study.
Clare White, CEO of Liverpool Council for Voluntary Service (LCVS), will share their journey of partnering with academic institutions to design, develop and deliver research projects.
Introduction to Anti-Racism in Charities
19-20 September 2023, online. This course is a perfect introduction for senior leaders and trustees to learn and plan how to work towards race equity in their organisation’s culture, practice and services.
A 2020 report by Voice4Change England and ACEVO found that 68% of charity staff of colour had experienced, witnessed or heard stories of racism in the sector. During this training course, specialist consultants will give you the tools needed to create equity, diversity and inclusion within your organisation and through your charitable services.
Measuring the Impact of your Organisation
12–13 September 2023, online. Do you truly know the value of the good work that your charity does? Could you be doing more to demonstrate the impact that your work has to funders, donors and the public at large?
Leading impact experts from Moore Kingston Smith will guide you through the key concepts and how you can apply them to your charity. Interactive breakout sessions will allow you to share your experiences and ask questions, ensuring you leave the course with relevant advice for your organisation.
Walney Library Quiet Saturdays
Saturday 26 August. Walney Library will be a quiet space for our neurodiverse friends every third Saturday.
Find out more in the attached leaflet.
NHS and Care Volunteer Responders webinars
August/September, online. In June 2023, the government announced it was expanding the NHS Volunteer Responders programme into social care. The Department of Health and Social Care and Royal Voluntary Service, which is delivering the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme, are holding webinars on the programme outlining the support available to adult social care providers.
The webinars will provide a short briefing and there will also be the opportunity to ask questions.
Those with an interest are invited to register to book your place.
NASP webinar: NAVCA social prescribing project
Tuesday 22 August, online. NAVCA have been working with NASP (National Academy for Social Prescribing) to develop a set of tools designed to support engagement between Primary Care Networks and Local Infrastructure Organisations.
This webinar with NASP will provide an overview of a new internal quality framework for social prescribing link working hosts to build up their practice . This session will be particularly useful for anyone in the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector with an interest in social prescribing , Social Prescribing Link Workers, NHS, government and arms-length body staff .
Please register for the event here
Webinar: How to measure and report charitable impact
31 August, online. In this webinar, Charity Digital explore the metrics that charities should be measuring to monitor their charitable impact and how they can convey them effectively to a variety of audiences.
Westogether Climate Concerns event
Tuesday 26 September, Salterbeck. The event aims to bring together community groups and organisations, local councils and concerned individuals to find out more about current initiatives to get people involved in climate issues in West Cumbria and plan further ‘Doing our Bit’ awareness raising activities in the local area.
As well as networking with other groups, you can learn more about the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, Cumberland Council’s plans for work on climate issues, Copeland People’s Panel on climate change, CAfS’ Climate Champions programme and CDEC’s Youth Climate Leaders – the Future is Now programme; and find out what support is available through organisations such as CAfS, Cumbria CVS and Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC).
Please sign up via this link on the CAfS website
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board AGM
13 September, Preston. The ICB will be holding its first annual general meeting on the evening of Wednesday 13 September, after our board meeting.
Staff, partners and members of the public are invited to attend the session, which will include a presentation of our annual report and accounts and a look back at our achievements and challenges in the ICB’s first year.
Details of the event and the booking form can be found on our website.
Carlisle West Community Network launch
Saturday 2 September. Morton Manor Community Centre. Have your say on setting the council priorities for your area.
Family fun, children’s entertainment, iCan Fitness Wheels of Wellness, cafe and bar and networking.
Full details in the attached flyer
Arts, Culture & Heritage Discovery Day
Friday 22 September, Whitehaven. Interested in pathways into Arts, Culture & Heritage? Would you like to discover more about work related to opportunities in the Arts, Culture & Heritage sector?
Come along and chat to leading organisations in the sector to learn more about them, the opportunities they have, and how you can get involved!
Click on the thumbnail image for more information.
Understanding the new Youth Work Practice and Safeguarding Standards
Wednesday 13 September, online. Find out more about how to incorporate the new standards into youth work practice at the NYA’s upcoming webinar.
The session which will be delivered by Abbee McLatchie, Director of Youth Work and Xyna Prasad, Safeguarding Manager, NYA will bring to life the essential elements of the new Standards and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
Online AI for Fundraisers Masterclass
12 September. We have seen a massive interest in AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools such as Chat GPT amongst our community of fundraisers. We know that many not-for-profit organisations aren’t effectively using AI to benefit their fundraising – especially smaller organisations with fewer resources that are in danger of getting left behind.
Gent Grants’ NEW AI for Fundraisers Masterclass has been designed to demystify AI in fundraising, build your confidence, and get you started using Chat GPT to maximise your fundraising efforts!
Trauma Informed Conference 2023
2 November 2023 at Castle Green Hotel in Kendal. The conference is designed to bring together professionals from all walks of life to discuss and learn about trauma-informed practices and how they can be implemented in various settings, including voluntary sector agencies, health, education, social work, and criminal justice agencies.
The conference will feature prominent speakers from the field of trauma-informed practice, who will bring skills, knowledge, and current best practice in the field.
Thinking Critically About Trauma-Informed Practice
Thursday, 7 September. This online event from Trauma Informed Cumbria will consider what the term trauma-informed means and why it is an important concept in work with children and adults.
Trauma-informed practice requires an organisation-wide understanding of and commitment to trauma-informed approaches. This is an opportunity to explore some critiques at play within the field of trauma-informed approaches, and reflect on the interface between this approach to practice and issues of diversity, inclusion and equity.
North Cumbria Community Mental Health Transformation Conference 2023
10 October, People First, Carlisle. Join North East and North Cumbria NHS this World Mental Health Day to celebrate the work that has been undertaken as part of Community Mental Health Transformation in North Cumbria and discuss with colleagues from across the system how we can meet the challenges facing us to ensure that we deliver sustainable community based solutions to support the mental health needs of our population.
We have a wide range of speakers and workshop to showcase the amazing work being undertaken in our region and promote discussion as well as hopefully generate ideas on how we move forward. Cumbria CVS will also be presenting an evaluation of the Migrant Mental Health Project at the conference.
More details, including how to book, in the attached document
(Not just a) Walk in the Park
Friday 11 August. Carlisle Sight Support is offering you an opportunity to join this practical awareness raiser about living with sight loss.
What to expect: A short walk around Bitts Park wearing a blind fold. Come with a guide or pair up with one of our volunteers on the day. Find out about Carlisle Sight Support and the services they provide. Click on the thumbnail image for more information.
South Lakes Adult Learning
View this flyer for dates and details of new Westmorland & Furness Council autumn term courses, covering employability, arts & crafts, health & wellbeing, digital skills + more.
Barrow Playcations
Free family-friendly fun events during August – crafting, playing, dancing, and hanging out in a spot local to you. Click here to view details
Barrow Library Summer Reading Challenge Events Programme
View this leaflet for details of the Reading Challenge and dates of children’s events in Barrow libraries.
Green Leadership Programme
The Northern Network, in partnership with Natural England, is launching a new programme of support and development for people working in the green sector that are looking to enhance their business and leadership skills to take their community group or organisation to the next level.
This pilot programme will offer a unique and in-depth experience, providing a space away from the day-to-day, for new green leaders to come together for peer support, and guidance from experts on environmental, community, and business sustainability.
Bid Writing in Sports & Physical Activity Workshop
Wednesday 27 September, online. 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.
The workshop aims to benefit fundraisers with all levels of experience looking to hone their grant fundraising skills, as well as those who are looking to write their first application and don’t know where to begin.
Bid-Writing for Charities and Community Groups Course
Wednesday 16 & Wednesday 23 August, online. 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.
Virtual Fundraisers Networking
Wednesday 23 August. 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.
Health and Wellbeing Community Festival
Friday 4 August, Whitehaven. Cumberland Council will be providing free family entertainment alongside access to vital wellbeing services at its Health and Wellbeing Festival.
The event will include Pet therapy, bouncy castles, trampolines, face painting, exercise sessions, a climbing wall, tale trails, and a colour run, alongside performances from a dance academy, acrobats, a magician, and a DJ. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will be joining a wide array of health and wellbeing support providers to showcase their service and provide advice and guidance to residents. Organisations can help with loneliness, housing, financial hardship, benefits, welfare and more.
Click on the thumbnail image for more information.
Free family learning courses in Kendal Library this summer
Please see attached information about free family learning sessions to be held in Kendal library this summer.
Monday 14 August: Family Learning – Awesome Me!
Monday 21 August: Family Learning – Create & Make
Please note, parents/grandparents/carers need to attend alongside their child and probably a limit of two children per parent/grandparent/carer. These courses have limited spaces, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Project John, Barrow – Race Night
Friday 1 October, Barrow. All money raised goes to the Giving to Communities Christmas Appeal. Click on the thumbnail for more information.
Trauma Informed Communities
The NIHR ARC NWC project (Community Research and Engagement Network – CoREN) would like to invite you to attend a FREE online lunchtime workshop on Trauma Informed Communities on Thursday 3 August from 1-2pm.
The event will be led by Dilwara Ali, CEO of Healthy Living (Blackburn with Darwen) and the Equitable Place Based Health and Care research theme of the ARC NWC. The event will explore projects being undertaken in Lancashire to support the development of trauma informed approaches and how these have been developed in collaboration with residents leading to stronger and more connected communities.
For further details and to register your interest, click here
Digital Fundraising Summit 2023
1-2 November, online. Calling all charity sector employees – Charity Digital’s Annual Digital Fundraising Summit is back!
For the fifth year in a row, we are bringing back an action-packed event of Digital Fundraising insights from across the charity and tech sectors. The new and revamped Digital Fundraising Summit 2023 is a free, two-day, online event, with informative webinars and interactive workshops, and plenty of time for networking!
Webinar: How to write for social media
17 August. In this webinar, explore what makes great writing for social media, how to find your “why”, how to inspire people into action, why accessibility remains important, and how to make your copy clear, concise, impactful, and inclusive.
Online Safety Digital Conference: Keeping Children Safe Online
Monday 25 September, 2023. The internet is an increasingly large part of children and young people’s daily lives, with 12–15 year-olds spending on average 20 hours a week online. Despite progress in technologies to keep children safe, the Internet Watch Foundation found 255,588 reports of online child sexual abuse in 2022 alone. Increases in peer-on-peer abuse online is also impacting young people’s mental health.
As we await the passing of the landmark Online Safety Bill, join Westminster Insight’s timely Online Safety Conference. Chaired by Susie Hargreaves OBE, CEO of the Internet Watch Foundation, we will explore what the future holds for the Bill with representatives of the UK Council for Internet Safety, Ofcom, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) Protect and Prepare Board.
Classic/Vintage Vehicle Show
Saturday 12 August, 2023. Maryport Rotary Club are holding their second Classic/Vintage Vehicle Show following last year’s very successful at Netherhall Rugby Club CA15 6NT from 10.00 am. All local charities are invited to bring a stall, stand, tent, marquee etc to raise funds for themselves FREE OF CHARGE.
As last year, this is the same day as the “Taste of the Sea Festival” so there will be crowds of people in town and Workington Heritage Transport will again be running Vintage buses around the town and out to the Rugby Club – again FREE OF CHARGE. There will be no clash with the “Taste of the Sea” since they concentrate on food. Admission to the public is £2.50 for adults, Children free.
Click on the thumbnail to view a poster for the event, and click here to download an entry form
Barrow Summer Events
Details of events happening in and around Barrow Town Centre through to October can be found in this new leaflet.
Hard copies are available from The Forum, Leisure Centre, Children’s Centres and local shops etc. If you would like any hard copies please pop into the Forum.
Get Grants free introduction workshops
Following the success of Get Grants 10th Anniversary events, we are pleased to announce the return of our FREE Introduction Workshops! These workshops provide a taster session, filled with top tips and advice, of each of our training courses.
Thursday 3 August: Introduction to Fundraising for Beginners Workshop
Friday 29 September: Introduction to Using Data in Fundraising Workshop
Tuesday 10 October: Introduction to Storytelling in Fundraising Workshop
Friday 10 November: Introduction to Fundraising Strategy Workshop
Free MS awareness training
Wednesday 27 September, Wednesday 29 November. Are you a community-based professional or volunteer? Do you work in health or social care? Do you work for a charity, community voluntary organisation or social enterprise? Are you an employer looking to know more about multiple sclerosis (MS)?
We are hosting free MS awareness training sessions for you. Due to demand, additional dates are available.
Meet the Funder Events
Dates through until September’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.
VCFSE News and Information
Major platform becomes ‘first’ to offer generative AI to fundraisers
JustGiving has started offering generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology to its users and says it is the first major fundraising platform to do so in the UK.
The platform introduced a function this month to allow fundraisers to using AI to generate a personal story as part of their pages encouraging donations.
Commission flooded with queries from charities switching to new service
The Charity Commission has reported receiving a high number of calls and emails from charities experiencing technical issues switching over to its new digital service for trustees.
My Charity Commission Account (MCCA) went live on 31 July and so far 79,000 charities have successfully set up on the service.
Twice as many charities failing to read marketing opt-out requests, regulator reports
There has been a year-on-year increase in the number of charities not accessing requests to suppress people on their marketing databases, according to the Fundraising Regulator.
On 1 August 2023, when the regulator took a snapshot, 35 requests had not been read by 22 charities. These figures compare to 21 requests not accessed by 11 charities a year earlier.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 20/08/23 here, including:
- Communities invited to set priorities for investment
- Come and join us for a Talk and Tidy event in Hensingham
- Autism Information and Support Hub launches for Cumbrian families
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 18/08/23 here, including:
- Library events for all the family!
- Free family events as part of the Brilliant Barrow Place project
- Free School Meals and Uniforms Vouchers
Be part of Reach Volunteering’s national climate campaign
This September, Reach Volunteering are launching a national campaign to inspire people to volunteer as a way of taking action on climate. The campaign will be promoting volunteering opportunities and sharing stories that show the real impact that climate volunteering can have.
If you are a climate related organisation and would like to get involved, click here to find out more.
Home Truths 2
Home Truths 2 is a new programme of work from ACEVO and Voice4Change England designed to challenge and support mainstream UK civil society to take serious practical action on anti-racism and race equity.
The aim is to engage stakeholders from across civil society, including senior leaders, staff and those working within and alongside civil society organisations in a targeted practical programme of activity. The work includes practical resources and guidance, approaches to calculating and remedying ethnic pay disparities, integrating race equity into the core mission and bringing senior leaders together to drive forward their anti-racist and race equity practice.
Supporting transgender employees in the workplace and in recruitment
CharityJob explores how employers in the sector can support transgender employees in the workplace and in recruitment in this article. The most important reason for creating specific policies that support transgender employees in the workplace is because it’s the right thing to do.
A report by the charity Stonewall found that half of trans people have not told their workplace they’re transgender for fear of discrimination, and one in three trans people has been discriminated against by colleagues for being transgender.
How charity magazines are evolving in the digital age
Charity magazines offer a unique way to engage supporters. With the rise of digital, how has the charity magazine evolved?
How to write a Wikipedia page for your charity
This article explores whether a Wikipedia page is the best use of time and energy for your charity, and how to draft a page that is more likely to be approved.
NCVO welcomes Ofgem action on energy broker fees
NCVO has welcomed an announcement from Ofgem that it will take action on hidden fees charged by energy brokers.
The umbrella body’s chief executive, Sarah Vibert, co-signed a letter to the energy regulator last month, urging it to “take urgent action on hidden energy broker charges affecting some of the UK’s most vulnerable people and the sectors worst hit by cost-of-living crisis”.
The best summer fundraising ideas
Celebrate the summer with some top fundraising ideas from Charity Digital.
Exploring the phenomenon of ‘inverse giving’
There really could be no such thing as bad publicity, particularly for charities looking to attract donations.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 11/08/23 here, including:
- Cumberland Community Safety Partnership
- Health and wellbeing festival hailed a success
- Transforming Workington: A £10 Million boost for the Gateway Project!
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 11/08/23 here, including:
- Don’t lose your voice – residents urged to check their voter registration details
- Friendship Group – Barrow Library & Health and Wellbeing Team
- Join a growing network of people offering care and support
Infographic: How can cyber attacks affect your charity?
An infographic from Charity Digital shows how poor cyber security can affect charities, from damaging its reputation to impacting its fundraising.
Hospices have ‘fallen through the cracks’ of £100m funding, says sector body
Hospices have “fallen through the cracks” of the government’s £101.5m of funding announced for the charity sector, a sector body has warned, after details of the funding were announced last month.
Toby Porter, chief executive of Hospice UK, told Civil Society that the announcement of the details on the first £71m in funding was “underwhelming” for the hospice sector, which had hoped to receive more support through the initiative.
Charities respond as £40m Youth Investment Fund grants awarded to sector
Charities have received almost £40m in the latest round of Youth Investment Fund (YIF) grants.
Earlier this month, the government announced £69.8m in grants for 44 youth projects, which included £39.9m to charities, £5m to social enterprises and £24.9m to local authorities.
Consumer Duty: What is it and how will charities benefit? – NCVO blog
New rules on Consumer Duty for banks and financial institutions came into force on Monday 31 July 2023. The Consumer Duty sets clear standards of consumer protection that will ensure good outcomes for customers. It applies to charities and voluntary organisations as well as individuals.
This very clear blog from NCVO outlines exactly what to expect.
Community Ownership Fund – Round 3 open
DLUHC’s Community Ownership Fund is open for applications. From this window, they will be increasing the amount of funding that all new applicants can bid for from £1 million to £2 million.
All changes are explained in full in the updated prospectus.
Podcast: Tone of voice 101
In this podcast, Charity Digital explore why tone of voice is so important, the universal rules every charity should follow, other factors to consider, and the key actions charities can take to develop their tone of voice.
How to write boilerplate copy
All charities should have a standard description of the work they do to use in their communications.
The benefits of unrestricted funding
Funders can better support charities by giving them freedom on how they use grants.
How to fill gaps on your trustee board
Are you short of a particular skill or type of experience on your trustee board?
Find out how to identify gaps, recruit trustees, and remove barriers that prevent people from taking on these roles.
The rise of youth advisory boards
Charities are increasingly setting up formal meetings with young people to gather their views. Take a look at some of the benefits of youth advisory boards.
Why charities need to champion the young
Explore how charities can motivate and champion young people to drive support for their cause.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 06/08/23 here, including:
- Active Cumbria launches Summer Boost campaign
- Application date extended for Aspatria’s Town Centre Facelift Scheme
- New community hospice respite bed opens at Park Lodge care home
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 04/08/23 here, including:
- Top civil servants in Barrow to discuss vision for town’s transformation
- Do you have children beginning or returning to school in September?
- New playpark opens as part of lido and promenade rejuvenation project
Environmental support for voluntary and community organisations
Cumbria is planning to become Net Zero by 2037.
Don’t miss out on tools to help the voluntary and community sector become environmentally sustainable, and apply to the Become Green Together programme by the 30 September.
How can charities centre empowerment in their operations?
Explore how charity leaders can empower others across the workplace, third parties and supply chains, and wider society.
How to design your website for service users
How can users’ experience navigating a charity website be improved?
Click here to read the article
How your organisation can build trust
Trust is essential for all organisations, especially for fundraising. Explore the concept of trust, how it applies to the charity sector, the benefits of trust, risks that undermine trust, and much more.
How are charities using AI in service delivery?
Charity Digital explore the charities leading the way in using AI to deliver their services, and highlight some key steps every charity should take before embracing the technology.
Webinar: How to make language more inclusive
In this webinar, copywriter Ettie Bailey-King (she/her) introduces some straightforward and practical principles to make language inclusive, accurate, and respectful.
Simple ways to check your online information is useful
Catalyst have created an open resource with simple steps to check whether your online guides and information pages are useful.
Covering details like why you should test your content and who you should test it with, the resource is for any one involved in creating ‘how to’ guides and people working in small charities who are in charge of collections of information, support or guidance.
What’s stopping you from starting a podcast?
Hear from three charities that have taken the leap and grown a successful podcast.
How to talk about your impact
Explore the various ways you can let audiences know your impact.
Marketing facts 2023
Charity Digital track the latest facts about marketing, content marketing, social media, email marketing, search engine optimisation, and more.
AI tools to help with content production
Take a look at options for AI content creation and the risks involved.
The National Youth Agency – New Resources – Practice Standards & Safeguarding Standards
These two resources aim to support the sector to understand what is recommended to ensure every young person accessing their provision can experience the benefit of great youth work alongside best practice safeguarding.
The new Youth Work Practice Standards document outline the requirements for governance, planning and evaluation at your provision. Download Raising the bar – Youth Work Practice Standards on the NYA’s website.
The new Safeguarding Standards have been designed for and with youth work organisations and young people to help organisations to develop appropriate and effective safeguarding policies. Download the Safeguarding Standards here
GivePenny fundraising platform to close down
GivePenny will be closing down its fundraising platform operation on 31 August 2023, and is recommending charities move their fundraising to Enthuse.
The platform has been operating for almost eight years, but now says it is no longer sustainable.
Charity Commission publishes refreshed guidance on investments following court case
The Charity Commission has published renewed guidance on charities and investments, following its call for information and consultation on financial investments.
It reflects a significant High Court judgment on charity trustees’ investment duties – the Butler-Sloss case.
Climate change: how to build a united environmental movement
Consider the role of digital technology in the future of the climate action movement as charities adapt to the presence of non-violent civil disobedience.
Supporting organisations to become financially sustainable
Sustainability goals can sometimes feel overwhelming for those in the voluntary sector.
Organisations often find it hard to see where they fit into the bigger sustainability picture, for example with regards to supporting the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. However, by focusing on what matters to their organisation in their context, charities and other voluntary organisations can make meaningful progress towards becoming more sustainable.
Are celebrity ambassadors worth the risk for charities?
Many charities have famous faces rallying for their causes, but with headlines can come some reputational risk.
Civil Society looks at whether ambassadorship makes sense for the sector…
How National Lottery funding has changed
Charity Digital take a look at how National Lottery funding is set to change over the coming years.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 30/07/23 here, including:
- Community Panels open for business
- Community events to tackle antisocial behaviour
- Cumbria Adoption launches campaign to find forever homes for children who wait longer
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 28/07/23 here, including:
- £1m fund to provide meals for children during holidays
- Join a growing network of people offering care and support
- Grants available to celebrate and support Barrow’s heritage
Cyber security: increase in phishing attempts in charity sector
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has seen an increase in threat actors conducting phishing activity across the charity sector. We would like to remind charities to follow NCSC guidance to help improve their resilience against phishing attacks:
- Learn more about defending against phishing attacks at Phishing attacks: defending your organisation – NCSC.GOV.UK and Step 5 – Avoiding phishing attacks – NCSC.GOV.UK
- Read the Small Charity Guide at Small Charity Guide (Infographic Summary) – NCSC.GOV.UK
- Make use of the NCSC Training for Staff at NCSC’s cyber security training for staff now available – NCSC.GOV.UK
Please remember never to click on suspicious links, and to report any malicious emails to:
- The Action Fraud portal at www.actionfraud.police.uk
- The NCSC incident report service at report@phishing.gov.uk
Rest of £100m spring budget funding to be paid out from December, DCMS reveals
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has revealed that the second part of the £101.5m package for charities announced in the spring budget will be distributed from December.
DCMS is inviting organisations and consortiums to apply to act as intermediary grantmakers to deliver the £25.5m VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme over the next two years in England.
Charities unable to file annual returns through the existing system, says regulator
The regulator’s My Charity Commission Account service went live on 31 July, it has announced.
This means charities will no longer be able to file annual returns through the regulator’s existing digital system.
Podcast: The future of content
Content is evolving faster than ever before! Today’s content looks radically different from 5 years ago, and 5 years from now, it will take yet another groundbreaking form.
Tune in to Charity’s Digital’s podcast episode as they dive into the heart of content trends shaping the next 5 years.
HMRC Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Funding Programme – Digital Inclusion
HMRC is looking for voluntary and community sector organisations to support them in helping customers they currently find hardest to reach, who cannot or will not interact directly with them or need extra support in doing so. It has secured £5.5 million for a three-year programme from April 2024 to March 2027 (£1.835 million per year), to fund voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations to help them provide advice and support to customers who need extra help in understanding and complying with their tax obligations and claiming their entitlements, including those who are digitally excluded.
HMRC is inviting bids for funding of between £30,000 and £600,000 per year, with a maximum threshold set at 50% of your organisation’s turnover (last audited accounts). The application window closes at 11.59 pm on Monday 21 August 2023.
Further information on the application process, including the funding aims and eligibility criteria, can be found on HMRC’s website.
51 fundraising ideas to help you raise money
A look at 51 fundraising ideas to help you raise money for charity. Ranging from virtual fundraising to sporting events, from raising money with animals to workplace fundraising, here are some suggestions for every occasion.
How to use AI for fundraising
As AI becomes rapidly more advanced, it’s opening up new ways of working for fundraisers – saving time, money, and human brain power.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 23/07/23 here, including:
- Flimby Flood Alleviation work continues
- Not long until our action-packed health and wellbeing festival
- Make a splash this summer: 10p swims for Cumberland children
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 21/07/23 here, including:
- Grant scheme will help 16 to 19-year-olds travel for education, learning and training
- Council announces plans for new “Family Hub” in Barrow
- Dementia partnership launch event a great success
How to get ready to apply for digital grant funding
This online article from the Catalyst will help you decide whether you’re ready to apply for digital funding and will help you think about what you need when you apply.
Applying for digital funding is similar to preparing for other funding, but you need to do a different type of research to learn new theories, concepts and digital ways of working.
NCVO launch ‘Fuelling Positive Change’ campaign
NCVO have launched a sector-wide campaign encouraging charities to think about divesting from fossil fuels.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage charities to join in sending a powerful message that fossil fuels are unsustainable and couple harm our people, places and see a widening of inequalities in communities around the world.
GSK IMPACT Awards and new GSK Health Inequalities Programme open for applications
The GSK IMPACT Awards are for charities with total annual income between £150,000 and £3 million. They are funded by GSK and provide core funding and free training for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Up to 15 awards will be made, ranging from £4,000 to £50,000, plus free training and development valued at a further £9,500. Closing date Friday 1 September 2023.
The new GSK Health Inequalities Programme supports small charities with total annual income between £20,000 and £150,000. Up to 15 charities will receive up to £10,000 in unrestricted funding plus access to free training and development valued at £2,700. Closing date Monday 14 August 2023.
10 hacks to help you cultivate empathy in your hybrid team
Most of us are used to working in a hybrid environment now, but are we doing it in the best way to stay connected as a team and an organisation?
Manage Remote Teams (MRT) offer benchmarking services and training courses to raise the standard of remote/hybrid working. Their online blog identifies 10 hacks to cultivate empathy in your hybrid team.
National Advocacy Awards 2023
Do you feel passionate about people’s rights being upheld, or the discriminated being supported for social justice? Have you experienced working alongside an effective advocate? Do you want to give advocacy in Cumbria a chance to win a prestigious award?
Nominations for the National Advocacy Awards are open until 12pm on 31 August 2023.
Cumberland Council Environment and Climate Newsletter
View Cumberland Council’s Environment and Climate newsletter from 19/07/23 here, including:
- Climate change and natural environment
- The Rebuild Site, Carlisle
- Could you volunteer to be a Climate Champion?
Free guide urges charity trustees to shift decision-making amid ‘permacrisis’
Charities must fundamentally change how they make decisions due to today’s unending crises, according to a new guide for trustees from think tank NPC.
The guidance outlines four ways in which charity governance should adapt, including:
- Focus on your mission, not your preservation.
- Recognise that change is constant and that your response will need to keep evolving, rather than holding out for a return to business as usual.
- Use lived experience to shape how you interpret data and make decisions.
- Look beyond your immediate focus, recognising how crises are connected and work with others as part of a systems strategy.
Empowering voices: How your charity can encourage people to tell their stories on camera
Top tips for encouraging people to share their stories in an ethical and authentic way.
The problems of AI regulation
A look at why regulating AI may prove to be far harder than many people expect.
Why you should invest in green tech in the workplace
In the climate crisis, it’s time to embrace green tech. Not only are there environmental benefits, there are cost-saving ones too.
How to access free and discounted tech on the Charity Digital Exchange
A guide to using the Charity Digital Exchange to gain access to free and discounted software and hardware offers, training, and courses for your charitable organisation.
New Community Panels open for business
Cumberland Council’s eight new Community Panels are now open for business, and community groups can apply for support.
The panels were designed to put residents at the heart of decision making in their communities. Made up of ward councillors, they will liaise with a network of local partners and residents to ensure effective investment.
Each panel has an amount of funding, but can also support projects with lobbying, signposting and leveraging further help.
Find out more about the Community Panels here
18-month project launches to drive anti-racist practice in civil society
ACEVO and Voice4Change England have announced an 18-month programme of activity to drive anti-racist practice in civil society.
The project follows on from a report in 2020 called Home Truths, co-written by race equity expert Sanjiv Lingayah, which found that 68% of charity staff of colour had experienced, witnessed or heard stories of racism in the sector.
Podcast: Crisis control: Burnout in the charity sector
Charity Digital explore how charity professionals are feeling three years after the pandemic.
How to structure a great fundraising email
A look at the best way to craft, structure, and deliver a great fundraising email.
Can royal patronage boost charities’ income?
The public increasingly wants to see charity and royal family link-ups. But does regal backing also increase donations?
How to write a winning funding bid
Charities can dramatically increase their chances of winning funding with these top tips.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 16/07/23 here, including:
- Sign up for our Apprenticeship Recruitment Day
- Hundreds of people share their views on Maryport regeneration
- Free events for all the family in your local library this summer
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 14/07/23 here, including:
- Council to host their first Apprenticeship Recruitment Day
- Council agrees ambitious new Climate Action Plan
- Abbey Road active travel scheme backed by councillors
Cost of Living Fund launched
The £76M Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund launched recently. The fund will support organisations across England to deliver critical frontline services. Organisations will be able to apply for funding to maintain or expand critical cost of living services from now until the end of March 2024.
Applications will be for amounts between £10,000 and £75,000. The fund is part of the £100M for charities announced in the Spring Budget. It will be administered by the National Lottery Community Fund. More information here.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
Your views on Cumberland
Cumberland Council has commissioned thinkingplace to work with them to develop a long-term, shared story for Cumberland. This will help market the area to attract inward investment and visitors, create jobs, and support existing businesses.
They want to hear what makes you proud about Cumberland, how you feel about the area and how you might like it to develop in the future. There is the option to join one of four online workshops to provide your insight, thoughts and knowledge to help shape this powerful story.
Register for one of these workshops here and click on the thumbnail image for dates
Large charities’ reserves rise by a quarter to £49bn on strong investments, research finds
The 40 largest charities in England and Wales have seen their reserves increase by almost a quarter over the past year, according to a new report.
Consultancy Hymans Robertson reported that the charities’ combined reserves grew by £9.5bn (24%) in the 2021-22 financial year to £49bn, “largely due to strong investment performances”.
Have your say on accessible communication from GP’s dentists and pharmacists
Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness are carrying out a new project looking at the accessibility of information and advice provided by GPs, dentists and pharmacies.
We want to hear your views on accessible information, the advice you received and whether your access needs were met when visiting your local health services.
Full details are in the attached document and you can take the survey here
Charity text donations fell by 28% year-on-year, report reveals
Charity text donations fell by £14.1m, a decrease of 28.1% year-on-year, to £35.9m in 2022-23, according to new research.
The Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA)’s annual market review, found consumers in the UK spent £594m on phone-paid services in 2022-23.
The Better Mental Health Fund: Key learning points
The Centre for Mental Health has published an evaluation of the government backed Better Mental Health Fund grant scheme, established in 2021 to address mental health difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding was offered to 40 local authorities in England to commission evidence-based interventions to improve mental health and mental wellbeing in local communities.
One of the key findings, is that social approaches to mental distress can tackle some of the biggest factors, such as isolation, that are known to play a role in poor mental health.
4% of large charities report their disability pay gaps, research finds
Only 4% of the largest 250 charities in the country currently report their disability pay gap, according to research by Civil Society.
Analysis of the top 250 charities by income, according to Charity Finance’s 100 and 250 Indexes, shows that 11 organisations reported the difference in average pay between their disabled and non-disabled employees.
Contract uplifts survey
NAVCA are working with NCVO and other partners to understand the impact of inflation on charities delivering public services.
We are particularly keen to find out the impact of a lack of contract uplifts on organisations and service delivery. When you have a moment please could you complete this survey.
AI in charity communications
The Charity Skills Digital Report identified that whilst 78% of charities believe Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be transformational for their organisation, only 27% are actually using AI in their operations so far. Over half of organisations surveyed would like to understand AI and it’s functions better, but don’t have the time, resources or skills to do so.
So as AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives, how is it changing the game in the world of charity communications, and how can we use it effectively to benefit our organisations?
Watch the latest CharityComms seminar, ‘Harnessing the power of AI in charity communications’ or read the full transcript to learn more.
Consultation on changes to children’s safeguarding guidance
Working Together to Safeguard Children is the government’s multi-agency statutory safeguarding guidance. It sets out expectations for the system that provides help, support and protection for children and their families.
The Department for Education is consulting on revisions to this guidance. The consultation closes on 6 September 2023.
NCVO Survey: The impact of inflation on charities delivering public services
Income from government and public bodies through grants and contracts to deliver public services makes up 26% of the voluntary sector’s income.
Underfunding of these services is a longstanding problem for the sector, and it is now being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis. Voluntary infrastructure bodies are working together to make the case to government for sustainably funded public services. This survey from NCVO will help them to build evidence of this problem, and influence government.
Charities must make new allies to avoid losing democratic powers, report warns
Charities must make new alliances, some “unusual”, to create a healthy democratic space, a new report claims.
Defending our democratic space by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) and Civil Exchange uses the term ‘democratic space’ to define how people and civil society organisations help to shape policies, services and laws.
Do charities care about climate change?
Charity Digital share the results from their recent Climate Action survey, looking at charity attitudes towards the environmental sustainability and how the sector is tackling the climate crisis.
Giving Tuesday donations stagnating in UK, research finds
Donations in the UK on Giving Tuesday have plateaued, raising a similar amount in the past three years, according to new research.
Giving Tuesday has raised approximately £20m for charities in the UK for the last three years, accumulating 3.5% of the festive season’s donations in 2022, compared to 3.9% in 2021 and 4.2% in 2020.
Black-led charities fear closure in next six months, survey finds
A majority of Black-led charities and social enterprises do not think they will last beyond six months, according to a recent survey.
The report by Do it Now Now looked at the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on Black-led charities and social enterprises.
Leadership at Muslim charities ‘not diverse enough’, say donors
Donors to British Muslim charities have raised concerns about the diversity of leaders in the sector in response to a new survey.
The British Muslims Charitable Giving Report also found that most donors believe Islamic charities should focus less on short-term projects, such as responding to disasters.
Average fundraising salary is not keeping pace with inflation, job site reports
The average salary for fundraisers has not kept pace with inflation, according to research conducted by CharityJob for the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF).
The average salary of fundraising jobs in 2022 was £37,700, a 4% increase on 2021 which had an average salary of £36,600.
Most people have not heard of the Charity Commission, research finds
Research shows that the general public continues “to have little real knowledge or understanding of the Charity Commission”, with under half having heard of it.
The research was conducted on behalf of the Commission by Yonder, in April 2023, and shows that in the past year there has been a drop in both awareness of and familiarity with the Commission, continuing the trend observed in 2022 of falling recognition.
Charitable giving by FTSE 100 firms static as profits treble, report says
The UK’s largest listed companies donated the same amount last year as they did in 2016 despite their profits trebling in that time, according to new research.
A report published recently estimates that the charity sector would have received an additional £3.74bn of funding from FTSE 100 firms if they had uplifted donations to match increased profits.
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.
