Useful Information – July 2023
June 27, 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 June. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 25/07/23 – 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 June ’23.
If you’ve seen something you think we should be sharing, let us know! Email us: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Training and Events
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 24 July: Creating with Print, Paper & Collage – Make a Summer Scene
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 Trustees matchmaking event
19 July, online. Digital Trustees is an initiative by Third Sector Labs, supported by Catalyst to connect professionals from tech, data, design and digital backgrounds to charities looking for a digital expert on their board.
Their monthly matchmaking events are an opportunity for charity and digital professionals to hear from a guest speakers and take part in matchmaking activities to discuss trustee opportunities.
Find out more and register 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!
Charity Digital – Open Door Q&A session
12 July, on Zoom. Are you a small charity who needs a hand with upgrading your systems? Don’t know what cyber security you need? Or simply have a question about what software you can access for free?
Join us for this Q&A session where our experts will be waiting to answer your questions.
4th Commonwealth Conference on Youth work
10-12 July. The event is being hosted by the National Youth Agency for England at the University of Reading, and for the first time is available to join virtually via the vFairs platform. With more than 40 presentations and breakout sessions on topics ranging from safe systems and spaces within faith-inspired Youth Work here in the UK, to youth work in the Ukraine at a time of crisis and youth participation in politics in India, the event is a must for anyone looking to develop their youth work practice.
You can view the conference presentations online and can join most of the break-out sessions virtually. To find out more, view the agenda and reserve your place visit The Power of Youth Work: Forging a sustainable and peaceful common future
Eden Dementia Friendly Communities Partnership – Launch Event
19 July – Penrith. Free drop-in event for people living with #dementia and their #carers with information stalls, talks, and a Dementia Friends Information Session.
Click on the thumbnail image for more information.
Major Donor Fundraising Course
Tuesday 11 July & Tuesday 18 July, online. The 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 and has been identified, along with legacies, as areas of fundraising growth for the coming years. For many fundraisers, major donor fundraising is out of their comfort zone. But don’t let the phrase ‘major gift’ scare you off! It is hugely beneficial for organisations to build major gifts programmes that fit their size and capacity.
Using Data to Increase Fundraising Success Course
Tuesday 11 July & Tuesday 18 July, online. This course will aid you in incorporating freely available data, simple analysis, monitoring, and evaluation into your fundraising efforts.
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.
Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Course
Monday 3 July & Monday 10 July, online. 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.
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.
The future of population and migration statistics
On 29 June, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) will be launching a public consultation on their proposals for a transformed population and migration statistics system. Understanding the needs of all users will be essential in gathering evidence and creating a recommendation for Government.
To discuss the consultation and help you getting involved, they’re holding a series of tailored webinars, with voluntary, community and equalities representatives invited to attend on 12 July.
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
Webinar: How charities can access free tech
6 July. This webinar will show you the best places to find completely free tech, the best discounted tech options on the market, the best free advice and support, the best free resources, and some digital life hacks that can save you money.
Webinar: Why your charity should embrace agile working
20 July. In this webinar, Charity Digital define Agile working and show precisely how it can benefit your organisation, including some best practice tips to get your started.
Charity Brand and Creative Conference
13 July 2023, Online. Brand is more than a logo. Brand is your charity’s whole identity – its heart, soul and DNA. Brand conveys what your charity stands for, what (and how) it plans to deliver, and why it exists.
This conference will explore the important strategic and creative building blocks that make a strong brand. It will provide space for you to think about where to take your brand next. And it will share why brand matters and how you can make the case internally for investment in this area.
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.
Fundraising Convention 2023
3-4 July, QEII Centre. Fundraising Convention is the largest in-person event for fundraising professionals in the UK, and the one time of year, we meet as a sector to feel part of a community that will support and empower us. This year’s Fundraising Convention theme is Connection.
We will provide a space to imagine what could be possible, a place to be inspired, discover the latest trends, learn best practices and network with others who understand the challenges and opportunities that a job in fundraising brings. It is a learning opportunity not to be missed.
Fundraising Convention 2023
3-4 July, London and online. Thinking of attending virtually? This year we are delighted to offer both in-person and virtual tickets for Fundraising Convention 2023. As a virtual attendee, you will access quality content specifically programmed for you to experience online. Across two days our virtual programme includes live plenary talks, interactive virtual workshops, speaker interviews and more.
When you attend Fundraising Convention 2023 you’ll be joined by hundreds of professional fundraisers from incredible charities across the UK, including RNLI, Dementia UK, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and St. John Ambulance.
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 6 July: Introduction to Individual Giving Workshop
Tuesday 25 July: Introduction to Corporate Fundraising Workshop
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 26 July, 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
How to support disabilities in the workplace
This Disability Pride Month, take a look at how charities can support people with disabilities through the recruitment process and as employees.
The complete guide to setting up a charity
A useful guide to take you from beginning to end of setting up a charity, from asking “is setting up a charity right for my cause?” to hitting the ground running with putting your charity plans into action.
Infographic: Cyber threats in the UK charity sector
Charity Digital have shared an infographic, outlining the risk that cyber criminals pose to charities in 2023 and how the charity sector can improve its cyber security accordingly.
Volunteering: thinking for the future
NAVCA have recently produced Volunteering: thinking for the future, drawing on recent research and analysis to explore some of the issues and challenges, acknowledge recent national initiatives and support wider thinking on volunteer strategies and engagement with the Vision for Volunteering.
Barrow’s Heritage – Micro to Mighty
Heritage grants for Community Groups in Barrow Borough – Who can apply for funding?
Applications for funding are welcomed from locally based voluntary and not for profit groups in Barrow Borough who are involved in heritage community projects or initiatives. To receive funding, groups must be constituted and hold a bank account in the name of the group.
Gift aid income rises by 19% to £1.6bn but fewer charities benefit
Charities across the UK collectively received £1.6bn in gift aid last year, but fewer organisations received money through the tax relief, new government data shows.
HMRC’s UK charity tax relief statistics, published this month, also show that overall reliefs for charities rose by 8% to £4.27bn.
HMPPS Innovations Grant Scheme 2023-2025
Information on innovation grants available from HM Prison & Probation Service
Applications are invited for one off grants for 2023-2025 to support offender rehabilitation. The grant scheme is open to voluntary sector organisations, with the purpose of piloting new services, approaches or extending/developing current programmes.
There are strands around improving support for families (and children) and improving outcomes for those with protected characteristics.
Charities increasingly embroiled in complex cultural disputes, report lawyers
Charity lawyers are reporting an increase in challenging and complex disputes within charities that do not lend themselves to a traditional investigation and have warned that complex disputes between staff members at charities are becoming increasingly common.
Some are now finding that they are spending more time dealing with challenging disputes within charities that cannot be addressed through “a traditional investigation under a grievance or disciplinary procedure”.
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 10/07/23 here, including:
- Westmorland and Furness marks first 100 days with caring council pledge
- Book places for the summer Holiday Activities and Food programme!
- Penrith to host launch event for new dementia friendly partnership
New governors required for NCIC’s Governors’ Council
A unique opportunity to influence the future of healthcare in the county is now available, as North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) is looking for 21 new governors. NCIC manages both acute and community services, including maternity, stroke and A&E. This means there are lots of opportunities to get involved and help shape the future direction of the Trust and the services it runs.
The Trust is looking for individuals to become involved and nominate themselves to become part of the NCIC Governors’ Council. This is a great opportunity to have a say in what is happening in your local community and to feedback your views directly to the Board of Directors.
For information about vacancies in your area, what is involved in being a governor, the role of the Governors Council and how to submit your nomination go to www.cesvotes.com/NCIC2023 where you will also find details of how to join an online information session being held on Friday, 21 July 2023 from 10.30am to 11.30am.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 09/07/23 here, including:
- Council agrees £1m investment into its communities
- New Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria appointed
- 60 Years of Cumbria Outdoors – share your memories of Hawse End
Public contracts not rising in line with inflation, say charities
Many public sector contracts with charities are not rising in line with inflation, which is leading to some organisations being able to support fewer beneficiaries, leaders have warned.
One chief executive of a women’s charity told Civil Society that many of her organisation’s costs were not being covered by commissioners, which could lead it to cut services as a result.
Health & Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities
Get your Health and Wellbeing updates from Cumbria CVS in our new monthly post – The July one is here
News – we will be using this as an opportunity to pick out particularly important/interesting articles from our most recent Bulletin and/or highlighting information that might be time sensitive.
Events – we will be using this as an opportunity to highlight events of interest to organisations interested in health and care issues including Network events. Most of these will be local Cumbria events but some maybe regional.
Opportunities – we will be using this to highlight health and care focused funding and project opportunities, representative roles and working groups you might want to get involved in and much more. These will focus on Cumbria but may also include regional opportunities.
Changes in Communications
The ‘Big Switch Off’ is happening in September 2023 following a gradual phasing out of landline telephones. Traditional copper cables used for traditional call technology will be switched off and businesses and homes across the UK will rely on internet-based connections.
By 2025 there will be a complete end to the use of analogue phones, which could affect the communities you work with. AgeUK have some useful information on their website about what this means for customers.
MPs show their support for VCSE sector
Over 1,000 organisations came together to sign a letter to the Prime Minister which was read at Westminster during Small Charities Week.
The letter called for recognition of the work small charities do within communities and for more support through current challenges faced. MPs came forward to celebrate the work of small charities and show their support.
NCVO encourages charities to divest from fossil fuels
NCVO, the charity membership body, has launched a campaign that encourages charities to voluntarily divest from fossil fuels.
#FuellingPositiveChange is calling on the charity sector to consider moving investments away from businesses that are involved in the production of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas and tar sands.
Job sharing could ease charities’ retention issues, fundraising event hears
An increase in job sharing across the charity sector could help tackle some of the staff retention issues in fundraising, according to speakers at an event recently.
One session at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Fundraising Convention 2023 looked at the advantages of job sharing in fundraising, and speakers said increased flexibility helped to increase talent retention and improve diversity, equity and inclusion.
How to write a winning funding bid
Charities can dramatically increase their chances of winning funding with Charity Digital’s top tips.
The best benchmarking and digital reports for fundraising
Find the Holy Grail for fundraising reports here
Fundraising facts 2023
The facts that define fundraising in 2023, including how the cost-of-living crisis has affected donors, the latest trends in fundraising events, the ways fundraisers are embracing digital, and so much more.
Fundraising lessons from the last year
Explore the increasing importance of payment channels in fundraising over the last 12 months, with new insight from the most recent Global Giving Indicators report.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 02/07/23 here, including:
- Summer Holiday Activity and Food Programme launched
- Clubs invited to celebrate sport
- Have your say on projects in Millom and Cleator Moor
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 30/06/23 here, including:
- Volunteers needed to support Meals on Wheels Service in Barrow
- We have launched our Summer Holiday Activity and Food Programme
- Public asked for views on homecare services
Databank Surgery at Carlisle Library
The Databank Surgery supports anyone who is struggling to afford internet connection with a FREE mobile sim card which includes 20GB of data and unlimited UK calls and texts monthly for 6 months.
Click on the thumbnail image for more information.
Book an appointment at Carlisle Library
Volunteering: how can we think for the future?
Volunteering does not happen in a vacuum. Apart from spontaneous volunteering in response to an immediate local or individual need, voluntary action happens within some form of informal or formal organisation, community or place.
A vibrant VCSE sector needs full support to thrive, provided by high-quality local infrastructure organisations In their latest blog, NAVCA explore some of the current issues with volunteering, and how we can tackle them collectively.
NAVCA – New strategy, what we do, and membership infographic
NAVCA recently launched their new strategy, what we do, and the results of their most recent member survey. They have been consulting with members, partners and stakeholders to focus their work and what they want to achieve over the next five years.
Household Support Fund
Crisis support for households in need: How to refer in vulnerable clients.
The application-based fund, to help people struggling to afford energy, food, water bills and other essentials, will be available until 31 March 2024 and comprises an online application or a telephone-based service which will provide vouchers that can be redeemed at post offices to pay for household essentials including utilities, food, and other essentials. You can refer clients to this service or residents can apply themselves.
Westmorland and Furness:
Information on support available and advice to help with the cost of living
Apply for the Household Support Fund online
Call the Welfare Team on 0300 373 3300.
Cumberland:
Information on support available and advice to help with the cost of living
Apply for the Household Support Fund online
Call the Welfare Team on 0300 373 3730
Last chance to Go Green Together
If you need help responding to the climate crisis, apply to Become Green Together.
This fantastic programme is already helping over 50 voluntary and community organisations to become environmentally sustainable. With subsidised training and full bursaries available, make sure not to miss out on the final application window.
Podcast: Will artificial intelligence revolutionise charity work?
In this episode, Charity Digital discuss the different perspectives of AI in the charity sector, how it’s already impacting the ways we are working, and how it could impact charity work in the future.
A guide to shadowbanning
Find out what shadowbanning is, who is affected, and what you can do if you think your charity has been shadowbanned.
Charities mastering the art of storytelling
Storytelling can change hearts and minds. Here are five charities that are using storytelling to show their mission, values, and impact.
Fundraising Regulator appoints first ‘proactive regulation’ lead
The Fundraising Regulator has appointed a former Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) executive to lead its new “proactive regulation” function.
Jim Tebbett will be the Fundraising Regulator’s first head of proactive regulation and projects, leading on monitoring and promoting charity sector compliance with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 25/06/23 here, including:
- Have your say at Maryport drop-in events
- …and the pop-up Maryport Maritime Museum opens
- Cumbria schools to come together to participate in Cumbria School Games Multi-Sport Festival
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 23/06/23 here, including:
- Public asked for views on homecare services
- Inspiring Penrith volunteer receives inaugural award at Pride of Cumbria
- Cumbria Holiday Activity and Food Programme 2023
Sarah Vibert: ‘Government must see how reliant communities are on small charities’
NCVO’s CEO speaks to Civil Society about Small Charity Week, £100m promised to the sector, and the extra support her organisation is offering…
More than 1,000 small charities signed a letter to the prime minister recently, urging him to visit them “so you can fully understand the critical role these organisations play”. The letter, delivered to Rishi Sunak, warns him of the pressures small charities are facing. “Every day, small charities are closing or reducing services. We are exhausted, burnt out and the mental health of our staff and volunteers is suffering,” it says.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
Charities urged to ‘actively dispel’ 10 myths about the sector
A new guide aimed at helping charities “actively try and dispel” common myths about the sector, such as charities do not pay tax and they spend too much on overheads, has been published.
Dispelling Common Myths About Charities, published by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), offers practical recommendations to help dispel ten myths so public and donor confidence in the sector continues to build.
Ulverston Community Hub Clubs and Groups User Survey
Plunket Foundation are setting up a not-for-profit organisation and are in the process of submitting a bid for Community Ownership Funding. If successful, they will use this to help purchase an Ulverston town centre building which can be used for indoor sports and leisure activities.
They are seeking the views of people running local indoor sports, arts, educational and social clubs, groups and societies to help them to develop their plans for the new Community Hub venue. They would like to find out from you your current activities, any planned activities and any that you cannot presently offer but could if a suitable venue could be found.
The survey should take no more than fifteen minutes. There are two versions of the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/UlverstonCommunityHubSurvey
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/UCHPublicSurvey
If appropriate, please share the Public version locally/with your service users.
Quarter of charities use AI in day-to-day operations, says report
More than a quarter of charities are regularly using artificial intelligence (AI), according to new research, while an increasing number are too busy “firefighting” to focus on their digital processes.
Some 27 of 100 charities polled on AI for the Charity Digital Skills Report 2023 said they were currently using it in their day-to-day operations, while a further 26 said they were planning to do so.
Whistleblowing reports to the Charity Commission rise
Whistleblowing reports to the Charity Commission have risen by more than 16%, according to the regulator’s latest annual report and accounts.
In the year to March 2023, the Commission received 327 whistleblowing reports compared to 281 in 2021-22. This is however lower than the 434 reported in 2020-21.
Charities urged to complete Fundraising Regulator’s complaints survey
The Fundraising Regulator has opened a six-week survey to understand how charities use information it shares about fundraising complaints.
The survey is open to any person associated with an organisation that has an interest in complaints about charitable fundraising.
UK Grant Making Analysis published by 360 Giving
360 Giving have shared their 2021 – 2022 grant making analysis through a concise and accessible consolidation of interactive visualisations.
The data offers valuable insights into the landscape of funding in the UK, presented together for the first time, and highlights patterns, making it easier to see what further data is needed to provide a fuller account of UK grant making in the future.
Mercer Global investment Not-for-Profit survey
We would like to invite you to participate in our 2023 Global Not-for-Profit Investor Survey. In doing so you will be able to find out how your peers are approaching challenges, such as deciphering an efficient way to incorporate ESG considerations into your portfolio, how to protect your portfolio from inflation and ultimately your spending power.
The survey findings will give you an opportunity to access key insights in the Not-for-Profit sector at both a local and global level. Discover what mega trends, evolving attitudes and challenges are shaping the investment landscape. As with disruption brings opportunities.
Gender pay gaps at country’s largest charities increase
The average gender pay gaps at a sample of 100 of the largest charities in the UK have risen in favour of men, according to research from Civil Society.
In April 2022, the average median gender pay gap for the 100 charities surveyed was 9.1%, up from 7.6% in April 2021.
Councils make £600m in grants to civil society organisations each year, says study
Local authorities in the UK make around £600m in grant funding to civil society organisations each year, according to new research.
The Directory of Social Change (DSC) found that funding for the sector from this source has increased in recent years, with grants averaging at £12,000 each.
Grantmakers urged to fund charities to increase their trading activity
Grantmakers have been urged to increase their support for charities and social enterprises to boost their trading income in response to a new report.
Social Spider Community Interest Company (CIC)’s report defines “enterprise grantmaking” as that “which encourages and supports charities and social enterprises to increase or maintain their income from enterprise activities, including selling services or goods”.
Trusts giving more in grants to charities than public bodies, research says
UK-based foundations are giving more money to charities through grants than government bodies, research suggests.
According to a new study from 360Giving, over £20bn was paid in grants to voluntary organisations in 2021-22.
Latest VCSE Barometer Report
The latest VCSE Barometer report has now been released, following last month’s survey, and you can visit the Barometer dashboard where you can discover more in-depth information about the trends and issues the May survey uncovered. Some of the key findings are:
- Charities of all sizes are feeling more optimistic about their finances than they were in November last year – the proportion expecting their finances to improve over the next quarter has almost doubled (from 17% to 32%).
- Six in ten (63%) small charities now cite volunteer recruitment as a major organisational concern
- A third of charities (34%) cite the cost of living crisis as an issue for volunteer retention
- A quarter of charities (27%) cite a lack of organisational capacity as a key issue preventing volunteer recruitment.
Amy McGarvey: We need a renewed effort to provide quality volunteer experiences for all
NCVO’s research and insight manager discusses what the Time Well Spent 2023 report says about the experience of volunteers…
The latest Time Well Spent findings, based on a survey of over 7,000 adults across Great Britain, look at what volunteering and the volunteer experience look like now following a few years of significant change since the original survey in the series was published in 2019.
It considers what volunteer-involving organisations and policymakers might focus on as we look towards the future.
Read the full article and report here
Most charities struggling to meet rising demand for services, report leaders
Most charities do not feel confident that they can meet the need for their services, which has increased over the past year for four-fifths of voluntary organisations, according to new research.
In response to Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) survey of 621 sector leaders, 81% of charities say that demand for their services has increased compared to a year ago.
Tell us about your experiences of homecare
As part of a review of homecare services Westmorland and Furness Council is asking people to share their experiences of receiving homecare.
The council is asking about what works well, what needs to be improved and what is most important in giving people a good experience of homecare.
Find out more and take part in the survey here
Disclaimer
The information above is provided in good faith. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that it is correct, Cumbria CVS cannot accept liability for any omissions or inaccuracies and does not take responsibility for the quality for any services or products mentioned.
