Useful Information – March 2024
February 28, 2024
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 March. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 25/03/24 – 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 last month’s Useful Information here to catch up on new information added during February’24.
For useful resources, information and news, 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? Check out the latest edition of Focus on Funding here
Training and Events
Live Longer Better Bench Walks
20 March, Workington. Active Cumbria are pleased to invite you to take part in a walk with a difference, followed by a chair-based exercise taster session with Fit4Life Cumbria.
Come along and be inspired to be more active, more often, whatever your age.
Click here for more information and Click here for walk details and map
Safety Net (UK) Fire Fest
20 April, Armathwaite. The event will consist of the opportunity to do a Fire Walk for aged 16+ (£20pp and to aim to raise £100), a Lego Walk for all ages (free to participate but aim to raise £20), there will be music, stalls, arts and crafts corner and a festival feel to event.
General Admission to Fire Fest is free but we are asking people to register so we have a true idea of numbers so that it can be catered for appropriately.
Click on the thumbnail image for more information.
Struggling with debt?
Come along and chat about managing finances and dealing with debt at Tea at The Town Hall, Carlisle on 22 March.
Click on the thumbnail to view more information about the event.
Digital estates and donations – improving the supporter experience
28 March, online. In 2024, charities face the challenge of boosting fundraising amid economic uncertainty. Many struggle with donation tools that lead to donor frustration and potential drop-offs.
To tackle this, join this webinar with Oblongata for actionable strategies to enhance supporter experience and optimise digital platforms, ensuring smoother donation journeys without compromising functionality.
Community Transport Association – new manifesto and launch event
The Community Transport Association (CTA) have launched their manifesto for the next UK general election – ”A Better Future for Transport: National Challenges, Community Solutions”. The manifesto calls for a new and dynamic partnership between the next UK government, CTA and the community transport sector.
CTA are also hosting a launch event where you can find out more about the manifesto and the campaign. The event will take place online on Tuesday 19 March, online.
Find out more and sign up here
West Coast Makers
West Coast Makers is a new creative space to come together and be collectively ambitious – a room in which to ask one another what it is to be beautifully and riotously us.
Maybe you crave a space to be yourself in, are fizzing with music but sick of scales or know there’s a poem hiding in your heart – this is the place to dare, dream and do. Mondays 6pm-8pm in Workington Town Centre. Click on the thumbnail image for more information.
NCASS Workshops
Are you working with people seeking asylum in a voluntary or professional capacity? Are you interested in learning more about this population? This workshop may be for you! Provided by the North Cumbria Asylum Seeker Service (CNTW NHS Foundation Trust), this interactive workshop aims to discuss the following:
- What it means to be a person seeking asylum
- Factors impacting on the mental health of people seeking asylum
- Barriers effecting people seeking asylum from accessing healthcare
- What NCASS does and why it is needed
- How to refer to NCASS
Tuesday 19 of March 2024, 2pm-5pm, Workington Fire Station or Thursday 21 March 2024, 2pm-5pm, Carlisle East Fire Station.
To book a place or for enquiries, please email: cmb-ncasylumseekerservice@cntw.nhs.uk
Energy Champions Information Session
6 March, online. These popular, free, sessions from Cumbria Action for Sustainability will give you the information you need to help your community, clients and colleagues access our free support.
Strategies to Increase Donations to Your Organisation
Thursday 7 March, Online. Raising funds for your nonprofit isn’t the easiest task, but we know it’s essential to creating the impact you want.
So, in our upcoming webinar for nonprofits, we’ll explore some innovative (and doable) strategies to help you grow donations in today’s shifting landscape.
Find out more an register here
Data Visualization Accessibility
Tuesday 5 March, Online. Join Accessibility For All for this free webinar.
This informative webinar will explore how you can make data visualizations more inclusive and user-friendly.
Social Media Strategy for Impact and Engagement
18th March, online. This interactive session from Third Sector Lab will help you to ensure your social media activity is closely aligned to organisational goals.
The event aims to give you an understanding of how social media can help your organisation achieve its aims, how you can protect your charity, staff and volunteers with a simply policy, and which channels are key to your online presence and content planning techniques.
Racial Equality Impact Assessments
The Racial Equity in Policy Network (REiPN), hosted by the Politics, Philosophy and Religion department at Lancaster University is open to all policy makers in the broadest sense across the North of England.
REiPN is inviting people to an online session on 13 March where they will be introducing racial equity impact assessments as a first step to tackling racial inequalities. The session will discuss key questions to think about as when designing, planning and implementing policies, practices and programmes in your area to keep racial equity as part of the key elements in the process.
How will you go green in 2024?
Wednesday 13 March, Online. Join Going Green Together for this 1-hour peer support session to share your plans for how your organisation will become more sustainable and take part in climate action in 2024!
You don’t need to be a GGT participant already to join, but you do need to be a member of the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector in the North East/Cumbria.
Come along to this session to share and discuss:
- What environmental activities your organisation is planning this year.
- What opportunities you think others may benefit from.
- What support you think will be valuable for the sector.
Webinar: How to improve your financial management
21 March, online. In an era of heightened competition and continuous change, charities face unique challenges in planning for the future, particularly financially.
In this webinar, presented by financial management experts Sage Intacct, explore how charities can prioritise efficiency with their finances, using flexible technology that works well together across departments in order to meet evolving demands.
Storytelling for Fundraising Training Course
Telling stories is a powerful tool that is too often overlooked. Stories are used to engage, inform, persuade, and create connections between people. As a fundraiser, storytelling is a valuable skill that can be used to influence your potential supporters and maximise on your fundraising efforts.
Get Grants Storytelling for Fundraising Training Course is designed to support fundraisers to improve their fundraising confidence and success through effective use of storytelling.
Upcoming courses: Thursday 7 March & Thursday 14 March or Thursday 18 April & Thursday 25 April 2024
Introduction to Legacy Fundraising Workshop
Thursday 28 March, online. This 60-minute workshop will highlight what legacy fundraising entails and provide you with a sample of the crucial information needed for improving your income from legacies.
Introduction to Developing Your Community Fundraising Workshop
Tuesday 5 March, online. During this 60 minute workshop you will gain valuable tips, tricks, and tools for developing your community fundraising income, enabling you to move forward with intention and confidence.
Virtual Fundraisers Networking
Tuesday 19 March, online. There has never been a greater need for fundraisers to get together and share knowledge and experience.
Get Grants FREE Virtual Fundraisers Networking Events bring fundraisers together to access friendly peer-support from our UK-wide Get Grants Community.
Routes into Nursing and Midwifery – spotlight on Learning Disability & Midwifery roles
Monday 11 March, online. The session is aimed at young people or adults of any age who may be interested in pursuing a role in Nursing or Midwifery at some point in the future.
We would also like to invite any teachers, careers or employment advisors to attend in order to find out more about these vital healthcare roles and routes into the profession. Please feel free to share with any relevant stakeholders.
More information and registration link available in this poster
The Big Help Out 2024
Returning for its second year, The Big Help Out 2024 is taking place across the weekend of 7-9 June, at the end of Volunteers’ Week. NCVO are hosting webinars to help volunteer-involving organisations to develop and plan their involvement in the campaign, which this year has a key focus on supporting underrepresented communities in volunteering.
All webinars will include the latest campaign news, support to use the digital platform and practical insights around encouraging greater diversity. The webinars are free and you are welcome to attend more than one, subject to availability.
Open webinars for any volunteer-involving organisations: 6 March at 10am and 3 April at 10am.
International Women’s Day: Women breaking the law
8 March, Whitehaven. We have 4 guest speakers 2 of whom are former Calderwood House residents. The theme is “Breaking the Law” where we will hear the reality of what leads Women in West Cumbria to break the law and the aftermath of doing so.
This event will be triggering and the content of some of the stories are harrowing.
Find out more and book tickets here
Climate and Carbon Literacy training
7 & 14 March, online. Do you want to get your facts straight about the latest climate science? Develop an understanding of carbon footprints and build your knowledge of what we can all do, at home, in our communities and at work, to help restore the balance?
Cumbria Action for Sustainability’s interactive Climate and Carbon Literacy training course provides a clear understanding of climate science, an awareness of carbon costs and the impacts of everyday activities. It will leave you with the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community and organisational basis and is a great way to meet like minded people.
Workshop: How to get it right when it goes wrong: Cyber Incident Response with NCSC
5 March, online. This workshop, delivered by experts from the Incident Management team at the National Cyber Security Centre, will encourage charities to consider what they should have in place before an incident happens.
This workshop will cover how to plan, build, develop and maintain an effective cyber incident response capability for your organisation.
Insights 2 Impact Programme – Measuring Impact
Starting 26 March, online. The Insights 2 Impact Programme is launching in March 2024. This is an exciting and engaging online programme which will answer all the questions you’ve been asking about social impact measurement.
Two experienced facilitators with a combined experience of over 50 years in the VCSE sector will provide you with group and 1-2-1 support, providing you with the business case for embedding impact measurement, the theory behind the practice, and sharing some very practical tools to get started.
Webinar: Securing your charity in the age of AI
7 March, online. Much has been said about the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the charity sector, the ability to automate tasks, forecast the future, and generate content can revolutionise how we operate, allowing us to dedicate more time to delivering impact to the communities we serve.
But, as with any emerging technology, AI poses risks as well as rewards. In this panel discussion, experts from across the charity and cyber security sector will address some key challenges facing charities today, exploring what exactly AI is and what it means for charities.
You SALL Go To The Ball
17 and 23 March, Carlisle. Prom has become an important milestone for many of our young people as they leave school and look to the future. Some families may struggle to provide prom wear for many reasons.
Well Suited CIC have come together with other agencies, local retailers and the community to offer a good selection of quality donated prom wear.
Click here to view a poster with more information
Going Green – Online conference
Thursday 21 March 2024, online. This conference is for anyone interested in making their charity more environmentally friendly. It has been designed with both larger and smaller charities in mind and will include useful information for those just starting out on their green journey as well as those looking for more advanced ideas on improving their sustainability.
The conference will be especially relevant to:
- Charity leaders and senior decision-makers
- Those in charge of charity operations (HR, Operations Directors, etc.)
- Those in charge of charity reporting (finance, accounting, impact)
- Charity trustees
NAVCA Annual Conference 2024: The Future of Local Infrastructure
16 May 2024, Birmingham. We’re pleased to announce that tickets for the NAVCA Annual Conference 2024 are now on sale.
We know how important it is for our members to be not only sustainable but innovative, developing new ideas and leading positive change in their local voluntary sectors. That’s why our Annual Conference 2024 explores forward-thinking themes, linked to what our members do on a day-to-day basis. From engaging meaningfully with young people in volunteering, to what political parties and government need to know about local infrastructure, we’re looking forward to a day that will leave members feeling equipped and inspired to take action.
National Youth Agency Roadshow
Wednesday 6 March, 2024, Preston. We invite the youth sector and other interested professionals to hear updates from the sector and to discuss future challenges and aims.
This year, the Roadshows will focus on the updated guidance for local authorities on the statutory duty for youth services and explore how local youth offers currently meet this duty. We will have an afternoon of updates and discussion on where the sector is at and what direction NYA should prioritise going forwards to ensure we’re guided by the sector.
Please share these events and sign up to attend – more detail can be found on the Eventbrite pages.
Core Costs Masterclass
Thursday 21 March 2024, online. The sector is crying out for core costs funding. Fundraisers consistently tell us that core costs are one of their greatest fundraising challenges. Despite increasing pressure, many fundraisers don’t feel as confident applying to grant funders for core costs and funders’ definitions and willingness to fund core costs can be unclear and vary wildly.
Our Core Costs MASTERCLASS invites you to put everything you know and feel about core costs aside and join us to explore a practical approach to core costs grant fundraising that you can confidently put into practice.
VCFSE News and Information
Accounting body voices support for urgent consultation on charity audit thresholds
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has written to the minister for civil society, Stuart Andrew, to express support for a consultation on the audit threshold for charities in England and Wales.
ICAEW, a professional body supporting over 200,000 chartered accountants and students, understands that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) intends to hold such a consultation.
How charities can use WhatsApp Channels
Take a look at WhatsApp’s newest feature, Channels, and what it means for charities.
Digital inclusion: Preparing for a more digital future
Explore how charities can make digital for all by accessing free digital inclusion services to get everyone online.
The ultimate guide to creating a digital strategy
Discover how to create the perfect digital strategy by judging current capabilities, conducting user research, establishing goals, and writing and editing.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 17/03/24 here, including:
- Petteril Community Panel invests in local area
- Planning for the future
- Social prescribing day event
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 15/03/24 here, including:
- New maps feature walks to live longer better
- Consultation on the current Sexual Health services
- Drug and alcohol awareness online workshops
Street Tag
Street Tag is a free physical activity App that incentivises you and your team to be physically active every day.
Workplaces, community organisations, sports clubs and families can create teams for free with the aim of working collectively to become the most physically active team in Cumbria.
More information in this leaflet
DCMS reports 30% drop in grants to cultural charities as fundraising rises
Grant-in-aid funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to cultural charities fell by 30% last year, according to new figures.
Data published today by DCMS shows that the department gave a total of £1.28bn in grant-in-aid funding to 19 cultural organisations including Arts Council England, the British Museum and Historic England, in the year to March 2023.
People wanted for Autism Citizenship Board
Inclusion North is looking for people with lived experience of autism to join an Autism Citizenship Board. Together they aim to make sure Autistic voices are heard and influence decisions made around health and care across the North East and North Cumbria. Please share this opportunity with anyone who might be interested in your networks.
For more information, email Kimberly.bellhouse@inclusionnorth.org or call 07843 413 197.
Create your own impact map
It can be difficult to measure the impact of your work with volunteers, because it often involves lots of moving parts and collecting stories that are difficult to quantify — like ripples in a lake.
Ripple effect mapping is a mapping technique that is designed to capture the ‘ripples’ of impact that are hard to measure by traditional methods or that take time to appear. Creating an impact map is participatory and interactive, and best of all, it’s really easy to do!
Vision for Volunteering have created a new free resource pack which you can download to create your own impact map.
Further changes to Charities Act 2022
The Charities Act 2022 has made significant changes with the intention of saving charities time and money by simplifying processes and reducing administrative burdens.
The changes came into effect on 7th March, Womble Bond Dickinson have provided a summary of the changes and what they mean.
Extension to the Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund will continue for another six months, from April to September 2024 with £500m to be distributed by local authorities. The fund was set up in October 2021 to help vulnerable households with essential expenses like food, clothing and utilities.
Charities, councils and MPs have been lobbying for an extension since Autumn 2023 when it looked like the Chancellor wasn’t going to renew the fund. Whilst the extension will support those most vulnerable in communities, there’s disappointment at the short-term of the extension and a call for the government to use the next six months to find a long-term sustainable offer of support.
‘Erosion of public trust’ from subcontracting reports impacts all charities, says Lord Harris
The Fundraising Regulator’s chair has said that an “erosion of public trust” caused by subcontracting bad practice has an impact on all charities.
Lord Harris told Civil Society that recent news reports of external fundraisers using pressure-selling techniques on donors are “clearly damaging” and the sector must be “constantly mindful” that there could be further media coverage to undermine public trust.
Charity Commission chair rejects calls for think tanks to lose charity status
Charity Commission chair Orlando Fraser has criticised “unfounded complaints” made to the regulator about “the alleged non-charitable nature” of some think tanks’ research.
Writing in the Times, he said “some have sought to weaponise the Charity Commission as regulator in campaigns against think tanks with whom they disagree”.
Sign up for MyNCSC
MyNCSC is a free digital service, provided by the National Cyber Security Centre, which aims to enhance your charity’s cyber security approach. While each service can be used independently, the best results are achieved when they are used holistically.
The MyNCSC platform combines various ACD (Active Cyber Defence) services, offering a unified experience tailored to each user’s needs, including content, vulnerabilities, and alerts.
Trustees must have ‘line of sight’ when subcontracting fundraisers, regulator says
Charities using subcontractors should have “line of sight” of any fundraising carried out in their name, the head of a regulator has said.
Speaking at the Fundraising Regulator’s annual event, chair Lord Harris emphasised the need for proactive regulation to maintain public trust.
Operator sought for exciting new activity and leisure facility
An exciting opportunity to take on the management of a new activity and leisure facility in Millom and Haverigg is underway. The process provides the chance for potential operators to submit their interest.
In addition to submitting information through Cumberland Council’s online procurement CHEST, potential providers can also email the procurement team direct or send information in the post. The deadline for responses is Friday 29 March 2024.
How to make your fundraising event a success
Explore how charities can put on a successful fundraising event, drastically boost their fundraising efforts, increase the size of their audience, and raise more money for the causes they support.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 10/03/24 here, including:
- Operator sought for exciting new activity and leisure facility
- Community helps to shape transport scheme for Millom
- Join us at our Community Panels
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 08/03/24 here, including:
- £250,000 pledged to support cultural organisations
- Drug and alcohol awareness workshops
- Grange Prom and Lido rejuvenation project is taking shape
In-depth: The spring budget failed to deliver for the charity sector
This year’s budget was an opportunity to address the challenges facing charities, but their calls seem to have gone unheeded, writes Léa Legraien for Civil Society Media.
With a looming general election and promises to reset the relationship between the government and the charity sector, many were nervously awaiting chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget.
Spring Budget: what you need to know
The Spring Budget bought welcome news of the extension of the Household Support Fund by £500M for a further six months to September 2024. Despite the reduction of 2% in employee national insurance, the tax burden will continue to rise over the next five years.
Public spending will increase by 1% over inflation, but even this increase will require significant cuts to unprotected departments of around £20Bn per year by 2028. Government suggest that these cuts will be offset by savings from the implementation of public sector productivity plans. Most announcements are small in scale but will help some places in terms of more funding for 20 towns, further devolution deals and community regeneration.
Download the full briefing by NAVCA here
Charities respond to spring budget announcements
Civil society organisations have reacted to Jeremy Hunt’s latest spring budget.
The chancellor today (6 March) outlined the government’s tax and spending plans, including a further cut to National Insurance, an increase in the VAT registration threshold, and protections for charities claiming gift aid.
Peers discuss £200m predicted impact of minimum wage rises on charities
Increases to national minimum wage rates next month are set to cost charities and voluntary organisations nearly £200m over six years, the government has forecast.
From 1 April, the national living wage (for people aged 21 and over) is set to rise from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour, while younger workers will receive larger increases. In a House of Lords debate last week, peers discussed the impact of the impending increases on charities that might then struggle to pay salaries.
W&F Green Enterprise Hub
The hub offers:
- Tailored support: to take the headache out of the process and connect you with our expert partners.
- One-to-one energy saving consultancy services: to reduce carbon emissions from buildings, transport and food.
- Events and training: to inspire, inform and connect you with other businesses on the same sustainability journey.
- Grants: get up to £10,000 to help make the move to low carbon technologies more affordable.
- Resources and case studies: showcasing some of the businesses we have already helped through the GE Hub.
The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need
Do you help individuals and families in need of emergency financial help?
With details of around 1,800 grant-making charities giving almost £376 million in funds, this nineteenth edition of the guide is your companion for providing support to the individuals who need it most.
Find out more about the new edition and how to buy a copy here
‘Your starting point is to accept donations,’ Commission tells charities in new guidance
The Charity Commission has told trustees that their “starting point” is to accept donations offered to their organisations and not to let “personal motives” influence their decisions.
Published this month, its guidance says trustees can decide to refuse or return a donation “where this would be in your charity’s best interests”.
Is it time to ditch PDFs for good?
A look at the problem with PDF files when sharing content and why charities may wish to phase them out of their online experience in future.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 03/03/24 here, including:
- Easter HAF programme launched
- Make sure you’re ready for elections in May
- More than 300 delegates take part in Cumberland Economic Summit
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 01/03/24 here, including:
- Call for Penrith residents to share views on a proposed new parking permit process
- Lever that here… so someone else can use it
- Result of referendum – Allithwaite and Cartmel Neighbourhood Development Plan
Charity sector’s crisis warning to Treasury ‘has gone unheard’, says NCVO
NCVO has said its warning to the Treasury last year that charities face a “crisis” due to public service underfunding “has gone unheard”.
This week, the Treasury replied to a letter from NCVO which had been signed by more than 1,400 charity representatives, but the sector umbrella body said it failed to respond “to the crux of the issue”.
Loneliness campaign – ways to get involved
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has recently launched the next phase of the Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign.
Targeted at 16 – 24 year olds, one of the most at risk audience groups, the campaign aims to reduce the stigma of loneliness, increase knowledge of where to find support and encourage taking action.
Charity sector told not to lose uniqueness when adopting AI
Charities must adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that does not lose what is unique about the sector, an event has heard.
Speaking at an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Charities and Volunteering meeting, sector expert Zoe Amar said AI is rapidly evolving and “will undoubtedly affect the charity sector and the people it supports”.
Charities urged to support menopausal employees following EHRC guidance
Charity employers have been encouraged to support their menopausal employees better after Britain’s equalities watchdog published new guidance.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) recently published guidance on menopause in the workplace, setting out employers’ legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
How to navigate a general election
With a UK general election looming around the corner, Charity Digital share some resources to help charities campaign effectively and within the rules.
Exploring different ways to do an annual report
A look at what to include in an annual report and three different ways in which you can present your annual report.
Cyber security trends for 2024
Explore the cyber security trends affecting organisations in 2024, from advancements in AI to the growing sophistication of cyber attacks.
Communicating Climate 2024
Media Trust are looking for 20 organisations working on climate and environmental issues to take part in a fully-funded, six month, online strategic comms training programme. Whether your organisation focuses on conservation, energy, food or on the many other issues that intersect with climate change and the environment such as social justice, health or education – it’s crucial that your voice is heard.
Through masterclasses, other training and support from media industry experts, you’ll learn how to talk about complex climate and environmental issues and how they intersect with other areas, reach your target audiences and motivate people to take meaningful action.
Local leaders receive £2.5bn transport boost
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Mark Harper have confirmed today that the North will receive a £2.5bn boost in funding to improve local transport connections, particularly across smaller cities, towns and rural areas.
Funding has been reallocated from the HS2 fund and is the first transport budget of its kind that is specifically targeted, with the aim of empowering local leaders to invest in the transport projects that matter most to their communities.
Read the government press release here
Free Data First Aid support for charities
Pro Bono Economics is a charity which can provide other charities, voluntary organisations and community groups with pro bono support from a dedicated volunteer economist to help with ad hoc data needs including data analysis or visualisation, spreadsheet tasks or short pieces of research and analysis.
PBE have availability to help right now. Tell them what you need on their website so they can match you with the right expert.
What is the Vision for Volunteering?
The Vision for Volunteering is a ten year movement to create a better future for volunteering.
It provides a framework for organisations to consider the best way that they can develop volunteering, making it more inclusive and accessible for everyone involved.
Find out more and how to get involved here
Growing Well Tebay support
Mental health support at Growing Well is completely FREE, including minibus transport. Individuals can be referred by health professionals such as GPs, community mental health teams, care co-ordinators and social prescribers. They do not need to have a formal mental health diagnosis and can also self-refer.
We operate a swift admissions process, and an individual can start with Growing Well within 2 weeks of applying to join. We can provide immediate help to those who may be on waiting lists for other mental health services.
Leaflet for individuals to self refer
Leaflet for professional referrers
Poster
Charity sector bodies urged to provide more leadership on AI
Charity sector bodies should give charities more leadership on how to make the best use of artificial intelligence (AI), an event has heard.
A panel of sector leaders discussed the topic at the launch of the Charity Commission’s five-year strategy in London recently.
Charity Commission ‘will not be weaponised’ by those ‘fighting the culture wars’, says chair
The Charity Commission will not be “weaponised” by people or organisations fighting “culture wars”, its chair Orlando Fraser has said.
Fraser made the comments recently in a speech to charity leaders at the launch of the Commission’s new five-year strategy in London.
Finance 101: Exploring impact financing
Green and sustainable finance products push charities further, while protecting the environment. Explore the latest developments.
An economic survival guide for charities
A look at how charities can survive threats to their future, mitigating the risk of closure amid tough economic conditions.
How to find the right savings account for your charity
Charity Digital look at the best charity savings accounts and the best options for earning an interest on your charity reserves.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
View the Cumberland Council newsletter from 25/02/24 here, including:
- Have your say on our family wellbeing services
- £22k for school breakfast clubs
- Multi-million-pound museum transformation begins in Carlisle
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
View the Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter from 23/02/24 here, including:
- Westmorland and Furness Council protects front line services in tough financial times
- Tell us what you think about children and family services in our area
- Council to host series of nature conversation events
Cost-of-living crisis may force more charities to merge and close, conference hears
Chief executives of major UK charities have shared their thoughts on how the ongoing cost-of-living crisis could affect organisations deciding to merge or close down.
At Civil Society’s ESG Imperative event in February, Paul Farmer, Enver Solomon and Farah Nazeer, the respective CEOs of Age UK, the Refugee Council and Women’s Aid, discussed how to lead a charity responsibly in an era of permacrises.
Charities should be wary of ‘culture wars’ in lead-up to the election, NCVO warns
The upcoming general election will lead to increased scrutiny and a “greater appetite” for culture wars, NCVO has warned charities.
With this likely to take place on social media, it is important that charities have agreements on how they use the platforms, the umbrella body said in a report published today.
Return to your roots when reporting
Faith-based charities represent every part of the charity sector – from large international NGOs to small local synagogues, and ranging from educational charities to those working to reduce poverty and homelessness in local communities.
So, when the reporting requirements encourage or require certain disclosures, be it public benefit, environment, risk, governance, reserves or other, it is important to return to your roots and determine how each of these areas contain processes, policies and strategies that align with your wider mission.
No ‘immediate injection of funding’ from a Labour government, charities told
Labour cannot promise an “immediate injection of funding” into the charity sector if it is elected at the next election, its shadow culture secretary has said.
Thangam Debbonaire told an event in February that a Labour government would bring “a new focus and appreciation for charities” and a “reset in the relationship between civil society and government” but not necessarily more funding.
Are charities ready for AI?
Explore the challenges of implementing artificial intelligence technology and what charities need to put in place to avoid falling behind.
Back-to-basics: How to make great decisions
Whatever your role, whatever your charity, you’ll need to make decisions as part of your job. Find out how to make sure your decisions are great ones.
How to help staff and volunteers embrace digital
Top tips and practical guidance so that charities can ensure their staff and volunteers are making the most of tech.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
Donors more confident supporting charities displaying Fundraising Regulator’s badge
The majority of donors would be more confident supporting a charity displaying the Fundraising Regulator’s badge, research suggests.
The regulator’s accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023, published recently, show that it conducted research into the public’s perception of the badge.
New report from the King’s Fund: Illustrating the relationship between poverty and NHS services
”Currently it is estimated that more than one in five people in the UK are living in poverty. Living in poverty has a profound impact on people’s health and how they use NHS services. From greater prevalence of a wide range of diseases and difficulties in accessing health care, to later treatment and worse health outcomes, poverty affects every stage of the patient journey.”
The King’s Fund’s new report looks at the link between poverty and each of the following:
- prevalence of ill health
- difficulties accessing health care
- late or delayed treatment (and higher NHS costs)
- poorer health outcomes.
Culture of Innovation report
Charities have confronted myriad challenges in the past five years. From the impact of COVID-19 to the strain of high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, charities have faced increased service demand amid dwindling funds.
Despite these obstacles, we’ve witnessed resilience and innovation within the sector. The Blackbaud, Nonprofit Insights: Culture of Innovation report, explores insights from industry experts and sector success stories to empower charities with the tools to innovation.
Volunteering adds £4.6bn to UK economy each year, researchers estimate
Volunteering in professional and managerial positions in the UK produces £4.6bn-worth of productivity gains each year, £4,551 per volunteer, according to a new report.
The report estimates that a further £67.5m could be provided if the around 185,000 unemployed adults from professional and managerial backgrounds in the UK were to volunteer at the same rate as those employed.
Governance Reporting – support from Catalyst
In the UK, there are limited options for incorporating an organisation. Yet there are many ways you can innovate and organise differently if you know how.
The following research report was commissioned by Catalyst and was produced by the School of System Change. It is an exploration of various governance models and related frameworks, which will be helpful for any team who are considering questions relating to governance and how they organise more deeply.
Charity sector insights: Overcoming adversity in 2023
In recent years, the charity sector has faced an array of challenges. Each year has brought forth new trials and difficulties, along with an increased demand for services.
But, as ever, the charity sector has remained strong and remained resilient. The Enthuse ‘Charity Pulse Report 2024’ shows that more than half of charities (55%) saw income stay the same or increase, even in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis. The report also shows that trust in charities endures, with 88% of respondents rating trust in their charity as eight out of ten or higher.
Find out more and download the report here
Banks criticised by regulator as 42% of charities report experiencing poor service
The Charity Commission has criticised the banking sector’s response to its calls for improvements after 42% of trustees reported experiencing bad service in the past year.
In survey findings published recently, the regulator reported that 6% of respondents had experienced account freezes or being blocked over the past year, while 7% said their bank had lost their records.
Latest VCSE Barometer results released
You can now read the latest results of the VCSE Barometer Survey. The latest report, ‘Tethered fortunes: The threat to charities from trouble in local government’ asked charities how cuts to local authority funding were affecting them.
“Across England, local government funding is in disarray. Councils are issuing section 114 notices – indicating unlawful expenditure or their equivalent of bankruptcy – at unprecedented rates. Cuts are following rapidly, with even more looming as local and national government tussle over responsibility for services such as social care.”
Family Wellbeing in Cumberland: Tell us your views on our services
Cumberland Council’s vision is that every child grows up in a nurturing and supportive environment, surrounded by love and a strong community which enables them to thrive. By prioritising children and family wellbeing, we can create a brighter future for generations to come.
We are looking at changing and improving some of the support services we provide to Cumberland’s families. Your input is essential to ensure that the support services we provide meet the needs of families in Cumberland.
UK charities ‘leak’ almost £6bn revenue annually, report estimates
UK charities are losing out on 6.84% of potential income each year, equating to £5.97bn annually, researchers have estimated.
Sagacity’s Missing Billions: Charity Edition lists a lack of oversight and poor processes as some of the main causes of lost revenue.
87% of public service charities are subsidising grants and contracts, says survey
Almost nine in 10 charities that deliver public services are subsidising their grants and contracts, with most considering withdrawing from them, a NCVO survey has found.
The True Cost Of Delivering Public Services: A Survey Of Charities In England reads: “For decades, charities have warned that contracts and grants are not keeping up with inflation. This problem has become much worse over the past few years due to rapidly rising prices”.
Charity employees are taking less annual leave, says study
Charity employees in the UK are taking fewer days off, according to a new study.
According to research involving 5,205 charity and NGO workers, the average number of annual leave days taken dropped by 6% from 43 in 2022 to 40 in 2023.
£13bn reduction in council funds to charities since 2010, say researchers
There has been a £13.2bn reduction in council funds to charities since 2010, according to newly published findings.
Research by Pro Bono Economics (PBE) and Nottingham Trent University suggests that further cuts to services can be expected and even closures announced by charities in the coming months.
‘Skills vacuum’ in charity sector driving up job vacancies, warn analysts
Job vacancies in the UK charity sector are being driven up by a lack of workers with the necessary skills, according to researchers.
Unfilled roles at charities almost doubled from 2.6% in 2011 to nearly 5% in 2022, according to analysis of recent government data by Pro Bono Economics (PBE).
NCVO The Road Ahead 2024 launch
This annual report analyses major trends and issues to chart a path for the year ahead. Key takeaways from the report include political and social challenges for the year around the mayoral elections, the pressure that local authorities are under and the impact this will have on charities as the need for support from communities increases.
The report also identified that the challenging nature of the current climate means many people are looking for positive alternatives and ways to build a brighter future and better communities – which brings an opportunity to encourage more people to get involved in volunteering.
Support for people with sight loss survey
Vision Support Barrow and District is part of a partnership that helps local visually impaired people. The five Cumbrian charities for people with visual impairment are working together to increase the support offered to people with sight loss.
They currently have a National Lottery funded project, which is coming to an end. They’re hoping to build on the learnings by enhancing support to people with sight loss across Cumbria, especially those who are newly diagnosed or experiencing a major change in their sight or life more widely.
Please complete their survey, it should take no more than 5 minutes.
Charity Pulse report 2024
In this edition nearly four in ten (39%) charities said they’re expecting challenge event income to increase in 2024, with being able to talk about a big name event on social media seen as important or very important for maximising fundraising by 77%.
Grab a copy to find out more about the driving forces behind the most influential trends in the sector, including recent happenings and where things are headed.
Have your say on services for families and young people
Westmorland & Furness Council offer support services from pregnancy to teenage years, and provide lots of different things such as breast/infant feeding support, school readiness support, help with parenting, and so much more.
So we are likely to offer something which impacts all children, young people and families in our area – and we want to know what you think. Complete our survey and be entered into our competition to win 1 of 5, £100 Amazon gift cards.
Details are in the attached poster
People of colour more likely to have considered charity gifts in wills, survey finds
People of colour are more likely than individuals from white ethnic backgrounds to have considered donating to charities in their will, according to new research.
In response to a survey of 1,000 people with a parent aged 60 or over, 74% said they had not thought about leaving a gift to charity in their will.
Charities subsidise public services by £2.4bn a year, say researchers
Charities use £2.4bn of their own funds to subsidise a shortfall in public sector contracts each year, according to new research from a think tank.
Responding to a survey by New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), 62% of charity leaders said their organisation uses money from other sources such as fundraising to deliver public services for which they have been contracted.
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.
