Useful information – w/c 03/08/26
August 3, 2026
Events, training, charity news, surveys, research, feedback, reports, services and much more – in one handy place!
This page will be updated with new information as we receive it during the week. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 06/08/26 – items added on this date are marked as [NEW])
You’ll also find the latest Health and Wellbeing news, events and opportunities in the current post on our News page here.
You can view previous Useful Information posts here to catch up on our archive of information.
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[NEW] Skills Bootcamp in Business and Leadership for Social Enterprise
Starts September Carlisle. This Skills Bootcamp is designed to support individuals living or working in Cumbria, who are employed within a social enterprise or a trading charity, and who are looking to develop practical leadership and management capability.
The programme focuses on building the skills required to lead people, manage performance and deliver sustainable impact within a purpose-led trading environment. It combines core business and leadership principles with a clear understanding of the social enterprise landscape.
Delivered through a series of structured face-to-face sessions, supported by online learning, the course enables participants to apply learning directly within their own organisation.
[NEW] Skills Bootcamp in Project Management
Starts September, Online and in-person. The Skills Bootcamp in Project Management takes learners with little or no project management experience through the fundamentals of project management. Taught workshops provide essential knowledge and skills, and a workplace project allows an opportunity to practise those skills and reflect on learning. The programme also includes, at no additional cost, the Association for Project Management (APM) Project Fundamentals Qualifications (PFQ).
Project Management skills are in high demand across all sectors. This course introduces project management processes, tools and techniques and gives you the opportunity to try these out in your current workplace. You will learn about managing a project from inception to closedown, including planning and scheduling, quality management, budgeting and estimating, and working with stakeholders.
Every Life Matters – Training
Every Life Matters offer a range of suicide prevention and mental health training, including Suicide Alertness, Safety Planning, Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace.
There are dates for sessions from now until December in this leaflet, online and around the county in-person: Cumbria Training 2026
Strategic planning for your charity
Tuesday 4th August, online. This half day online course, in two 80 minute sections with a short break, encourages charity trustees and managers to embrace long-term planning. The course will help you to understand what is meant by ‘strategic’, think strategically, understand the importance of strategic planning in charity governance, develop an in-depth strategic plan, understand the tensions that arise between operational and strategic priorities, keep your strategic plan on track, and much more.
In the first session we will explore why your charity must develop a plan, not just to meet governance requirements but to allow effective financial and operational planning. A strategy is not a luxury but a necessity. It ensures your charity meets objectives, practices financial sustainability, and maximises impact. The first session will dive deep to clarify exactly what it means to think strategically and how to separate strategic and operational thinking.
The second session will address the process of generating a strategic plan, from start to finish. Starting with your constitution, vision and mission, and culminating in the production of a tangible document that will guide all areas of your charity’s operations including fundraising, recruitment, operational planning, developing infrastructure, and budgeting.
Introduction to Google Analytics 4
Wednesday 5th August, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to help you get to grips with GA4.
It explores recent changes to the platform, how to ensure you have the best data, the metric that you must know, and a general run-through of the interface, dipping into ‘realtime’ reports.
An introduction to generative AI
Thursday 6th August, online. This one-hour in-depth masterclass shows you how to effectively and ethically use artificial intelligence (AI). Attendees, for just £20 per person, will gain practical advice, using real-world examples, showing you how to actually implement AI from one of the charity sector’s experts.
AI Innovation Lead at Twinkl, James Shamsi, will introduce the basics of generative AI, explore the opportunities and risks, and show you exactly how AI can save you time, reduce costs, and unlock new capacity. You will see real-world use cases from fundraising, marketing, operations, and service delivery, along with frameworks that you can simply copy and adapt.
Attendees will leave with a checklist to start using AI effectively the moment the masterclass ends.
Brunch Bites: Cyber Essentials 2026 – Are You Still Compliant?
Tuesday 11th August, online. In this webinar, Qlic IT will explore explore the key changes introduced in Cyber Essentials 2026, what they mean for your organisation, and the steps you should be taking to remain compliant.
Whether you’re preparing for your next certification or simply want to strengthen your cyber security, you’ll leave with practical advice and a clear understanding of what’s changed.
Making the most of M365 apps – tips and tricks
Tuesday 11th August, online. Microsoft 365 offers huge possibilities. It helps charities with email, file storage, and provides plenty of productivity applications that can streamlines your charity.
This three-hour session shows you how to master 365 apps. The first section will cover an overview of the apps available. It will explore web vs desktop applications, the joys of Copilot, the best way to use Microsoft Forms, and the secrets of Sway. The second section is dedicated to Teams, exploring meeting and channel management, file storage, whiteboards and polls, and so much more.
The final section looks at project management and collaboration. Attendees can expect to explore OneNote, the virtues of To Do and Outlook tasks, the best ways to utilise Planner, tips and tricks around Loop, the core functionalities of Bookings, and so much more.
Understanding Governance: The Trustee Role
Tuesday 11th – Wednesday 12th August, online. Governance fundamentals for both new and experienced trustees.
Join this two half-day course to enhance the value you can bring to your charity trustee meetings. Taking place over Zoom, the sessions cover everything from models of governance and the duties of trustees, to planning the work of the board and managing relationships.
If you are new to the role of being a charity trustee, this course will provide the perfect introduction, while experienced trustees will also benefit from a refresher of their responsibilities and comprehensive updates on evolving elements of the trustee role.
Google Ad Grants for beginners
Wednesday 12th August, online. Is your charity looking to set up a Google Ad campaign, but don’t know where to start?
This 2-hour course is specifically for nonprofit staff who have been awarded the $10,000/month Google Ad Grant, but do not know the basics for setting up their first campaign.
You will learn:
➡️ What is a Google Ad Grant?
➡️ How to structure your charity’s account
➡️ Google Ads & Keywords
➡️ Setting up a conversion with Google Analytics.
➡️ Google Ad Grants compliance and maintenance
[NEW] How to create effective video content using your phone for charities
Thursday 13th August, Online. Join The Saltways team for this practical workshop for charities to learn how to create effective & high quality content on your phone.
Learn how to plan your films to get the best results possible, technical tips and introduction how to build a campaign around your film. There will also be a chance to ask questions.
How to make Meta keep working for your digital fundraising
Thursday 20th August, online.
Join Fundraising Everywhere where they’ll share practical strategies and tools to navigate the ongoing changes in digital advertising: It’s about bringing your fundraising and your communications closer together, showcasing WHY your charity exists, and bringing your story to life in exciting new ways.
Supercharge your use of social media
Tuesday 25th August, online. The landscape of social media is growing increasingly complex. Legacy platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X seem to constantly change their offerings and shift functionality. New platforms arrive every week, perpetually touted as the next big thing, perhaps even commanding time and resources, then fade into irrelevance. It can prove difficult to navigate the social landscape, to find the platforms that suit your organisation, to identify the best demographics, to maximise return on investment.
This course aims, in just three hours, to supercharge your use of social media. You’ll explore how you can pick the right platforms for your charity and how to know whether you should invest, or divest, in other platforms.
You’ll see how to increase social media engagement, how to extend your reach, and how to ensure you target the most rewarding demographics.
South Lakes Youth Work Summit
Saturday 5th September, Kendal. A day dedicated to celebrating, strengthening and championing Youth Work across the South Lakes. Bringing together youth workers, practitioners, volunteers, VCFSE organisations, public sector colleagues and partners (18+), this event will provide an opportunity for inspiration, strengthened connections and discussion.
Aim of the day: To create inspiration, strengthen connections, and reflect on youth work practice and provision, building a collaborative and sustainable future for youth work in the South Lakes.
Understanding Governance: The Trustee Role
Tuesday 8th – Wednesday 9th September, online. Governance fundamentals for new and experienced trustees.
If you are new to the role of being a charity trustee, this course will provide the perfect introduction, while experienced trustees will also benefit from a refresher of their responsibilities and comprehensive updates on evolving elements of the trustee role.
Excel: Essentials and Advanced options
Excel is an incredibly useful tool to help you store, analyse and present your data. Even with basic skills there’s a lot you can do to help with your organisation’s monitoring and evaluation practice – but how do you get started?
➡️ Essentials – Level Up your Skills: Tuesday 8th September, online
➡️ Advanced – Tips and Tricks: Tuesday 15th September online
Influencing the political landscape
Thursday 10th September, Online. Join NPC for this free online session for trustees.
The event will provide a set of clear actions for trustees to takeaway to support them in influencing the political landscape, whether they have a campaigning focus or not.
Find out more and book your place here
[NEW] Managing charity reserves in an inflationary environment
Tuesday 15th September, Online. Many charities have worked hard to strengthen their financial resilience, building larger reserves and cash balances to navigate an uncertain environment. But as reserves grow, trustees and finance teams face an important question: how can those funds best support future impact?
Join CAF and LGT Wealth Management for a practical webinar exploring the role cash plays within a modern reserves strategy, the impact inflation can have on long-term purchasing power, and how charities can think about balancing liquidity needs with longer-term objectives. The session will also explore diversification, risk management and the role different types of financial assets can play within a reserves portfolio.
Crisis Fundamentals with Horizon Resilience
Tuesday 15th September. VCSEP are running another session in collaboration with Horizon Resilience. They are really keen to tailor this one for those VCFSE groups and target the limited spaces available to those supporting disproportionately impacted groups. This won’t preclude others from attending, but priority will be given to those outside of, or less familiar with, formal resilience structures.
Drawing on their experience at the heart of UK government crisis management, the training will provide participants with a strong practical foundation in crisis management principles, supported by a scenario-based discussion and applied learning. Attendees will go away with an improved awareness of crisis and resilience in the UK context, including how the voluntary and community sector fits within the wider resilience system and a practical understanding of the crisis lifecycle, from anticipation and response through to stabilisation and recovery.
Register by emailing marcusbowen@vcsep.org.uk
Get Media Interview Ready
Tuesday 15th September, online. Build confidence when speaking with the media about your charity.
Media interviews can be a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of your charity, but they can also feel daunting without the right preparation. This interactive half-day online course is designed to help charity staff develop the confidence and practical skills needed to handle media interviews effectively.
Using real-life examples, practical exercises and interview practice in a supportive environment, participants will learn how to prepare for interviews, communicate key messages clearly, respond confidently to challenging questions and make informed decisions about when and how to engage with the media. By the end of the session, attendees will feel better equipped to represent their organisation with confidence, credibility and impact.
Data Protection Training for Charities
Thursday 17th September, online. It is important for every charity leader to ensure their organisation is fully compliant with the latest data protection regulations.
This half-day course will guide you through the key points to consider and what measures you should have in place. You will also learn how to avoid some common data protection pitfalls.
Finance & HR – Behind the Purpose
Thursday 17th September, Online. A charity’s purpose can be measured and felt not only by its external impact, but also through its internal practices and strategies.
This ‘Behind the Purpose’ FREE online event will explore how HR and Finance teams can join forces to make the most of their organisation’s resources and deliver a greater impact – from building staff training strategies and investing in wellbeing, to collaborating on charity risk assessments.
The event will also cover the recent changes to employment law and their effect on charities, how to plan digital projects, and talking finances with funders.
Active Bystander Training with Protection Approaches
Thursday 17th September. Division in communities, rising tensions and civil unrest continue to be high on the risk register for organisations. A lot of research points to pre-bunking – intervening early to dispel myths rather than challenging misinformation after it appears, so how can community organisations feel better equipped to intervene? NAVCA are collaborating with Protection Approaches to run a special session on helping participants safely address identity based harms in their community, school or workplace, using real-world scenarios to build confidence in implementing Active Bystandership in everyday life.
You’ll learn what it means to be an active bystander, through group discussion we’ll explore what being an active bystander means. How to stand up for those being targeted safely: working through a series of scenarios to consider and learn what you can do when you encounter identity-based harms and proactive prevention: returning to the scenarios we’ll reflect on the root causes of prejudice and discrimination before discussing ways to contribute to dismantling those root causes and to building safer, more inclusive, and just communities.
Register by emailing marcusbowen@vcsep.org.uk
Contract Training for Charities – Managing Contracts with Confidence
Tuesday 22nd September, online. For a charity entering into a contract with any other party, there are a number of key factors to consider.
In this half-day session Ed Rimmell, partner at VWV, will share his expertise on managing charity contracts effectively to ensure risks are mitigated, all parties fully understand what has been agreed and what to do if a dispute arises. Ed will also guide you through some common and important contract clauses which are often poorly understood.
Preventing Charity Fraud
Tuesday 6th October, online. Combining 25 years’ expertise as a charity lawyer and governance trainer with frontline experience from various voluntary leadership sector roles, Claris D’cruz will lead this half-day training course to help your charity prevent and deal with fraud or suspected fraud.
This training is relevant to charity trustees, CEOs, finance directors, finance managers, charity advisors and anyone with responsibility for dealing with fraud in their charity.
Throughout the morning we will explore the types of fraud and financial crime to be aware of, the controls and procedures to prevent fraud and how to handle a fraudulent incident.
Get Grants FREE Virtual Conference
Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th October, online. Join Get Grants for two days of expert fundraising advice, top tips, Q&As, networking, peer-support, and lots of chat!
The Conference is a celebration of fundraisers, with a programme designed around the topics you want to talk about.
Bringing together thousands of fundraisers from across the UK every year, this fun and heart-warming event with lots of practical advice is not your typical fundraising conference!
Faith-Based Governance Training
Wednesday 7th – Thursday 8th October, online. Faith-Friendly Governance: Making good governance work for you.
Good governance is often seen as a burden – but it can be one of a charity’s greatest assets. This faith-friendly course helps senior leaders and trustees understand what good governance really looks like and how to make it work in a faith context. It explores how to clarify roles, strengthen decision-making, and build confidence around risk. Scenarios and case studies help participants develop skills in practical, relevant ways.
NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria: Launching our next phase of work
Thursday 8th October, Newcastle. This event will bring together our key partners to celebrate the start of our new programme of work (2026 until 2031).
We will share details of our refreshed research themes, new priorities, and opportunities for collaboration across the region. There will also be opportunities for networking and conversation, and light refreshments will be available.
A full agenda will be shared ahead of the event.
Please complete this short form to register
Emergencies Partnership: LIVE
Thursday 8th October, Leeds. Bringing together partners from across the voluntary sector, local authorities, Local Resilience Forums, faith groups, government and community organisations, EP:LIVE is all about strengthening connections, sharing learning and exploring what effective community-led resilience looks like in practice. The programme covers trust, social cohesion, bridging divides, the next generation, harnessing volunteers and empowering action – with plenty of opportunities to build new relationships across the sector.
Understanding Governance: The Trustee Role
Tuesday 13th – Wednesday 14th October, online. Governance fundamentals for new and experienced trustees.
If you are new to the role of being a charity trustee, this course will provide the perfect introduction, while experienced trustees will also benefit from a refresher of their responsibilities and comprehensive updates on evolving elements of the trustee role.
Conscious AI Summit
Thursday 15th October, Online. How can charities build an ethical future? This FREE event focuses on helping charities to use AI ethically.
Together, explore how charities can champion fairness, inclusion and awareness while navigating the risks and challenges associated with AI. The event will examine the vital role the sector can play in shaping the future of a technology that is too powerful to be defined by a select few alone.
Through thought-provoking discussion and practical insight, attendees will be encouraged to adopt AI with intention, purpose and creativity, leaving with the confidence to harness its potential responsibly and effectively within their organisations.
Understanding Governance: The Trustee Role
Wednesday 25th – Thursday 26th November, online. Governance fundamentals for new and experienced trustees.
If you are new to the role of being a charity trustee, this course will provide the perfect introduction, while experienced trustees will also benefit from a refresher of their responsibilities and comprehensive updates on evolving elements of the trustee role.
[NEW] Digital Nation 2026: Good Things Foundation reveals the reality of digital exclusion
Each year, Good Things Foundation gathers new facts and stats to reveal the reality of digital exclusion. The latest update of their Digital Nation infographic was launched in July 2026 and brings together recent data on digital exclusion and the impact of digital inclusion support from a range of sources.
The latest data shows a headline finding that 2.2 million people are offline – in a digital system that presumes digital access and skills – with 8 million adults lack basic digital skills.
[NEW] Five governance principles every trustee should know
Charities can get very anxious about governance, and that’s understandable when getting it wrong can be very costly to both the charity and its trustees.
In the latest article for DCS, CEO Debra Allcock Tyler, outlines five key principles for effective governance. She encourages Boards to prioritise purpose, ask insightful questions, foster trust, plan for the future, collaborate effectively, and focus on the fundamentals to drive meaningful change for charities.
Cut in VAT on electricity bills
Andy Burnham recently announced a cut in VAT on electricity bills from 1 October 2026.
Charity Finance Group have provided this excellent briefing, which gives more detail and indicates that charities will be included in the reduction from 5% to 0%.
How to make a case for new digital tools
Charity Digital share how charities can make a convincing case to access transformative technology that can deliver their strategy.
[NEW] Innovation in UK Charities report
Across the charity sector, innovation is both widely discussed and widely struggled with. Most organisations agree they need to innovate, and that pressure is visible – the need for impact is growing, audience behaviours are shifting, delivery models are under strain, and expectations on charities to do more with less are growing. The need to find new ways to generate income and impact has rarely felt more urgent, yet for many charities, innovation is still deprioritised and feels harder than it should.
This new report from Good Innovation, finds that charities need to expand innovation beyond just fundraising or income functions. Based on interviews and a survey with over 70 innovation leaders and practitioners across the charity sector, the report is structured in two halves, with the first clearly naming the problems and barriers that keep holding innovation back. The second half maps a path forward, with examples of what’s already working, and a practical roadmap for how innovation functions can build on from where they are today to where they need to be.
[NEW] One in four charities directly affected by divisions, according to new research
A quarter of charities say they’ve been impacted by polarisation and division in society, including vandalism, protests, changes in the level of support or having to stop or change their services, according to new research published by the Charity Commission.
Researchers asked a representative sample of trustees whether and how they or their charity had been affected by the challenging social environment, with 2% of those surveyed sharing that their staff have been threatened in person. The new research offers confirmation that a significant minority of charities are being impacted by community tensions. Incidents reported include vandalism or damage to their property (overall 4% of charities); a decrease in support (11% overall) and having to change or stop services (5%). However, while most impacts reported were adverse, 9% of these charities did say they have had an increase in support.
New research reveals what risk management really looks like in charities
New research by Charity Finance Group (CFG) and The Risk Collaborative (TRC) provides one of the clearest pictures to date of how charities across England and Wales are managing risk in practice. Earlier this year, 309 charity leaders and risk management experts responded to a survey on risk management, and more than 45 charity leaders took part in a series of roundtables.
Working alongside the Charity Commission to support their refresh of the regulator’s risk management guidance (CC26), the research report – Rethinking Risk: Recommendations for a CC26 refresh – comes at a pivotal time in the update of the guidance. The findings revealed that charities are actively managing risk – often ‘as a habit of mind’, as one charity leader described it – and in ways that reflect their size, purpose and context.
Youth Ask of Mayoral candidates
Are you aged 14–35 and live in Cumbria? This is your chance to influence the future of your county. In 2027, Cumbria will elect its first Mayor. The new Mayor will have powers to influence important issues including transport, housing, education, skills, and employment, as well as bring additional investment into the county.
To make sure young people’s voices are heard, the Cumbria Future Generation Steering Group, together with Cumbria Youth Alliance, have launched the Youth Ask – a county-wide survey exploring what it’s like to live in Cumbria, what matters most to young people, and what needs to change.
The results will be presented directly to candidates standing to become Cumbria’s first Mayor, helping ensure they understand the priorities of the young people that live here. The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete, and everyone who responds will have the option to enter a prize draw.
Please complete the Youth Ask by Friday 7th August
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.
