Useful information – w/c 09/02/26
February 9, 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: 12/02/26 – items added on this date are marked as [NEW])
You’ll also find the latest Health and Wellbeing news, events and opportunities in the current post on our News page here.
You can view previous Useful Information posts here to catch up on our archive of information.
For useful resources, information, news and events, updates on our climate commitment, blog posts from colleagues about what they’re doing (in a work capacity and privately) to minimise environmental impact and more take a look at Cumbria CVS Green
If you’ve seen something you think we should be sharing, let us know! Email us: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Looking for funding information and news? Check out Focus on Funding here
Multicultural Cumbria Tea and Talk Welcome Space
Tuesdays in February & March, Whitehaven. Multicultural Cumbria would like to invite community groups to bring their participants and join a free Tea and Talk Welcome Space.
The members of Multicultural Cumbria will welcome you with a cuppa and cake! If your group would like to join one of the Tea and Talks (first Tuesday of every month, 12:30pm-14:30pm), please email hannah@multiculturalcumbria.org.uk
You can view a Tea & Talk flyer here and another flyer containing themes of the sessions over the coming months
How to manage charity finances – CPD Accredited
10th February, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to help you make sense of your finances. It provides a simple, straightforward, plain-English introduction, covering budgeting, reporting, governance, sustainability, futureproofing, and so much more.
In two back-to-back sessions, each lasting approximately 80 minutes, the course offers key insights into the essential elements of charity finance.
Charities SORP Training: Lease Accounting
Tuesday 10th February, online. Programme highlights include:
- Understand and apply the new requirements for lease accounting under the SORP 2026
- Recognise exemptions to the requirements for lease accounting
- Calculate the lease liability and apply an appropriate discount rate
- Case study applying the revised lease accounting model
- Practical considerations for charities in collating and processing data
- Social donation element- how to recognise when this is relevant
- Determining the discount rate
- Impact on reserves
4C Webinar: “More than a Funder”: Towards Community-Driven Philanthropy
Wednesday 11th February, online. Join Mark Wear (National Lottery), Dr Suzanne Wilson and Dr Katherine Jewell (University of Lancashire) as they introduce a new 5-year Lottery-funded project taking place in locations across Cumberland, which will use the Connected Communities approach as a vehicle for identifying funding priorities in local areas.
The project has grown out of the Lottery’s commitment to become ‘more than a funder’, with the aspiration that the Connected Communities findings will form the foundation of future Lottery funding applications for projects that are identified in local communities. The webinar will outline the research and projects leading up to this initiative, provide an overview of the work to be undertaken over the course of the project, and discuss potential future applications of the approach within Lottery funding processes. This seminar is part of the series presented by the University of Lancashire’s Centre in Community Connectedness & Co-operation (4C), supported by the Institute for Planetary Resilience & Community Transformation (PACT).
To secure a place, please register here For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Suzanne Wilson (swilson21@lancashire.ac.uk) or Katherine Jewell (KJewell1@lancashire.ac.uk)
Working smarter with AI: A practical introduction
11th February, online. Join Charity Digital for a one-hour session to help you put artificial intelligence into practice.
For just £20, you’ll learn how to find real value with AI from one of the charity sector’s experts.
Free to attend virtual summit: Pounds & Purpose
Thursday 12th February, Online. Charities face rising costs, reduced donations and growing demand for services. Many teams are stretched. Financial decisions feel tougher. The stakes feel higher.
Join Third Sector for Pounds & Purpose, the must-attend one-day virtual summit taking place on 12 February 2026. Chaired by Emily Burt, editor of Third Sector, this event provides practical, strategic guidance to help you navigate financial pressure, regulatory change and rapid shifts in technology. You’ll hear from sector leaders and finance specialists who will share clear, usable actions you can apply today.
Management Accounts for Small Organisations
Thursday 12th February, online. What do management accounts look like and why should you do them? The session will look at: why we do them, how to do them, when to do them, what we do with them.
This session is delivered by HSl Accountancy Solutions.
The Art of Being an Effective Chair
12th–13th February 2026, online. The role of the chair of the board or a committee is more demanding and can be more complex than most people realise.
This course will help you to chair well and to ensure that board governs effectively and that board committees add value to the governance process. Scenarios and case studies help develop skills in practical ways.
Donor Journey Mastery Masterclass
Monday 16th February, online. This MASTERCLASS is designed for individuals in fundraising and/or communication teams in charitable organisations across all areas.
Whether you’re just starting to explore donor journeys or refining existing plans, the session is accessible, relevant, and easy to apply regardless of the size of your organisation.
Making the most of M365 apps – tips and tricks
Tuesday 17th February, online. This three-hour session shows you how to master 365 apps.
The first section will cover an overview of the apps available. It will explore web vs desktop applications, the joys of Copilot, the best way to use Microsoft Forms, and the secrets of Sway. The second section is dedicated to Teams, exploring meeting and channel management, file storage, whiteboards and polls, and so much more.
Free webinar – How to raise a concern with the Charity Commission
Tuesday 17th February, online. If you have concerns about the operation or governance of a charity, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Join NCVO and the Charity Commission for practical guidance on when, how and why to raise concerns with the regulator.
You’ll gain clear guidance to help you act with confidence and make informed decisions – whether you’re dealing with a current issue or simply want to be better prepared. Ideal for trustees, senior leaders, charity employees, and charity finance professionals.
Cyber Essentials Training: Mastering the Five Key Controls for Digital Security
Tuesday 24th February, online. This three-hour workshop offers an accessible introduction to Cyber Essentials, a government-backed framework designed to help organisations protect themselves from the most common cyber threats.
Over two engaging sessions, we’ll break down the scheme’s five critical controls and run a live hack, including reconnaissance and initial access, where you will play a lead role in the operation. By the end of the training, you’ll be equipped with actionable strategies to strengthen your organisation’s digital defenses.
[NEW] The future of social media for arts marketing
Tuesday 24th February, online. Join HdK for this free online session. What does the future of social media look like for arts and cultural organisations?
With digital solutions and social media platforms continuing to evolve, it’s important for arts organisations to continue to adapt. This panel will bring together thought leaders from across the culture sector to discuss:
- Social media platforms
- Evolving audience behaviour
- Key trend predictions
Throughout the session, questions from attendees are welcomed and we will close with a dedicated Q&A.
Find out more and register here
Use data to grow your impact
25th February, online. Marketing analytics expert, Dr Simon (Seongsoo) Jang, Associate Professor at Cardiff University, will cover the importance of intuitive- and data-driven decision-making, practical tips for maximising impact, real-life examples of successful marketing and analytics campaigns, and so much more.
Jang will introduce four core marketing principles that will revolutionise your charity’s approach to data. By the end of the hour-long session, you’ll be able to integrate the principles directly into your charity.
Contract Training for Charities – Managing Contracts with Confidence
26th February 2026, 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.
Harmless Conference
Friday 27th February, online & in-person (Nottingham). The national centre of excellence for self harm and suicide prevention conference – The Uncomfortable Truth: Confronting Barriers to Connection in Self Harm and Suicide Prevention.
Aims & Objectives: This CPD-accredited event brings together experts, leading academics and professionals from across the sector for a powerful day of evidence-based insights, practical solutions and shared experiences, with a strategic focus on:
- Collaborative Partnership
- Service-User Representation
- Effective Practice
- Driving Change
- Overcoming Stigma & Discrimination
Listening to the Land
Monthly sessions, March to November, Barrow. Playful Nature offers nature connection, music, singing, drumming, campfires, mindfulness and more…
The ‘Listening to the Land’ project offers an exciting opportunity to explore how tuning into nature can inspire creativity, and support wellbeing. This project is aimed at adults (18+) living in Furness and South Lakes.
Click on the thumbnail image to view a leaflet, or visit the Playful Nature website for more information
Creating Impact Reports Masterclass
Wednesday 4th March, online. Boost your confidence and fundraising with a practical session on creating clear, engaging impact reports.
During this 1-hour session, this Masterclass will look at:
- Why impact reports matter – and how they support income generation.
- What to include (and what to leave out!) for a more engaging report.
- How to create reports that work for multiple audiences.
- Ways to combine data and real-life stories for maximum emotional impact.
- Free and simple tools to make your report look professional.
VCSE National Summit
11th March, online. A free national training and inspiration day for VCSEs across the UK – Join a unique, nationwide webinar designed to help VCSEs – charities, social enterprises, schools, clubs and local initiatives strengthen their role in today’s social value and procurement landscape. The event caters organisation in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This free event will equip you with practical ideas and confidence to engage with councils, public sector commissioners and corporate supporters, become a trusted social value partner, and access new opportunities for funding, other resources and commercial partnerships. You’ll gain insight into public sector procurement and social value requirements, learn how to raise resources more effectively, and explore how digital tools can support your mission.
By registering, you’ll join organisations across the UK who are stepping forward as vital social impact partners, improving lives, communities and the environment—together.
Exercise Impassible
11th March 2026, This Table Top Exercise is a training opportunity being led by Counter Terrorism Police North West – there is an opportunity for Voluntary Organisations to participate. All expressions of interest should be directed in the first instance to Alison Love alison.love@cumbria.gov.uk from the Cumbria LRF team who is collating responses prior to submission.
This exercise will explore the Local, Regional and UK’s readiness to respond to a Maritime Terrorism incident on Lake Windermere. It aims to improve multi-agency coordination, strengthen Local Resilience Forum (LRF) capabilities, and support the development of inland maritime contingency plans in line with JESIP and developing MMER Joint Operating Procedures (JOPS).
Growing reliance on inland waterways for recreation, logistics, business and infrastructure makes them potential targets for hostile acts. Lake Windermere’s geographic location, coupled with a high volume of international tourism makes it a potential target for such an act.
[NEW] AI for charities: Practical applications, risks and opportunities
Thursday 12th March, online. Artificial intelligence is moving fast and charities are already feeling the impact. From automating routine tasks to improving fundraising, communications and service delivery, AI offers huge potential, but also raises important questions around data, ethics and governance.
Join Rathbones for a practical session designed for charity leaders and trustees where we’ll explore real-world examples, risks to be aware of, and the steps organisations can take to adopt AI confidently and responsibly.
Village Halls Week 2026
16th-22nd March. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of village halls to the health and wellbeing of rural communities across England, Wales and Scotland.
You can register for campaign updates here
Get Grants Showcase: Get Jobs
Monday 23rd March, online. Get Jobs is a FREE Jobs board for the Charity Sector, launched in 2025 by Get Grants. The idea behind Get Jobs is to help sector organisations who struggle to recruit due to often prohibitive costs of advertising vacancies.
Whether you are a Fundraiser, CEO or Marketing expert, Get Jobs brings you the latest opportunities in the third sector. Search through the listings to find your perfect job.
Recruiters can find out more at this free Showcase event
Where Are Your Next Generation of Volunteers
Tuesday 24th March, online. Volunteer numbers have been falling since 2020. Considerable changes have occurred in how the public wants to volunteer. There has also been a rise in younger people wanting to give back to their communities, contribute to their environment, and make a difference in their neighbourhoods.
It is important for any group to start thinking about how it can adapt and remove the barriers so that younger people can get involved in volunteering. This session will offer you some practical ways to make volunteering for your organisation more appealing to younger people.
Emergency First Aid at Work
Thursday 9th April, Barrow. Where a workplace first aid risk assessment identifies a need for an Emergency First Aider in the Workplace, this one-day qualification meets the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982.
- The learner will attain knowledge to deal with a range of workplace first aid situations
- Meets employer’s legal obligations
- Compliant with Resuscitation Council (UK) Guidelines
- 3 year qualification
More information is available in this leaflet. Please contact rachael@wearepeoplefirst.co.uk to book.
Award in Safeguarding for Work, Education and Life Level 1
From Monday 13th April, for 10 weeks, in Kendal. This level 1 course aims to give you an improved knowledge of the meaning of safeguarding in the workplace, education and in life in general. You will learn about different forms of abuse and learn ways that you can recognise if abuse may be taking place. You will find out about the safeguarding issues caused by modern technology and learn about discrimination and victimisation. Finally you will learn what to do if your have safeguarding concerns and the importance of disclosing information to professionals.
This is an ideal introductory course for anyone working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults or who would like to improve their understanding of safeguarding in general.
Find out more and book here – if you experience any issues trying to sign up, please email helen.edmonds@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Reserves: What They Are and How to Calculate Them
Thursday 21st April, online. Reserves are a critical element when building small charity resilience. However, they are often, for very valid reasons, miscalculated.
The session will look at Why we hold reserves, how to calculate reserves, what a good reserves policy looks like and how to report on reserves.
Suicide Prevention Conference
Thursday 23rd April, Rheged, Penrith. This year’s theme, “Take action. Prevent suicide.”, focuses on the practical steps we can all take to save lives and support those affected by suicide across Cumbria.
This full-day event brings together inspirational speakers, interactive workshops, and hands-on training to equip individuals, organisations, and community groups with the skills and confidence to help create a Suicide Safer Cumbria.
Whether you work in a school, a workplace, health or public services, the third or faith sectors, a sports club, or are attending as an individual – join us in our mission.
How to Make Your Social Media More Engaging
Thurs 30th April, online. Do you get the most engagement from your Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter) posts? Why do some posts get more clicks than others?
How to increase engagement.
Impact Reporting for Charities
Tuesday 16th June, online. Funders want proof of the difference your organisation makes. They want to understand your charity’s impact across services and locations, and what the benefit is of the services they have agreed to fund.
Amongst other things this session looks at ‘what is impact and how do you measure it’, ‘what does impact look like’ and how do you engage with your stakeholders to maximise impact.
[NEW] Council appoints Leader and Deputy to new combined authority
Westmorland and Furness Council has approved its Leader and Deputy Leader as its representatives on the new Cumbria Combined Authority (CCA).
The combined authority is due to start life early in 2026 once legislation has made its way through Parliament. It is a new partnership of Cumbria’s two unitary councils, Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland, working for the whole county.
There will be an election in May 2027 for a Mayor to lead the authority. Until that time, it will be steered by political leaders from the two unitary councils.
[NEW] What employment law updates mean for charities
Explore how charity leaders can effectively manage change as new employment laws and practices come into force, in this article from Charity Digital.
[NEW] Entries are open for the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2026!
Enter the 2026 Cumbria Tourism Awards before 5pm on Friday 20th February.
Enter for the chance to be part of this year of celebrations and join the Awards ceremony and celebration in July. Entries are invited from tourism businesses, local makers and producers and individual nominees for the Unsung Hero Award.
Get ready to tell us about your successes, innovations and approach to excellence in your product, customer service, welcome, marketing and sustainable practices.
[NEW] ‘Good news’ for charities as digital filing reforms postponed
The government has postponed plans to require all organisations registered with Companies House, including many charities, to file accounts in a digital format from next year.
Last month, Companies House announced that “changes to accounts filing won’t be introduced in April 2027” due to reforms still being “under review”.
The measures, revealed in a policy paper and confirmed on 1 July 2025, form part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and aim to help prevent economic crime.
[NEW] Wellbeing: The secret to sustainable fundraising
Charity Digital explore why wellbeing is fundamental to sustainable fundraising and practical steps charities can take to support their people, with insight from Sheffield Mind and Breathe HR.
[NEW] SEO, AEO and GEO: small tweaks equals big visibility for your charity
Online search is changing fast. More people are asking AI assistants directly instead of clicking through to links, and the risk is clear: losing visibility right when your beneficiaries, donors and funders are looking for you. As AI-generated answers increasingly dominate search results, charity marketers and comms professionals need to rethink how to ensure their content is actually seen.
In this DSC blog, José Blazquez breaks down, using jargon-free language, two emerging concepts you may have heard of: AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation). He explains what they mean and shares some simple, practical steps to help your organisation stay visible, findable and trusted across search engines and AI tools.
[NEW] Third Sector Podcast: What does 2026 have in store for charities?
In this episode of Third Sector Podcast, Emily Burt and Lucinda are joined by Kate Lee, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), to discuss some of the issues facing the voluntary sector in 2026.
These include ensuring financial sustainability and the role of civil society in a world of uncertainty in the face of some big existential questions. Kate also shares her reasons to be optimistic, including the next generation of sector leaders coming up and a growing trend of interrogating impact data to improve organisational efficiency.
[NEW] Charities urged to address ‘self-censorship’ within the sector
Charities have been encouraged to address how they censor their campaigning activities and to confront concerns expressed by stakeholders.
At an event in London last month – called Don’t Be Silenced, Protecting Our Right to Campaign – sector leaders were asked whether charities were prevented by cautious trustees, funders and regulators from showing solidarity with other organisations.
Speaking on a panel, co-executive director of Greenpeace Areeba Hamid said some censorship of charities was “self-made” and encouraged sector leaders to “lean into” discussions with trustees and funders over campaigning activity.
A Blueprint for Community-Powered Neighbourhood Governance
Across the country, people care deeply about their neighbourhoods, but many feel shut out of the decisions that shape their lives and places. Now, a once-in-a-generation opportunity has opened up to change where power lies at a neighbourhood-level.
Every neighbourhood in England will soon have its own form of neighbourhood governance, introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Done right, these arrangements could be a game changer – creating new ways for communities to work collaboratively with their local authorities and have genuine influence over local decisions.
A new briefing from We’re Right Here, co-authored with Local Trust, Hope Not Hate, Locality, and Power to Change, sets out a clear blueprint for community-powered neighbourhood governance and the principles needed to make it work in practice.
[NEW] 85% of mass participation fundraisers meet or exceed target, new research shows
As many as 85% of mass participation event fundraisers meet or exceed the target they set for themselves, according to a new report on mass participation fundraising from Enthuse.
The research also found that 15% of mass participation event fundraisers surveyed beat their target by at least 50%.
Last year, the 2025 London Marathon announced that it had broken its own record as the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event, while a high turnout is predicted for many mass participation events in 2026.
Read more about the research here
[NEW] Proud Changemakers launch LGBTQIA+ in civil society survey
Proud Changemakers has launched a survey to understand how LGBTQIA+ people and organisations in civil society are being affected by legal and regulatory changes on the definition of ‘sex’ and ‘gender’.
This survey is designed to capture any experiences you or your organisation may have had as a result of recent legal and regulatory changes relating to sex and gender in the law, including the Supreme Court’s ruling on sex as defined in the Equality Act 2010 from April 2025, and the interim guidance published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in the following weeks.
You do not have to identify as LGBTQIA+ personally or work/volunteer for a specifically LGBTQIA+ organisation to complete this survey, and Proud Changemakers will use the evidence gathered to inform their work.
Find out more and take the survey
[NEW] Charity Finance launches new pensions survey
Charity Finance magazine has launched its first-ever pensions survey and would be grateful for your participation.
The information about your charity’s workplace pension scheme will help build a clearer picture of pensions in the sector, and enable you to benchmark your provision.
The survey is confidential, so respondents can answer candidly and in confidence.
[NEW] Almost two-thirds of charity job candidates using AI, survey finds
Almost two-thirds of candidates for jobs at charities are using artificial intelligence when applying for roles, according to new research.
Published in January as part of CharityJob’s latest Perspectives on AI in Charity Sector Recruitment report, respondents said the technology’s growing use was making recruitment less fair and more competitive.
The report, which surveyed more than 3,200 charity jobseekers and recruiters in June 2025, also highlighted that there remains a strong preference for human decision‑making over AI assessment, particularly among younger candidates.
JustGiving’s 2026 Event Fundraising Snapshot report
Ready to smash your event fundraising goals in 2026?
In 2025, over £235m was raised through organised sporting events alone on JustGiving. With charities planning to invest even more this year, this report brings you the latest platform data and insights from 500+ charities to guide your plans for the year ahead.
Here’s what’s inside
- Why event fundraising grew 6% on JustGiving last year
- Trends and insights from 500+ charities
- The biggest challenges – and where exciting opportunities lie
- A deep dive into challenge event fundraising
- How Endometriosis UK’s small team achieved big results
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.
