Useful information – w/c 13/01/25
January 13, 2025
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: 15/01/25 – 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? Check out the latest edition of Focus on Funding here
Training and Events
[NEW] How to be a digital leader in 2025
13 February, online. The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and charities that embrace technology are making the greatest impact. However, the 2024 Charity Digital Skills report revealed that while half of charities have a digital strategy, this percentage has remained unchanged since 2023—highlighting a need for progress.
With AI and other transformative tools reshaping the sector, it’s crucial that charities stay ahead and adapt to emerging technologies. But what does it mean to be a digital leader in 2025?
[NEW] How to master email marketing
12 March, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to boost your email marketing.
The course provides a hands-on approach, showing charities the basics of email marketing, the best platforms, strategies for effective list-building, the importance of segmentation, tips and tricks for crafting effective emails, the best way to write a subject line, the virtues of personalisation, and so much more.
[NEW] Supercharge your use of social media
18 February, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to supercharge your use of social media. We’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.
We’ll show you how to increase social media engagement, how to extend your reach, and how to ensure you target the most rewarding demographics.
[NEW] How to manage charity finances
11 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. More information here.
[NEW] Embedding Anti-Racist Practices at your Charity
22 and 23 January, online. Across two interactive morning sessions, this online course offers a foundational understanding of race equity for leaders committed to impactful change.
Guided by experienced consultants, Chaka Bachmann and Pari Dhillon, the session will help you to will explore and define your organisation’s unique path toward race equity.
Finance Training for Charity Trustees
30 January, online. How confident are you that you fully understand your charity’s finances? It’s a complicated business, what with managing different types of funds and income, the accounting and reporting rules, as well as dealing with tax and VAT.
This training course will give you the tools to get to grips with how finances work in your organisation. The course will be led by BDO’s expert charity advisor Don Bawtree and includes time to chat with fellow trustees over the practicalities and challenges you face.
Lancaster Canal Towpath Trail – Free February Half Term Activities
17-20 February. We have collaborated with fantastic outdoor providers, artists, heritage experts and boaters to bring you a week’s worth of Towpath Trail activities!
If you haven’t cycled along the new towpath surface between Crooklands and Stainton yet, here’s you chance! Join Emily and the Lakes Gravel Gang for some free guided rides, they’ve even organised bike hire options in case that’s useful! Keen to learn more about the heritage of the Lancaster Canal? Heritage expert Bill Froggatt will be leading a Heritage Walk to tell you more and answer any questions you may have.
Have you experienced the delights of travelling on Lancaster Canal in the infamous Waterwitch? Free rides are available all day on the Thursday. And in case you need a Winter reset and an excuse to slow down and top up your wellbeing tank, why not join Ruth from ‘At Natures Pace’ to explore the Towpath Trail at a different kind of pace.
View a poster here and Find out more and book here
Introduction to Anti-Racist Practice
22–23 January 2025, online. Across two interactive morning sessions, this course offers a foundational understanding of race equity for leaders committed to impactful change.
Guided by experienced consultants, Chaka Bachmann and Pari Dhillon, the session will help you to will explore and define your organisation’s unique path toward race equity.
Bluesky for Charities Webinar
Friday 17 January, online. Media Trust are running a free webinar – Learn how to harness Bluesky’s unique features to engage supporters, build communities and achieve your marketing goals.
Elevating your social media content – Free webinar
30 January, online. Social media is a vital tool to help charities reach new audiences, engage supporters, and raise awareness. But in a crowded digital space, how can your organisation ensure its message cuts through the noise?
Join this upcoming webinar with Andy Lambert, Senior Product Manager at Adobe, to discover practical strategies for creating standout campaigns that drive real engagement.
Webinar: Master fundraising and grant management for impact
6 February, Online. The last five years have been financially challenging for many charities. The cost-of-living crisis has created an unstable fundraising climate, while grant funds and corporate budgets have also declined. Despite these challenges, charities must continue delivering impact while maintaining donor trust and accountability.
Join this expert-led webinar to explore essential strategies for effective grant management, compliance, and impact demonstration through transparent financial reporting.
Community Tree Planting event
Saturday 18 January, Gilsland. Come and join Living Woods CIC during National Tree Week for a day of planting hundreds of trees and helping our environment at Gilsland, West Northumberland.
We will plant a variety of native trees including Willow, Alder, Hawthorn, Rowan, Aspen and Birch. The planting area is less than quarter of a mile walk through farmland, up onto moorland, where we will be planting the trees along a series of gullies. The project is in partnership with The Natural World Fund, with the aim to improve habitat within the landscape.
Everyone is welcome to participate, although there are some access limitations, if you have questions about this do get in touch. We’ll provide all the tools and guidance, please bring your own gloves if you have them along with a packed lunch and hot drink. Wear sturdy boots and appropriate clothing.
Find out more and reserve a spot here
How to brief for a website that achieves your organisational goals
Tuesday 28 January, Online. Join HdK for this free webinar that will explore the topic of website briefs, with guidance on how to write one that helps you and your digital partner realise your organisational goals.
Questions will be welcomed throughout the webinar, to ensure you are able to get the best possible information for you and your organisation.
Implementing AI: Tools, Partners, and Best Practices
Thursday 23 January, Online. Join Hart Square for this free webinar giving practical guidance on choosing AI tools. This session covers choosing AI tools, identifying suitable technology partners, and implementing best practices for AI projects.
Learn from a detailed case study of a successful AI implementation in a non-profit or membership body.
Inclusive workplaces: making changes to better support neurodiversity
Wednesday 22 January 2025, online. Join Acas for this free webinar for employers wanting to learn more about neurodiversity.
It’s estimated that around 15% of the UK population is neurodivergent. Understanding neurodiversity and taking steps to better support it in workplaces can benefit both employers and employees.
This free to attend webinar covers:
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- supporting and managing neurodivergent staff
- reasonable adjustments
- making your recruitment process more accessible
- creating an inclusive environment
How charities can effectively protect data
23 January 2025, online. Data offers incredible opportunities for charities, from improving decision-making to increasing funds and reducing costs. But with these rewards come serious risks that too many charities overlook.
Cyber criminals often target charities because of their valuable data, outdated technology, and lack of investment in data security. It’s time to change that.
This webinar will share essential advice to help your charity effectively back up and protect its data.
Introduction to Events Fundraising Workshop
Tuesday 4 February 2025, online. Get practical advice and top tips for consistently planning and delivering fundraising events to increase your fundraising success!
Reserves – What They Are and How to Calculate Them
Tuesday 8 July, 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.
Introduction to Engaging with Businesses: Five Things I Wish I’d Known
Tuesday 17 June, online. A basic introduction to engaging and connecting with your local business community.
This session is aimed at small charities and voluntary groups, whether they are at the beginning of their journey in engaging with businesses or wish to develop stronger contacts.
How to use Canva for Social Media
Monday 9 June, online. Canva is the great free-to-use online graphic design tool which you can use to create great graphics as well as presentations and videos amongst other things.
This is an introductory session about Canva with a few tips about using it for social media.
GDPR and Data Security
Tues 13 May, online. Who is trying to access your data and what are the implications of this?
Also, what can you do to make it more difficult for people to steal your data.
Where Are Your Next Generation of Volunteers
Tues 29 April, 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.
Management Accounts for Small Organisations
Tues 4 March, 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
Legal Issues Around Managing Volunteers in England and Wales
Tues 18 February, online. This session introduces the key legal issues around managing volunteers. It will signpost participants to the headline information, policies and procedures which your organisation will need to be aware of, and what needs to be put in place to help you deliver your legal responsibilities to volunteers and those they support.
This is not intended to replace advice from a legal professional.
How to Make Your Social Media More Engaging
Mon 27 January, online. Do you get the most engagement from your Twitter, Facebook or your Instagram posts? Why do some posts get more clicks than others? Find out how to increase engagement.
Pension Roadshow
Various dates in February/March 2025. The Pension Roadshow from Adult Learning links in the national 50+ MOT offer and other wellbeing, health related support for older workers.
Click here to view a flyer for more information
Village Halls Week 2025
Village Halls Week will take place on 17-23 March 2025. This week is an opportunity to spotlight the efforts of volunteers who keep these important venues open for the benefit of local residents, groups, and rural businesses.
In England alone, it is estimated that over 80,000 people regularly volunteer their time with village halls, from those on management committees who oversee the day-to-day use of the building and its finances, to those who organise events and group activities for the benefit of the local community.
Village hall groups can register their interest in the campaign here, which will enable them to receive news and updates as well as resources to help them get involved.
Listen Up! Rethinking Mental Health & Hearing in the North
Wednesday 12 March 2025, online and in-person (Newcastle). Event co-organised by the NIHR North East & North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration and the Sustainability & Resilience Institute. Join us for an important event exploring what we know, and what should be done, about the connections between mental health and hearing. Mental health issues and hearing loss affect millions in England and around the world, with research showing that individuals with hearing loss are twice as likely to experience depression and other mental health issues.
In the North, where historically industrial areas have experienced higher rates of hearing loss, this connection highlights how environmental and socioeconomic factors drive health inequalities across regions. We’ll explore the latest findings on these issues, their impact on living and ageing well, and strategies to improve health and economic outcomes in areas most affected by these challenges.
Online booking
In-person booking
Planning for Fundraising Success: The Impact of Learning and Development on Charity Staff
22 January 2025, online. Fundraising Everywhere are hosting a virtual event report launch. They will explores the impact of access to professional development on charity staff wellbeing and performance.
They discovered that not investing in learning and development could have a negative effect on staff morale and retention, as well as an organisation’s performance and culture.
Find out more and register here
Practical uses of AI for your charity
4 February 2025, online. This course aims, in just three hours, to boost your everyday use of AI.
The course takes a hands-on, practical approach, showing charities how to use AI to improve meetings, boost email marketing, smash data analytics, enhance workflow efficiency, and so much more.
Bid Writing Workshop
Monday 24 February 2025, online. In this friendly 90-minute session, you will have the chance to:
- Get an introduction to what Bid Writing is all about
- Explore what Grant Applications Look like
- Consider the importance of Needs and Outcomes
- Pick up lots of Top Tips to improve your Bid Writing
- Build your confidence and be inspired!
Get Grants free Bid Writing Workshop
Monday 24 February 2025, online. Whether you have a wealth of experience in fundraising or are new to applying for grants this Bid Writing Workshop will help you explore how to identify grant funding opportunities whilst providing advice on writing successful applications and thinking about the common mistakes made by applicants.
Start a purpose-driven business – free training
The School of Social Enterprise are offering free training for anyone wanting to learn how to transform their ideas into a purpose-driven business that not only makes a positive impact, but also connects you with your community.
There are sessions in Kendal in January. See the flyer below for more information.
VCFSE News and Information
[NEW] DCMS publishes VCSE business hub
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has published a business hub, detailing how they will support VCSE organisations to secure and deliver public contracts. The hub features a series of useful links including guides to working with government, and tools including a contracts finder and grants finder.
Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth said, “The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) values the significant contribution that VCSE sectors make to the UK economy and civil society. I hope this VCSE Business Hub will be a useful resource for charities and social enterprises looking to increase their involvement in public service contracts and working together to deliver the government’s missions.”
[NEW] Five funders supporting systemic change
Traditional philanthropy is failing to change the status quo. We need new mindsets and approaches and celebrate the funders trying to create them.
This online resource from The Catalyst explains the main issues with how traditional funders work and shares examples of funders who’ve created new models.
[NEW] £1bn distributed to UK good causes through Dormant Assets Scheme
The government has announced that the Dormant Assets Scheme has reached a milestone, having distributed £1 billion to good causes across the UK through its operator Reclaim Fund.
The Dormant Assets Scheme is a unique and well-established partnership between government and financial services firms, allowing unclaimed money to be used for the public good. It’s supported by more than 50 banks, building societies, and insurance and pension providers who have transferred the dormant funds into the scheme.
It was previously announced that £350mn of dormant assets funding over the next four years will be allocated equally across four spend priorities in England: young people, social investment, financial inclusion and community wealth funds. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales determine their own social and environmental priorities.
[NEW] The Charity Awards open for entries
Now in its 25th year, the Charity Awards continues to recognise innovative charities that exemplify best practices and deliver sustainable benefits to communities and society.
The awards provide a perfect opportunity for you to propel your charity’s achievements into the spotlight, influence policymakers and funders and boost the morale of your staff and stakeholders.
[NEW] DCMS publishes ‘business hub’ to boost charities’ delivery of public contracts
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published an online guide for charities and social enterprises looking to win more public service contracts.
DCMS’s “business hub” collates its previously published resources for voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations on working with government.
It comes as the department works with charity umbrella bodies NCVO and ACEVO on the Civil Society Covenant, which is due to set out a new working relationship between the voluntary sector and the state when it is published in the spring.
[NEW] Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter
You can view Westmorland and Furness Council’s newsletter from 10 January here, including:
- Councils agree to join Government’s Devolution journey
- Council expands support for people to quit smoking
- Westmorland and Furness Family Help Strategy launch 17 January 2024
Quiz: Do you know how to prevent a cyber attack?
Test your knowledge of the five core controls recommended by the Cyber Essentials scheme to mitigate cyber threats in the charity sector.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund Update
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) in 2025-26 will proactively support the delivery of the government’s five Missions, with a specific focus on economic growth and promoting opportunities. Download the technical note here and the prospectus here.
The existing interventions have been mapped onto the Mission-led themes across three priority areas:
- Communities and Place
- Support for Local Business
- People and Skills.
Lead local authorities will continue to have flexibility to invest across a range of activities with some simplification. There are now five UK-wide themes and 12 sub-themes which map onto the previous 53 interventions.
You can find the funding allocations for lead local authorities here
NAVCA podcast on section 114 notices
In the latest podcast from NAVCA, Gethyn Williams hosts a conversation with James Allen, Jack Hopkins and Jill Hopkinson about section 114 notices and local government financial difficulties. Learn about our latest guidance for voluntary sector organisations affected by funding cuts, and about what changes we want to see from local and central government.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
[NEW] New AI survey: please share your opinions and needs
The charity CAST is running a sector-wide AI survey, in order to understand what has changed over the past year, and what’s needed right now.
If you work for a charity or social impact organisation, please take 12 minutes to fill in the anonymous survey, and share not just how you feel about AI, but what you really need: what would make your work life easier; what support would be useful; what would you wish for in an ideal world?
[NEW] New report calls for ‘social prescribing fund’
The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has published a new report, ‘Envisaging a Social Prescribing Fund’, which makes the case for a new fund that would support community activities, groups and services that benefit people’s health and wellbeing.
The proposed England-wide fund of £1 billion over 10 years would bring together contributions from the public, philanthropic and private sectors, and provide vital long-term funding for community groups and organisations to meet the rising demand for their activities and services – key to tackling loneliness, reducing health inequalities and improving people’s health.
[NEW] How do children experience violence?
The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has published the next two reports as part of its annual Children, violence and vulnerability research. The YEF surveyed over 10,000 13- to 17-year-olds in England and Wales about their experiences of violence. The third report focuses on girls’ and boys’ experiences of violence. Findings include that 24% of boys and 16% of girls said they had been a victim of violence in the past year.
The report highlights the importance of education and support in promoting healthy relationships among children and young people, with findings indicating that these lessons are not universally taught or consistently reaching those who need them the most. The fourth report explores what young people think about the police.
£429m needed to help community buildings meet 2030 energy standards, paper finds
Community buildings in the UK require £429m-worth of investment to meet minimum energy standards set to be introduced in 2030, according to new research, with those missing the target at risk of sanctions.
Charity Social Investment Business (SIB) published a paper recently on the estimated costs to retrofit community buildings to reach the government’s planned minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) C standard.
The paper says that making all the recommended upgrades for community buildings would cost around £90m per year over the next five years, with the average cost per building being £31,000.
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.
