Useful information – w/c 13/07/26
July 13, 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: 17/07/26 – 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
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.
Skills Bootcamp in business & leadership for social enterprise
September, Carlisle. 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
Practical uses of AI for your charity
Tuesday 14th July, online. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers huge potential for charities.
AI can revolutionise the everyday. It provides significant benefits, saving you time, cutting costs, reducing human error, supercharging operations, streamlining processes, and so much more. But such benefits are more often talked about than realised. Charities face a problem: putting AI into practice.
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.
Safeguarding Awareness Webinar
Thursday 16th July, Online. Safeguarding is a vital tool in ensuring the most vulnerable remain protected.
This webinar from CST’s Safe programme is an introduction to safeguarding, and covers what to do if you suspect there may be an issue which needs early intervention.
Creating an interactive dashboard using Power BI
Tuesday 21st July, online. As brilliant as it is, sometimes Microsoft Excel can’t deliver everything you need when it comes to data analysis, visualisation and publication.
This is where Microsoft’s Power BI steps in, enabling you to take your data analysis to the next level creating and sharing powerful, interactive and secure dashboards which can be shared privately or published and embedded in your website.
➡️ Getting to grips with Power BI’s basic building blocks
➡️ Getting data from Microsoft Excel
➡️ Creating & customising charts and visualisations
➡️ Printing, sharing & publishing reports
How to master email marketing
Wednesday 22nd July, online. Email marketing is one of the best ways to attract donors, raise funds, raise awareness, and highlight the impact of your charity. It is, in the simplest terms, an indispensable part of your marketing toolkit. There are 4.5 billion email users worldwide and research suggest two-thirds of marketers believe email provides the best ROI.
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.
The session explores barriers and boundaries that charities face. It shows you how to avoid email marketing traps such as spam filter, the various legal considerations and the best routes to compliance, the tedious tasks that are ripe for automation, how exactly you can start email automating, and more. Basically, in three hours, you’ll learn to be a whizz at email marketing.
Driving value: Realising the benefits of your digital project
Thursday 23rd July, Online. The digital journey doesn’t stop when the system goes live – this is when the real work begins.
Adoption often stalls because of competing priorities, inconsistent training, or unclear ownership. Join Hart Square for this free online session.
How to manage charity finances – CPD Accredited
Tuesday 28th July, online. Finance can feel daunting, with the confusing terminology and frustrating processes.
Charities of all shapes and sizes find themselves struggling with finances, which can cause myriad problems: lack of transparency, absent accountability, reduced efficiency, inaccurate reporting, and so on.
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.
Ctrl+Alt+Defend: What are trustees’ responsibilities in relation to AI and cyber risk?
Wednesday 29th July, online. Artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber threats are rapidly reshaping how charities think about risk. From AI-enabled fraud and increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks to data breaches and operational disruption, trustees are facing growing expectations to ensure their organisations are resilient in an increasingly digital environment.
Alongside these risks, trustees must also consider their governance responsibilities. This involves, balancing oversight, delegation and accountability, while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place to protect their organisation’s people, data and assets. The potential consequences of getting this wrong can be significant, including financial loss, reputational damage and regulatory scrutiny.
This session is designed for charity trustees and senior leaders, including those with responsibility for finance, governance or risk. It is aimed at people who are seeking clear, practical guidance to support effective oversight of AI and cyber risk—without unnecessary technical complexity.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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!
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.
[NEW] Procurement discussed as care minister joins second Civil Society Council meeting
Public procurement barriers were discussed as care minister Stephen Kinnock joined the second meeting of the Civil Society Council at 10 Downing Street last week, it has been confirmed.
At the meeting on 8 July, chaired by NCVO’s chief executive Kate Lee, sector leaders discussed progress made so far to improve collaboration between government and civil society.
This included the council’s “data-driven” work with the Cabinet Office to identify barriers preventing sector organisations from engaging in public procurement.
Diverse Cumbria Awards deadline
The nomination deadline for the Diverse Cumbria Awards has been extended to 5pm on 31st July, giving people just over two more weeks to put forward the individuals, businesses and community groups quietly changing things across the county.
Nominations are free, take about 200 to 400 words, no lengthy form, and cover eight categories, from Business Champion to Volunteer Champion.
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Saturday, 26th September at Carlisle Racecourse.
Government seeks sector figures to join impact economy group
The government is seeking representatives from the voluntary sector to join a new external advisory group on the impact economy.
In its announcement this week, the government invited people with experience working with grassroots organisations, trusts and foundations and those across the voluntary and charity sector to apply.
It also said it sought representatives from financial institutions and purpose-driven businesses of any size to join the Impact Economy Advisory Council.
Grand Depart Tour De France JOY maker volunteer programme & Readiness to Work programme
Becoming a JOY Maker is an opportunity for anyone aged over 16 with 10 different volunteer roles available to get involved and volunteer at the world’s most famous bike race. Applications are open until the 1st of September; more details can be found: Become a JOY Maker! | Grand Départ GB 2027
As part of JOY Makers, there is another opportunity for young people aged 18-25. Readiness to Work is an employability programme combining core employability skills training and sector-specific mentoring, alongside their day of volunteering. This offer is designed to support young people to develop key skills, gain meaningful experience, and take the next steps on towards employment. Here is the website for more details and how to apply: Readiness to Work | Grand Départ GB 2027
The Digital Learning Grant
JustGiving and Fundraising Everywhere have teamed up again to offer a free training programme for 250 fundraising professionals, designed to boost digital skills and confidence.
The Digital Learning Grant is fully funded by JustGiving, which means there are no costs for you: just the potential for stronger campaigns, more confident fundraisers, and better results!
Successful applicants get:
- A professionally curated digital strategy and innovation workshop series
- 1:1 coaching specially tailored to your goals
- 1,000+ on-demand courses to learn at your pace
- A supportive community sharing ideas and results
The data you need to understand your donors
Charity Digital share what data you need to create better supporter experiences and how data accessibility is the key to driving donations.
Cumberland Council newsletter
You can view Cumberland Council’s newsletter from 10/07/26 here, including:
- Petteril Bank event – what does your community need?
- Nominate a remarkable young person for a Flying High award
- Help improve how Adult Social Care and Housing works in Cumberland
Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter
You can view Westmorland a Furness Council’s newsletter from 10/07/26 here, including:
- Stay safe in open water
- £300,000 fund to support local communities
- Priorities chosen to support children and young people
Fresh calls for charity-specific guidance on trans inclusion after parliamentary scrutiny
The Charity Commission has been urged to hasten its guidance for charities on inclusion of trans people as parliamentary scrutiny of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) updated code of practice has completed.
EHRC’s updated code, on how last year’s Supreme Court ruling which concluded that “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to “biological sex”, was laid before parliament in May.
It completed its 40-day scrutiny period this week and charity governance consultant Penny Wilson has now published a letter to the commission’s chief executive, David Holdsworth, urging him to publish sector-specific guidance.
Commission vows to improve response rates as caseloads rise
The Charity Commission has pledged to focus on improving its response rates as it reports increased caseloads for the past year.
In the year to March 2026, the commission opened and closed more cases than the previous year but launched fewer statutory inquiries, reserved for its most serious level of engagement.
Some 4,996 cases were concluded by the charity regulator for England and Wales 2025-26, up 14% from the year before, amid an “increased number of complaints” about charities.
Have your say in Wave 15 of the VCSE Barometer
The VCSE Barometer is a regular national survey of voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations. It provides up-to-date evidence on the pressures organisations are facing, how the sector is responding, and what support may be needed.
Previous waves have shown that funding, rising demand, inflation, energy costs and volunteer recruitment remain major issues for many organisations. Around 4 in 5 organisations told us income and funding was a top concern. Almost half pointed to rising demand, more than 2 in 5 highlighted rising non-energy costs, and around 1 in 3 raised energy costs. National data also shows that regular formal volunteering remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Wave 15 asks what is happening now. With a new Prime Minister coming in and national priorities being reshaped, this is a useful moment to build a clearer picture of what organisations are experiencing on the ground.
Findings from the Barometer are shared with policymakers in DCMS as part of their sector intelligence-gathering, helping inform cross-government understanding of sector sentiment, health and resilience. Organisations that complete the survey will receive an individual report showing how their responses compare with others across the sector.
Have your say on Carlisle’s future
Public engagement on the draft Carlisle Masterplan is now open, giving residents and businesses the chance to help shape the city over the next 25 years and beyond.
You have until 31 July 2026 to get involved.
Find Out More And Have Your Say
You can also speak to the team in person at the Assembly Rooms, Old Town Hall, Carlisle on:
- Wednesday 15 July, 3pm to 7pm
- Monday 20 July, 10am to 1pm
- Wednesday 22 July, 2pm to 6pm
The plan sets out an ambitious vision, strategy and a range of potential projects, building on earlier feedback.
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.
