Useful information – w/c 16/12/24
December 16, 2024
Events, training, charity news, surveys, research, feedback, reports, services and much more – in one handy place!
This page will be updated with new information as we receive it during the week. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 20/12/24 – items added on this date are marked as [NEW])
You’ll also find the latest Health and Wellbeing news, events and opportunities in the current post on our News page here.
You can view 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
* There won’t be any updates next week (w/c 23/12/24), but we’ll be back in the new year with all the latest! *
Training and Events
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.
Public Involvement & Community Engagement Special Interest Group
Thursday 19 December, 10 – 11am, online. Join online to hear about The Library of Lived Experience for Mental Health. It’s not about books but people.
Paul Marshall from the University of Lancaster will be presenting their work to develop a library of lived experience.
Please contact felicity.shenton@cntw.nhs.uk to register
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!
Introduction to Fundraising Strategy Workshop
Thursday 9 January 2025, online. This free workshop gives an introduction to what Fundraising Strategy is all about and looks at how organisations can put themselves in the best possible position to meet future funding needs.
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.
How to master email marketing
17 December, 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.
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 December and January. See the flyer below for more information.
VCFSE News and Information
[NEW] Digital inclusion: A year in review
Exploring the key developments in digital inclusion in 2024, from changes in government to developments in AI.
Environment and Climate for Cumberland Council
You can view Cumberland Council’s December Environment and Climate Newsletter here, including:
- Have your say on Cumberland’s waste and recycling collections
- Shape the future of bus services
- Share your views on rural issues in Cumbria
Why charities should focus on cyber resilience
Cyber attacks are inevitable, no matter how much cyber security protection you have.
That’s why charities should look beyond cyber security and focus on cyber resilience.
Attempts to exempt charities from NICs rise fail in House of Commons
Attempts to exempt charities from proposed rises to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) were unsuccessful after a debate in parliament yesterday.
Proposed amendments to the government’s national insurance contributions bill, which also included exemptions for GP surgeries, hospices, care homes and dental surgeries, were put forward by MPs and discussed in the House of Commons yesterday.
However, despite some support from MPs from parties including the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Independents and Conservatives, none of the amendments received a majority of votes.
Workbook to help charities prepare for AI
AI is no longer a future concept—it’s here, and charities are already using it. Three in five charities now use AI tools in their daily operations, according to the 2024 Charity Digital Skills report. But while AI is being explored informally by many, only 11% of charities have fully implemented AI across their organisation.
To bridge this gap, Salesforce has created the Nonprofit AI Readiness Workbook, designed to help charities prepare for AI adoption. This practical resource guides you through building an AI strategy, supporting staff through change, and ensuring AI tools are safe, inclusive, and trustworthy.
Will the Civil Society Covenant deliver the ‘reset’ charities need?
Last week, another step towards the hotly anticipated Civil Society Covenant was taken as a consultation with the charity sector closed.
The covenant, which prime minister Keir Starmer said would signify a “fundamental reset” of the government’s working relationship with civil society, is set to be finalised next year.
It will essentially replace the Compact, first published a quarter of a century ago by Tony Blair’s Labour government before being updated by David Cameron’s coalition administration in 2010.
Social media for charities 101: Bluesky
Is it time to make the move to Bluesky? And if so, what’s the best way to get started?
Working with VCSE organisations to deliver health and care research
This video presents findings of a piece of work undertaken by the NIHR in partnership with Voluntary Sector to identify good practice in involving the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in social care research.
Together, they identified barriers and facilitators to engagement, and identified recommendations on how to increase and build awareness of research opportunities to better engage the VCFSE sector in research.
Watch the video below:
Cumberland Council newsletter
You can view Cumberland Council’s newsletter from 15/12/24 here, including:
- Cumberland Council festive arrangements 2024
- Pension credit
- Book now – Holiday festive activities for kids
Westmorland and Furness Council newsletter
You can view Westmorland and Furness Council’s newsletter from 13/12/24 here, including:
- Kirkby Lonsdale community response
- 20 council-funded bus services to hit the road next year
- Could you give some pre-loved toys and games a new home?
Cumberland Council newsletter
You can view Cumberland Council’s newsletter from 13/12/24 here, including:
- Shape the future of bus services
- Budget consultation 2025/26
- Review of local election boundaries
What’s on the horizon for charities in 2025?
Charity Digital investigate the landscape for charities and their services in 2025, including changes in funding, transforming power dynamics, and conquering complexity.
Artificial intelligence and cyber security – here’s what you need to know
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide a huge boost to your charity’s security, helping to keep you safe from cyber attacks. But malicious hackers can also make use of AI technology to attack your charity. That means that when it comes to cyber security, AI is something of a double-edged sword.
Here’s what you need to know to keep your charity safe.
Increase in charity tax fraud court cases and prosecutions, HMRC reports
HM Revenue and Customs has reported an increase in the number of charity tax cases taken to civil courts alongside criminal cases and related prosecutions.
At Charity Tax Group’s conference last week in London, HMRC representatives discussed the authority’s work to recoup funds and urged more trustees to seek professional advice.
Darren MacDonald, compliance lead for charitable expenditure at HMRC, said: “There’s a definite uptick in cases that are taken to the civil courts. There’s a definite uptick in criminal cases and prosecutions in this area.”
Lisa Nandy announces plans for ‘place-based philanthropy strategy’
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has unveiled plans for a “place-based philanthropy strategy” during a meeting of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee this week, at which she also discussed charities’ right to campaign and financial pressures on the sector.
Addressing members of the parliamentary committee reently, Nandy said she had asked the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to work up a place-based philanthropy strategy, acknowledging that she had been “really struck by some of the work the previous government did”.
Citing examples of former residents of communities such as Grimsby and Stoke-on-Trent who may feel “very strongly” about their hometowns even if they no longer live there, Nandy added that many such people “are far more likely” to donate to charities and organisations local to these areas to promote growth and opportunities there.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
Charity Finance Group survey reveals deep concern over rise in Employer National Insurance Contributions
The latest survey from CFG has found that the majority of charity employers are concerned about absorbing significant additional staffing costs following the government’s decision to increase Employer National Insurance Contributions. The UK-wide survey was launch the day after the Government’s first budget, gathering insights from 446 charity sector respondents.
The responses show that more than eight in ten charities (84%) are very or moderately concerned about affording the rise in ERNICs, with more than six in ten charities (61%) being likely or very likely to consider reductions in staff to mitigate the rising costs as a result.
Read the summary of the findings
Benchmarking salaries and the value of comms in the charity sector
The CharityComms 2024 Salary and Organisational Culture Survey is now live, giving an opportunity to provide unique insight into how charity comms and marketing professionals feel about their role and how they are valued and perceived within the sector.
Sharing your views will help to highlight how the sector can better support charity communicators. The survey is open until 22 January 2025.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport survey concludes that volunteering rates in England continue to fall
Volunteering rates in England are still failing to reach pre-pandemic levels, according to government research published this month. The Community Life Survey is a nationally representative annual survey of adults in England that tracks the latest trends and developments across areas that are key to encouraging social action and empowering communities.
The latest figures found that formal volunteering has continued to decline since the first data was collected in 2013/14, when the rate of adults volunteering was 27%. The current figure stands at 16%, which includes a noticeable difference from the last pre-covid figures in 2019/20 (23%).
Faith-based charities face ‘significant challenges’ from immigration rule changes
Changes to immigration rules governing employing skilled workers pose major challenges to faith-based charities around recruitment, budgeting, compliance and long-term planning, sector organisations have warned.
A recent briefing from legal firm Bates Wells says modifications to the regulations in April have “reshaped the landscape for employers” with serious implications for faith charities.
Rising salary thresholds for sponsoring skilled workers mean such organisations “will find it increasingly difficult to sponsor migrants”, making staff shortages in crucial roles a real risk, the report warns.
Disability charities expect £266m shortfall due to NICs and minimum wage rises
Disability charities are set to face an estimated £266m shortfall next year due to increases in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) and minimum wage rates, according to a new survey.
The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) commissioned a survey of its over 130 disability charity members, which found that one in three are poised to hand back local government contracts and a quarter are considering redundancies.
Most disability charities (over 60%) that responded to the survey, conducted by consultancy firm Cordis Bright, expect a financial deficit by March 2025.
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.
