Useful information – w/c 24/01/25
February 24, 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: 24/02/25 – 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] Five time-saving tools for your charity
26 March, online. Spend less time on admin and more time making a difference!
This course, in just three hours, will show you five game-changing tools to help your charity work smarter, not harder. These tools are easy to use, always come with no-cost and low-cost options, and have been designed to take the stress out of running your organisation.
[NEW] Supercharge your use of social media
25 March, 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.
A Better Way and the #DoWith Call to Action – network meeting
Wednesday 26 February, online. #DoWith is a campaign to to shift the public sector away from its current ‘do to’ mindset and practices towards a ‘do with’ approach.
A Better Way are holding an event in partnership with #DoWith to share why they are taking part in the initiative, learn from other networks and organisations who are taking part and to discuss ideas for how the #DoWith Call to action can support you and the work you are involved in. You can meet other organisations that support the campaign.
Cutting Through the Noise
26 February 2025, online. Join Fundraising Everywhere for an informative panel session where they’ll explore key challenges and share practical tips and examples to help you capture attention, engage supporters, and maximise your fundraising reach.
Reserves Policy Training
25 March 2025, online. Learn how to develop a reserves policy for your charity.
This half-day online course has been designed to help charity finance professionals develop a reserves policy that meets the requirements of the Charity Commission and SORP but which is also focused on financial risk and forms an integral part of the charity’s financial strategy.
Understanding Governance Stage 1: The Trustee Role
4–5 March 2025, online. Governance fundamentals for new and experienced trustees.
If you are new to the role of being a charity trustee, this course will provide the perfect introduction, while experienced trustees will also benefit from a refresher of their responsibilities and comprehensive updates on evolving elements of the trustee role.
TikTok success stories, with special guests from arts, culture and heritage organisations
Tuesday 25 February, Online. Join HdK for this free session, hearing from special guests from across the sector on what’s worked for them on TikTok – and what they’ve learned along the way.
There will also be a dedicated Q&A session at the end of the webinar.
Supporting basic digital skills with Learn My Way
Tuesday 11 March 2025, Online. Learn My Way is a free learning platform from Good Things Foundation that is designed to help people learn basic digital skills. The topics are all aligned with the Essential Digital Skills Framework and range from turning on your device and using a mouse or touch screen through to working with Office programmes.
This is a great online session for anyone that is new to supporting people to learn digital skills, whether you’re a digital champion, tutor or hub manager.
A Civil Society Covenant – here we go again? Wrigleys’ Charity Leadership Forum
Monday 24 March, Kendal. A robust, respectful and practical working relationship between the third sector and government in all its forms has long been a desire of charity leaders and is intended to be reinvigorated by the proposed Civil Society Covenant.
This session will consider how senior leaders can engage with the Covenant to the advantage of their charities, and will offer a chance to share learning points from previous iterations of such charters.
The forum will be carried out under the Chatham House Rule and will provide an opportunity for discussion, knowledge and experience sharing.
Practical uses of AI for your charity
8 April, 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.
Fostering psychological safety at your charity
18 March, online. In every work environment it is important to foster a culture where everyone feels safe to voice their thoughts, share ideas and raise concerns without facing negative consequences.
This training course will give charity delegates actionable strategies to cultivate psychological safety and recognise the impact it has on team performance, creativity, and overall well-being.
Preventing Charity Fraud
11 March, online. Led by governance consultant Claris D’cruz, the course has been carefully designed to help you understand how your charity can be susceptible to fraud, how to implement preventative measures and how to deal with suspected fraud if it arises.
A Web for All: Accessibility, usability and inclusivity online
19 March, online. Few and Far, a digital agency that work with non-profits, are hosting a free webinar on accessibility online. This comprehensive session will be led by Col Grist, Co-founder and Creative Director, who brings 15 years of experience working with leading UK charities.
Key highlights:
- Understanding accessibility fundamentals and WCAG guidelines
- Practical tools and tips for improving website accessibility
- Solutions for both physical disabilities and socio-economic barriers
- Real-world examples and interactive exercises
- Full recording and resource pack provided afterward
Manage your charity’s contracts with confidence
Thursday 27 February, online. This training course will cover the key elements to consider when drafting a contract, ensuring that any risks are mitigated and disputes are avoided.
The session will be led by Shivaji Shiva and Ed Rimmell from law firm VWV who are experts in charity law and commercial contracts.
Charity Digital Academy: Getting set up with Microsoft 365
25 February 2025, online. The course, the first of three parts, uncovers everything you need to know about Microsoft 365. The first half of the first session looks at the functionality 365 includes, helps charities to make sense of registration process and domain authentication, explores eligibility, and so much more.
This course is perfect for organisations who are considering using the M365 platform or for those who’ve taken this decision but are looking for guidance on how to start. You don’t have to be an expert to join.
#DoWith – new campaign by The King’s Fund
26 March, online. Radical and hopeful change in how public services work with people and communities is urgently needed.
Do With is a network of people and organisations calling for a radical shift in the public sector from ‘doing to’ to ‘doing with’.
Click here to find out more about the campaign and to sign up for the event
Webinar: Unseen but essential: The voluntary sector microbiome
6 March, online. Join NAVCA and the University of Exeter to discuss what the drive towards integration of health and care means for the smallest organisations in the voluntary sector, and how recognising this diversity is a vital part of systems-thinking in health and care integration.
This session will also explore some of detail behind the figures.
Chapters & Cheers! Love Barrow Libraries event
Friday 28 February, Barrow. Emma and the ‘Love Barrow Libraries’ team would love you to join them to toast the Grand Finale of their Volunteer Project. There will be a buffet, live entertainment gifts, games and a glass of bubbly.
View the event flyer for more information
Reasonable Adjustments: How to get them right
Tuesday 18 February 2025, online. Join Acas for this free webinar on reasonable adjustments, which will explore the law and good practice on how to implement reasonable adjustments in the workplace. This session aims to improve understanding and help you gain practical insights.
This webinar will provide an overview of:
- The legal obligations surrounding reasonable adjustments
- How to overcome challenges with practical solutions
- Different types of reasonable adjustments
- Strategies to foster an inclusive workplace
Shopmobility 30th Anniversary
Thursday 3 April, Carlisle. Shopmobility Carlisle are holding a drop in event (Coffee and Cake) to celebrate the official opening above back in 1995. Anyone is welcome to come along between 10am and 3pm.
Shopmobility Carlisle information
Free film-making charity workshops
Various dates, online. These workshops by The Saltways are open to anyone involved with a charity who is interested in creating more effective content, including fundraisers, communications managers, front-line staff, beneficiaries, and even marathon runners.
A practical and interactive session. You will learn the fundamentals of film-making, from planning and shooting to editing and sharing your content.
Our experienced professionals will guide you through the process, providing tips and tricks for creating compelling content that effectively communicates your charity’s mission and impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your content creation skills to the next level and make a real impact with your charity’s message.
Introduction to Individual Giving Workshop
Tuesday 4 March, online. This FREE 1 hour workshop examines practical solutions and ideas for growing your charity’s income through support from individual donors, giving a fantastic introduction to our full course whilst also providing really useful hints and tips as a stand-alone session.
As a bonus, all attendees will be entered into a draw to win one of two places on the full course!
Meet the Funder Event: Tesco Stronger Starts
Tuesday 25 February, online. Tesco Stronger Starts funding provides charities, community organisations, schools and local good causes with grants of up to £1,500.
Every three months, three causes are selected to be in the blue token customer vote in Tesco stores throughout the UK. The funding aims to make a positive difference to local communities with priority given to causes that help children and young people. Come along for an opportunity to ask questions about the relaunch of this grant scheme, including the application process.
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.
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
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
VCFSE News and Information
[NEW] Podcast: A rough history of philanthropy in the UK
Civil Society Media has published a new podcast episode on the history of philanthropy in the UK.
In this episode, Fozia Irfan and Rhodri Davies discuss key philanthropic milestones and how they might have influenced charitable giving today.
[NEW] Volunteering programme has given 25 careers with local NHS
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Volunteer to Career programme is going from strength to strength, as we have now successfully secured funding for a third cohort.
Through the scheme, we have already recruited 25 volunteers who have now secured bank, fixed term or permanent roles within the Trust. A further 16 are currently completing their training and volunteering hours.
Volunteer to Career (VtC) is a programme which offers volunteering opportunities that will give you a nationally recognised qualification and lead to a guaranteed interview for a paid position. It is ideal for those who are interested in a career in healthcare. This programme can provide volunteers with the skills and experience to apply for NHS jobs, including administration roles and healthcare assistant (HCA) roles.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
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.
