Useful information – w/c 27/01/25
January 27, 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: 28/01/25 – 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] Using the Governance App webinar
Monday 10 February, online. The Governance App is a new, free and easy way for your board of trustees to review and improve its governance, together.
The session will help you to make the most of the Governance App. It will cover everything from registering your organisation and completing the surveys, to using your results and planning your next steps.
Build Stronger Communities Through Anti-Racism Education
Daytime Course starts Weds 29 January/Evening Course starts Thus 28 January, online. Did you know that systemic racism costs the UK economy £24 billion annually? These losses stem from reduced staff well-being, higher turnover, organisational reputation damage, and more.
By addressing these challenges through anti-racism education, organisations can improve community cohesion and drive better outcomes for everyone. We’d love to welcome you to our Transformative Online Anti-Racism Course, starting next week.
This course, from Anti Racist Cumbria, is an opportunity to deepen your understanding, build meaningful connections, and create lasting change within your organisation and community.
Daytime course – register here
Evening course – register here
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.
#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’.
We have come together to ask others to join us in making this change, starting with an online event.
Click here to find out more about the campaign and to sign up for the event
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.
Meet the Expert Event: Charity Excellence Framework
Tuesday 11 February, online. Get Grants will be joined by Ian McLintock, Founder and CEO of Charity Excellence Framework for a discussion about the current state of the sector and how AI can be used to improve fundraising success.
Join us to explore the platform’s AI tools, funding databases and resources, and to learn about the system’s new AI capabilities.
Webinar: Getting your board on board – how to communicate about AI
20 February, online. Join Ha Cole, Chief AI Officer at Microsoft Tech for Social Impact EMEA, and Lev Malinin, Head of AI at The Salvation Army UK & Ireland, for a fireside chat on communicating AI’s value to stakeholders.
What you’ll learn:
- How AI can boost your organisation’s impact and efficiency
- Tips for presenting AI concepts effectively to your board
- A practical framework for refining your approach to AI principles
Data Protection Training for Charities
29 January, online. This half-day course will guide you through the key aspects to ensuring continued compliance, best practice for data sharing, how to avoid common data protection pitfalls and much more.
You will also have the chance to put your questions to course leader Claire Hall, legal director at VWV. Claire advises charities on a wide range of issues including data sharing, transparency obligations, marketing and fundraising compliance and data subjects’ rights.
Master fundraising and grant management for impact
6 February, online. In this webinar, we will explore effective strategies for grant tracking, fund allocation, and donor-specific reporting to enhance transparency and accountability in not-for-profit organisations.
Attendees will learn practical techniques to build trust with donors and stakeholders by showcasing the tangible impact of their contributions through clear and customised financial reporting.
Let’s talk about menopause at work
Tuesday 28 January, Online. The menopause is a natural occurrence, yet up until recently, it has received little attention despite the impact it is known to have on women at work.
Join Acas for this free webinar where we will discuss the importance of supporting those experiencing the menopause.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
VCFSE News and Information
[NEW] Lakes and Dales Cooperative
Every year the Lakes and Dales Coop distributes funding to community groups, charities and good causes in Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland.
This is done through several channels including providing vouchers that can be used in our stores to purchase food and drink for events or fundraisers, or to buy prizes for fundraising activities like raffles and competitions. We also provide small grants of up to £500 to community groups and charities and larger grants of up to £5,000 via a scheme we call Community Connect.
Find out more in this document
[NEW] Podcast: What does digital accessibility mean for charities?
In this podcast, recorded at Charity Digital’s 2024 Digital Inclusion Summit, a panel of experts to share advice and learnings to help the charity sector improve its digital accessibility.
[NEW] Government to decide on charity lottery sales cap removal by summer
The government will publish its decision on a proposed removal of the charity lottery sales cap by the summer, the minister for civil society has said.
On Friday, MPs discussed proposals put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain to remove the £50m yearly ticket sales limit on charity lotteries.
Her private members’ bill, which proposes altering the Gambling Act 2005, has received the support of over 100 charity leaders and had its second reading in parliament last week.
[NEW] Major funder says charities can use AI tools when applying for grants
The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) has said it will not reject applications from charities that have used artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
With the support of external experts, NLCF has developed guidelines on how applicants can use AI when applying for funding.
While the NLCF will consider AI-assisted applications, it has warned charities that the technology’s tools do not help tell the unique story of their communities.
Cumberland Council Newsletter
You can view Cumberland Council’s newsletter from 24/01/25 here, including:
- Welsh Police praise our Local Focus Hubs
- Just one week left to have say on car parks
- Work gets underway on the first of Cleator Moor’s groundbreaking regeneration schemes
Westmorland and Furness Council Newsletter
You can view Westmorland and Furness Council’s newsletter from 24/01/25 here, including:
- Council’s support for a better future on Holocaust Memorial Day
- Strategy agreed to bring more empty homes back into use
- Council agrees ambitious cultural framework to boost health, well-being and local growth
Artificial intelligence: Responsible use for charities
Explore how charities can prioritise the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their organisation, with a checklist from Public Interest Registry (PIR).
Charities urged to plan for handling social media misinformation after Meta changes
Charities have been encouraged to plan for handling misinformation on social media after recently announced changes to fact-checking policies on Facebook and Instagram.
Charity Comms published its guidance last week after Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced that his company’s two largest social media platforms would stop using third-party fact-checkers.
The membership body for charity communications professionals advised that “while Meta users will now be empowered to correct hate speech and misinformation themselves, charity community managers will need to weigh in to protect the people that our organisations serve”.
Surveys, Research, Feedback and Reports
[NEW] Charities asked for ideas to remove barriers to becoming trustees
Charities have been asked to share their views on how barriers to becoming trustees could be removed.
The Association of Chairs (AoC) this week opened a consultation on how charity boards and the nature of trusteeship could be improved in the coming years.
One focus of the review is to make trustees more representative of UK society and it will consider how to ensure people have enough time or money to take on a charity board position.
Research exposes regional inequalities in community resilience
Coastal, rural and areas in the North of England are less able to withstand and recover from adverse events, according to new research which highlights regional disparities in community resilience.
Led by academics from Health Equity North, the University of Manchester and ARC Greater Manchester, the study examined local authority data to identify geographical patterns in different communities’ ability to navigate and thrive in the face of challenges.
Sector burnout highlighted as charity workers asked to complete wellbeing survey
Charity employees have been asked to complete a survey about their wellbeing as burnout has been highlighted as the “biggest threat” facing the sector.
In 2020, a research project called Charity Well reported that two in five fundraisers believed that their charity’s chief executive did not understand their role and its challenges.
Five years on, a second Charity Well survey opened last week, this time asking charity workers across all roles and specialisms to take part.
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.
