Small charities advisory panel

The small charities advisory panel champions the voices and experiences of small charities. It ensures small charities can continue to access tailored help, support and advocacy.

Following the closure of the FSI in May 2023, the panel will help us continue the legacies of both the FSI and the Small Charities Coalition (SCC). They play a vital advisory role and will hold NCVO and any future partners to account.

The panel helps us and our partners anticipate and meet the needs of smaller voluntary sector organisations. They also work with organisations across the sector to ensure the wider support offer is comprehensive, responsive, and coherent.

The panel’s work will uphold the following four principles.

1. If you support or fund small charities, say so upfront.
2. Take time to understand and tune into the reality of being a small charity.
3. Build trust by creating space for relationships.
4. Think small, advocate ambitiously.

These are taken from the Small and Mighty report on the legacy of the SCC.

The panel has also agreed on a vision for their role. Over the next five years, small voluntary organisations will continue to be at the heart of our communities. By 2028 they will be better:

• resourced and supported to play their vital role in our communities
• understood and valued by government, funders, and other sectors
• connected to each other and the wider voluntary ecosystem with improved collaboration
• represented in their diversity both locally and nationally with key decision makers
• serviced by the infrastructure bodies with improved partnership working and initiatives.

The panel is made up of 14 members. It includes diverse representation from six small charities, two funders and six infrastructure organisations, including one with a focus on volunteering.

The panel will meet quarterly, with the first full meeting to be held in May 2023.