Practical support bulletin: January 2024
Amy Walton, small charity support manager, shares resources, events, support and information on the big issues affecting small charities.
New year, same support for small charities
A new year brings with it new opportunities and challenges for small charities. NCVO is here to help you tackle them and make an even bigger difference in 2024.
Take a look at our four pillars of support for small charities.
Help with the cost of living
Free help and guidance
We know that a tough winter has put increased pressure on small charities. Our practical guidance can help you to navigate the cost of living crisis.
Take a look at our refreshed cost of living pages on:
- Managing services
- Financial management
- Supporting and retaining staff and volunteers
- Managing your energy costs
Improve your energy efficiency with government funding
The government has launched a £25.5 million fund to help eligible voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England improve their energy efficiency. You can apply for:
- an energy assessment
- capital grants between £2,000 and £150,000 to install energy efficiency measures.
For more information about who can apply and how long it takes, visit the Groundwork website.
Further questions? Email ees@groundwork.org.uk.
Embrace digital in 2024
Digital help and guidance
Ready to embrace digital in 2024? Our guidance can help you make the most of digital tools and processes to help your small organisation thrive.
Take a look at our pages on:
- Technology, tools and software
- Designing services, products and activities
- Digital accessibility and inclusion
- Funding for digital and technology costs
Support from Charity Digital
Charity Digital believes digital tools can help our sector deliver the greatest impact for the causes and people we serve. And they provide a range of content and events to help us make the most of these tools.
Kick start your digital journey by reading this blog on how to plan for digital transformation. Make sure to refer to the Charity Digital Code as you do.
Digital sustainability services
Are you looking to take practical steps to reduce the impact your IT has on the environment? Our trusted supplier, Phoenix Software, can help with anything from recording emissions and extending hardware life span to staff training.
See what Phoenix Software could do for you.
New artificial intelligence (AI) survey
Charities and social impact organisations of all sizes are invited to complete CAST’s new survey. The 10-minute, anonymous survey seeks to determine how charities feel about AI, and what support the sector needs.
Involving volunteers
The Vision for Volunteering team has published a free toolkit to help you have conversations with your organisation, group or community about the future of volunteering.
It contains resources and a plan for an introductory session to explore:
- the Vision for Volunteering
- the volunteering context for you
- steps you could take to improve volunteering locally.
It’s aimed at anyone who volunteers or engages with volunteers.
Have your say on our charity sector election manifesto
NCVO and the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) have engaged with members and the wider charity sector to identify a range of ways the next government can work with charities to make a positive difference.
NCVO is looking for a new treasurer
Is your new year’s resolution to make an even bigger positive impact in the sector? NCVO is looking for a new treasurer and, if you’ve got a strong track record of commercial and financial leadership, it could be you.
Get free items donated by businesses
A Good Thing connects charities to local businesses that can donate items to help them thrive. Charities can sign up to A Good Thing using the app, and will be notified as soon as a nearby business has something to offer.
Once you see something you need, make a request for the item and the app makes it easy to coordinate with the business.
In case you missed it...
- Review key takeaways from the King’s Speech 2023 from NCVO’s policy and public affairs manager
- Download NPC’s free guide on Centring Lived Experience: a strategic approach for leaders
- Read this article on How small charities can think ambitiously about film from Charity Comms
- Peruse these tips on writing clear, concise and compelling funding applications from Lime Green Consulting
- Check out Embrace Finance’s financial ins and outs for 2024!
- Sign up for Media Trust’s Intersectional Storyteller's Toolkit, a free five-day email series designed to enhance your charity's intersectional approach to communications. Each email will focus on a different aspect of intersectional storytelling, including framing, using data, voices of lived experience and tips from journalists on how to pitch intersectional stories.
