Practical support bulletin: May 2023

We talk to small charities every day through our four pillars of support as we continue the legacy of the Small Charities Coalition (SCC) and the Foundation for Social Improvement (the FSI).

Continuing the legacy of the FSI

Our partner, the FSI, sadly closed their doors for the final time on 3 May.

We’ve been working closely with them to honour their significant contribution to the small charity sector. We've agreed to temporarily host the FSI's key charity assets until we can establish partnerships for longer term management. This includes running this year's Small Charity Week.

We're also offering free NCVO membership to FSI members whose annual turnover is under £50,000.

Speak to our team about becoming an NCVO member

Small charities advisory panel

We recently announced the launch of the small charities advisory panel. The panel champions the voices and experiences of small charities.

Comprised of 14 diverse members, the panel works with organisations across the sector to ensure the wider support offer for small charities is comprehensive, responsive, and coherent.

Find out more about the small charities advisory panel

What's next for small charity support?

On 20 April we hosted a consultation on small charity support with the FSI. It was an opportunity to hear how small charities and their supporters felt they could be best supported following the FSI closure.

The small charities advisory panel co-chairs picked up on five key points in the discussion.

You can also watch a recording of the event.

Support from other organisations

• Your local NAVCA member or infrastructure organisation can provide resources, support and advice to facilitate community development and encourage volunteering opportunities. Find your nearest NAVCA member.
• The Association of Chairs provides information on chairing a small charity. This includes help with governance issues, finding free or low-cost support, and a resource bank specifically designed for small charities.
• The Small Charity Friendly Collective is an informal group of charity specialists with a shared dedication to small charities, all previously part of the Small Charities Coalition family.

Help from NCVO

We know many small charities are being affected by the cost of living crisis.

For more support and guidance, visit our cost of living page.

Have your say

The cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on both individuals and organisations. We now need data on how inflation and energy costs are impacting charities, community groups and voluntary organisations.

Make sure that your voice is heard by completing a 20-minute State of the Social Sector Survey, in partnership with Pro Bono Economics and Lloyds Bank Foundation.

Complete the VCSE survey

Lend a hand with the Big Help Out

It's estimated that over six million people volunteered for the Big Help Out on 8 May. And that’s just the start!

Voluntary organisations can still register to signpost to their volunteer vacancies, and volunteers can search for roles that interest them. Over seven million people said they were more likely to volunteer after seeing the Big Help Out in action, so now is the perfect time to get involved.

Register on The Big Help Out hub

Volunteers' Week, 1-7 June

It’s just three weeks until Volunteers’ Week 2023! Inspiration, guidance and resources are available on the site to help you celebrate the amazing contributions made by volunteers.

Sign up for Volunteers' Week updates and goodies as we get closer to the week.

Time Well Spent 2023

Our groundbreaking research programme Time Well Spent focuses on volunteers and their experience.

The next Time Well Spent report will be published in June. Ahead of this, we've shared a preview which reveals how much volunteering has transformed over recent years.

Read the key findings from Time Well Spent 2023.

Managing volunteers help and guidance

Our practical step-by-step guidance can help you manage volunteers and the process of volunteering well. Take a look at our newly refreshed pages.

• Recruiting volunteers
• Paying volunteer expenses
• Employer supported volunteering
• Getting started with DBS checks

• The Media Trust's new quick scan glossary on Google Analytics 4 breaks down some of the common jargon to help you collect and analyse data on the new platform. This is in preparation for Google closing their Universal Analytics programme on 1 July 2023.
• The Charity Commission has published new guidance on further changes being introduced by the Charities Act 2022 this spring. This includes a revision to the rules on disposing of charity land, using permanent endowment, and charity names.
• Our trusted supplier CharityJob’s latest salary report highlights how charity salaries have changed since the pandemic. The report analyses average salaries by job type, experience level and charity size and compares this to data from 2019.
• UK Parliament has shared a guide on how to engage with the House of Lords on your small charity campaign.

Free webinars

• Health & safety: What charities need to know
  23 May, 11.00–12.00
  In partnership with our trusted supplier Zurich Insurance, this webinar will help you make sure you have the right health and safety arrangements in place for your charity.
  Register for a place
  
• NCVO webinar: Closing your charity well
  11 July, 10.30–12.00
  In partnership with Stewarding Loss and our trusted legal partner Withers LLP, this webinar will cover the steps to close your organisation well.
  Email the events team to register your interest

Training (prices start at £63, with discounts for NCVO members)

• Better impact reporting
  23 May, 10.00–13.00
  This practical session will build your awareness of different types of reporting and support you to demonstrate the impact of your work through storytelling.
  Register for a place