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About us

Find out about our services, the way we operate and how we champion voluntary action

Who we are

We’re the membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England

Our services

Find out how we can support you, from support for small charities and training to consultancy and corporate relations

Venue hire

Discover our range of rooms available for hire.

Food and drink order form

Complete our quick form to arrange catering for your event

Governance round-up: July 2023

Recent governance news, resources, research, events and more

  • Governance

Applications open for £76m Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund

Find out if your organisation is eligible for new funding up to £75,000

  • Funding and income
  • Responding to crises

Consumer Duty: What is it and how will charities benefit?

Learn how new banking rules will affect your charity or voluntary organisation

  • Financial management

Volunteering round-up: August 2023

The latest news, events and opportunities for people managing or supporting volunteers

  • Involving volunteers

Governance round-up: August 2023

A round-up of the latest guidance from the Charity Commission, recent governance news and upcoming training and events

  • Governance

Impact round-up: Summer 2023

Senior consultant, Sandy Chidley, runs through some recent work on ethical evaluation and shares useful evaluation events and training opportunities

  • Impact and evaluation

The inside track: September 2023

A round-up of what’s happening in Westminster that might impact charities. This month sees a Labour reshuffle, an update on new APPG rules, and a look ahead to party conferences

  • Government and politics

Volunteering round-up: September 2023

The latest volunteering news, resources and dates for your diary

  • Involving volunteers

Practical support bulletin: September 2023

Resources, free events, support and guidance on the big issues affecting small charities

  • Financial management
  • Funding and income
  • Responding to crises

Government policy and funding round-up: September 2023

An update on our influencing work, government policy and funding announcements

  • Government and politics
  • Funding and income

Set up central management hub

How to set up the central hub that will run the consortium business, scope for contracts, network with commissioners and bring in contracts

  • Collaboration

Bid for and win contracts

How consortium members can work together to bid for, and hopefully win, contracts

  • Collaboration

About mergers

Information on the types of charity mergers and the different reasons for merging

  • Collaboration

Deciding to merge

This page highlights key questions to think about before making the decision to merge

  • Collaboration

Due diligence

Actions to ensure a planned merger is in the best interests of your organisations and beneficiaries

  • Collaboration

Pre-merger: Areas of focus

Things to consider in the run-up to a formal merger

  • Collaboration

Merger process

Planning the process with stakeholders and making sure you are clear about the role of your organisation’s regulator is key

  • Collaboration

Actions post-merger

What to consider once your merger has completed

  • Collaboration

Working with local Compacts

A guide to implementing local Compact agreements between voluntary organisations and local authorities, health services, and government departments

  • Collaboration

Coproduction and service user involvement

How to involve people who use services in the design and delivery of services

  • Collaboration

Better impact reporting (0.5 day)

This practical session will build your awareness of different types of reporting and support you to tell a compelling story through your reporting

Safeguarding essentials in charities (1 day)

All voluntary organisations have a duty to keep the people they work with safe from harm. This course introduces the basics of safeguarding within a charity context in England and highlights effective safeguarding practice.

Successful funding applications (0.5 day)

Learn practical tips to ensure you are successful in your funding bid applications.

Theory of change for strategic planning and evaluation (1 day)

Learn how to create your own theory of change and narrative. This course will challenge you to think critically about what you're doing and why.

Supporting good governance (4 x 0.5 days)

This course will help you implement structures and processes to support trustees, and ensure systems are aligned with your organisation’s purpose and objectives

Designated safeguarding leads in charities (1 day)

This one-day training course provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of safeguarding leads in charities in England.

Boost your personal influence and impact (0.5 day)

Learn practical tools and techniques to increase your capability, confidence and impact when seeking to influence others – both within and outside your organisation

Safeguarding essentials for trustees (0.5 day)

This introductory course explains the key trustee responsibilities for safeguarding, following guidance from the Charity Commission.

Building a sustainable and resilient fundraising strategy (1 day)

Through a blend of theoretical frameworks and practical application, you'll learn how to strengthen your current fundraising strategy so that is not only effective today but sustainable and resilient for years to come.

Charity finance skills (1 day)

This course will help people with little or no financial background to feel confident in managing day-to-day charity finance