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Help and guidance

Our help and guidance content includes step-by-step guides, downloadable templates and interactive tools to help you run your voluntary organisation

Setting up

Learn about the practical steps you need to take to set up your own organisation

  • Setting up

Deciding to set up a new charitable organisation

Access our guidance to help you decide if you should set up a new charity, voluntary organisation or community group

  • Setting up

Choosing your legal structure

What you need to consider when choosing your legal structure and the main characteristics of different legal structures

  • Setting up

Understanding charity status and registration

Find out what charity status is and if you need to register as a charity

  • Setting up

Understanding social enterprise

Find out about social enterprises and their associated legal structures

  • Setting up

A charity's governing document: What it should include

Find out what information should be included in your charity's governing document

  • Setting up

Running a charity

Guidance and tools to help you run your charity or voluntary organisation

  • Employing and managing staff
  • Setting up
  • Closing down

Employing and managing staff

Practical guidance to help you recruit, manage and develop paid members of staff, including a useful introduction to employment law

  • Employing and managing staff

Employing staff essentials

Familiarise yourself with the essential aspects of employing paid members of staff

  • Employing and managing staff

Volunteering round-up: November 2022

  • Involving volunteers

Call for continuing energy bill support for voluntary organisations

Charities hit hardest by spiralling energy costs are facing a cliff edge of support unless the government continues subsidising bills past March 2023

  • Government and politics

The inside track: November 2022

Our latest update on what’s happening in Westminster that might impact charities. This month sees a new government, with plenty for charities to think about.

  • Government and politics

Five ways to support your staff during the cost of living crisis

Five ways you can support staff through the cost of living crisis when resources are limited

  • Responding to crises

Government policy and funding round-up: December 2022

This round-up will help you to stay informed about our influencing work, and any government policy and funding announcements. For news related to what’s happening in parliament, see our regular inside track round-up.

  • Government and politics
  • Funding and income

Governance round-up: December 2022

NCVO's senior consultancy and training manager Dan Francis reflects on how the events of 2022 have shaped charity governance

  • Governance

Volunteers responding to crises

What we learned during the National Volunteering Forum, along with examples of actions you can take in response to the volunteering challenges facing the sector

  • Responding to crises

New Year message from NCVO's chief executive

As we enter the new year, read our advice for how to prepare for the challenges the sector is facing.

  • Government and politics
  • Responding to crises

Call for a long-term solution to the energy crisis

We’ve called for an urgent review into who's included in the government’s new energy discount scheme. We’re also calling for work to begin on a long-term support plan for the voluntary sector

  • Responding to crises

Governance round-up: January 2023

As we begin a new year, governance consultant Sally Stephens looks ahead to the big stories for 2023

  • Governance

You have intellectual property

You have waste

Your organisation has insurance

You have contractual liabilities

You employ staff

You involve volunteers

You deliver services to people at risk of harm

Get email updates from NCVO

Introduction to EDI in charities (2 x 0.5 days)

This course introduces the key principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and how to apply them to your organisation

Managing people in the charity sector (2 days)

This course will equip managers in the voluntary sector with the skills and techniques they need to effectively manage paid members of staff

Financial governance for trustees (0.5 day)

This course will revisit the core financial duties of a charity trustee and explore what it means to practice good financial governance

Volunteering network meeting

A network open to all NCVO members working within the volunteering ecosystem. Join us to discuss your volunteering challenges and work with the group to find solutions.

Influencing parliament and government (2 x 0.5 days)

Gain a clear understanding of the UK political system, the points of access and influence. Get top tips about what works and what to avoid.

Good practice in volunteer management (1 day)

This course provides an introduction to the key principles of good volunteer management and how to apply them in your organisation

Tools and methods for measuring outcomes (1 day)

Get an introduction to data collection methods and practical guidance for evaluating your work

Strategic leadership (1 day)

This practical one-day course for aspiring and existing charity leaders will elevate your strategic leadership skills, so you can create lasting impact for your organisations and the communities you serve.

Advanced data protection (2 x 0.5 days)

This advanced course is specifically for data protection leads or officers in charitable organisations.

Project management in the voluntary sector (2 days)

This practical course is specifically tailored to the voluntary sector. It’s designed to give you all the principles and practical tools you need to plan, deliver and evaluate your project successfully