You searched for
''

Getting started with strategy and business planning

Learn about what you need to know to get started with your organisation's strategy and business planning

  • Business planning and strategy

What is strategy?

Use this page to learn about what strategy is and how it can help your organisation

  • Business planning and strategy

Involving people in developing your strategy

Use this page to learn who to involve in developing your strategy and how best to engage them

  • Business planning and strategy

Creating the right strategy process for your organisation

Learn about how to create the right strategy process for your organisation.

  • Business planning and strategy

Theory of Change

Learn about Theory of Change as a process and a tool

  • Business planning and strategy

Setting the direction of your organisation

Find out what's involved in setting the direction of your charity

  • Business planning and strategy

Understanding your landscape and conditions

Learn about understanding your organisation's landscape and conditions and the tools that can help with this

  • Business planning and strategy

Gathering knowledge to assess your situation

Use this section to select the right tools to help you understand your landscape and conditions.

  • Business planning and strategy

SWOT

A guide to help your organisation with your SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis

PESTLE

A guide to help organisations consider how the world is changing

Employment Rights Bill: what charities need to know

The Employment Rights Bill introduces the biggest changes to UK employment law in decades. Find out when these changes will happen and what you should be doing to get ready.

Updates to NCVO’s executive team

Membership body announces changes to its executive team following the arrival of new CEO, Kate Lee.

What the Autumn 2025 Budget means for your charity

Limited measures announced, but not enough to ease financial strain on charities.

  • Funding and income
  • Government and politics

Charities facing mission-limiting hostility, fear and intimidation

A new report from NCVO explores impact of rise in extremism and social division on the voluntary sector.

  • Responding to crises
  • Government and politics

Why the government’s asylum proposals are bad for volunteering

  • Involving volunteers
  • Government and politics

Local Covenant Partnerships Fund announced

The government has announced a new initiative designed to support stronger, fairer and more collaborative relationships between charities and local government.

  • Funding and income
  • Government and politics

Non-recent and historic abuse

Find out about 'limitation periods' regarding certain types of claim

  • Safeguarding

Getting started with DBS checks

Information about DBS checks and tools to help you understand the law as it applies to the roles in your organisation

  • Safeguarding

Overview

Information about getting DBS checks for staff and volunteers

  • Safeguarding

Plan for specific roles

How to identify potential risks when creating a new staff or volunteering role

  • Safeguarding

Asking about someone's criminal history

How and when to ask about a staff member or volunteer's criminal history

  • Safeguarding

Types of DBS check

A comprehensive guide to different types of DBS checks

  • Safeguarding

Deciding which checks to carry out

Different roles will require different checks. This page explores what checks you might need to run

  • Safeguarding

Help and support with requesting DBS checks

How to request and process DBS checks

  • Safeguarding

Checks for people working overseas

Guidance on what checks you need to complete for people working overseas

  • Safeguarding

Checks for trustees

Guidance on additional information you need to consider when carrying out DBS checks for trustees

  • Safeguarding

Leading external engagement ( 1 day)

This training will teach you how to raise your profile and the profile of your charity. You’ll learn how to improve your external engagement through network-building, collaboration, partnership development and effective communication.

Tools and methods for measuring outcomes (1 day)

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

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

Recruiting volunteers (0.5 day)

This course will develop your skills and help you use a marketing approach to recruit volunteers

Authentic leadership (1 day)

This practical one-day course for aspiring and existing charity leaders will strengthen your understanding of authentic leadership, so you can lead with integrity and impact

Charity trustee induction and refresher (2 x 0.5 days)

This course will give trustees an overview and understanding of charity governance, regulation and best practice

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

Developing a volunteer strategy (1 day)

Get an overview of the key tasks and considerations when creating a volunteer strategy. Learn how to develop a strategy that compliments your business plan and create a framework for building success

Safeguarding essentials for trustees (0.5 day)

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

Mentoring and coaching skills (0.5 days)

This course provides an introduction to the key differences between mentoring and coaching. You’ll learn how to use both skills effectively to develop and support staff, volunteers and clients