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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

Training

We offer a range of training courses designed to help you do what you do best

eLearning: Roles and duties of trustees

This flexible, interactive course will help you understand your duties as a trustee and support you to run your charity effectively so you can make a bigger difference

Leading on purpose

A practical four-month programme for emerging charity leaders who are on their way to leading organisations

Our vision for charity leaders

Learn about the mindset, knowledge and connections that emerging leaders need to guide the sector into the 2030s

Support for small charities and voluntary organisations

We know small charities make a big impact with limited resource - that's why we're here to help

Small charity helpdesk

Ask our practical support team any question about the setting up or running of your charity or voluntary organisation.

BAME network reflections on our equity, diversity and inclusion work

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Changing our culture at NCVO

NCVO's chief executive Sarah Vibert reflects on the outcomes of independent investigations into complaints submitted to NCVO's board of trustees

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

NCVO's equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work over the last year

NCVO's chief executive Sarah Vibert shares learnings from our EDI report and sets out the actions we're taking to create an inclusive culture that allows everyone to thrive at work

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Inside NCVO

Equity, diversity and inclusion at NCVO: What we need to do next

Karl Wilding, chief executive at NCVO, reflects on his own personal learning journey on equity diversity and inclusion (EDI), as well as how NCVO is taking the first steps towards being a more inclusive organisation

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Inside NCVO

NCVO further strengthens board with two new trustees

NCVO has recruited two charity leaders to its board of trustees, further strengthening and diversifying the skills and experiences of its governing body

  • Inside NCVO

Hardwiring equity, diversity and inclusion into our governance at NCVO

Interim chair of trustees, Anne Heal, reflects on NCVO’s work on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Equity, diversity and inclusion: Our journey so far – part 1

NCVO's equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) working group reflect on the current state of the voluntary sector

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Equity, diversity and inclusion: Our journey so far – part 2

NCVO’s EDI working group share an update on the steps we're taking to improve our organisational culture

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Why apprenticeships are important for the voluntary sector

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2023, Noama Chaudhry shares insights from her apprenticeship at NCVO and offers advice for the wider sector

  • Inside NCVO
  • Employing and managing staff

Some staff reflections on our equity, diversity and inclusion journey so far

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Corporation and income tax

Charities are usually exempt from paying corporation or income tax, but there are some situations where you might become liable

  • Financial management

VAT and charities

When do charities need to consider VAT and what are the exemptions?

  • Financial management

Trading and charities

How to trade as a charity, and what the risks are

  • Financial management

How to set up a trading subsidiary

Charities are allowed to trade under certain circumstances, but if you've decided to develop a trading activity which is not allowed, you'll need to establish a trading subsidiary. Here's how.

  • Financial management

Gift Aid

Gift Aid is a scheme which allows charities to claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated

  • Financial management

Gift aid small donations scheme (GASDS)

GASDS is a top up on small cash donations without using Gift Aid

  • Financial management

Making tax digital

Guidance on complying with with HMRC Making Tax Digital reporting requirements

  • Financial management

Banking guidance for charities

Guidance around when a charity or voluntary organisation needs a bank account, and how to choose one and set it up.

  • Financial management

Financial difficulty and insolvency

Find out about some of the areas to consider when managing financial difficulties and insolvency

  • Financial management

Working through financial challenges

Learn about how to work though helping your organisation manage financial uncertainty

  • Financial management

Safeguarding essentials for trustees (0.5 day)

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

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

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

Small Charity Week 2025 Webinar: Top tips to create an effective fundraising strategy

This free webinar as part of Small Charity Week 2025, will give small charity leaders practical tips to develop and deliver a successful fundraising strategy to ensure the resilience and sustainability of their charity.

Trust fundraising in a challenging climate: Over to you

We know that increased competition for funding, shifting priorities among funders, and economic uncertainty are making trust fundraising more challenging for charities. It’s more important than ever to understand the evolving funding landscape and adapt your approach. This free event is an opportunity to network with other NCVO members in facilitated discussions. Share experiences and challenges, work through solutions together, develop new relationships and learn from your peers.

Leading a thriving organisational culture (1 Day)

This training provides you with the insights, tools, and confidence to evaluate and strengthen your organisation’s culture providing a strong foundation for success.

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

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

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in charity governance (2 x 0.5 days)

This course has been created by The Social Justice Collective to help you understand, address and embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into your governance practice