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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.

Government policy and funding round-up: January 2023

This round-up will help you to stay informed about our influencing work, and any government policy and funding announcements

  • Funding and income
  • Government and politics

The challenges of charity banking

Banking is often one of the greatest day-to-day challenges faced by charities. Policy and insight manager Sam Mercadante explores the issue in more detail, and shares details of a new NCVO project

  • Financial management

Practical support bulletin: January 2023

Amy Walton, small charity support manager, shares resources, free events, support and information on the big issues affecting small charities.

  • Funding and income
  • Financial management
  • Responding to crises

The Road Ahead 2023: The ongoing impact of cost of living

In the first of our Road Ahead series, we consider what the cost of living crisis could mean for us all in the months ahead

  • Responding to crises

The Road Ahead 2023: Supporting staff, trustees and volunteers

As part of our Road Ahead series, we explore the issues affecting the people at the heart of our organisations

  • Employing and managing staff
  • Governance
  • Involving volunteers

The Road Ahead 2023: Keeping up the pace on equity, diversity and inclusion

In this Road Ahead article, we reflect on our shared commitment to better reflect and engage with the communities we serve

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Road Ahead 2023: Adapting to political change

As part of our Road Ahead series, we consider how the voluntary sector responds to continuing political turbulence

  • Government and politics

The Road Ahead 2023: Responding to new laws and regulations

In the last of our Road Ahead series, we shine a spotlight on new laws and regulations that may affect you

  • Law and regulation

The Big Help Out: Why it matters and how to get involved

What you need to know about the Big Help Out: a campaign to get more people volunteering

  • Involving volunteers

Impact round-up: Winter 2023

Evaluation consultant Carol Jennions looks at wellbeing evaluation and shares useful resources alongside some exciting new training opportunities

  • Impact and evaluation

Campaigning in collaboration

Guidance to help voluntary organisations collaborate on campaigns

  • Collaboration

Structures for consortia delivery of public service delivery

Explore three models of consortia delivery of public services by voluntary and community organisations

  • Collaboration

Working together to achieve your mission

This page looks at how organisations collaborate on the projects that directly contribute to their overall mission

  • Collaboration

Sharing back office services

Advice on how organisations can use collaborative working to share premises and back office services

  • Collaboration

Staffing a collaborative project

Things to consider when staffing a collaborative project

  • Collaboration

National organisations with local groups

How organisations with a national body and local groups can work together

  • Collaboration

Collaborative working to generate income

Guidance on fundraising through the gift economy (public giving, voluntary donations) and the open market (trading)

  • Collaboration

Why be part of a consortium?

Reasons for forming a consortium and examples of voluntary sector consortia

  • Collaboration

Consortium operating models

The different ways that voluntary organisations can work together collectively to bid for and deliver public service contracts

  • Collaboration

The stages of consortium development

Step-by-step guidance to help voluntary organisations develop a consortium

  • Collaboration

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

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

Outcomes and impact measurement (1 day)

Learn how to create an evaluation plan to better understand and demonstrate the difference your work makes

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

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

NCVO/Zurich webinar: Developing and embedding effective risk assessments for volunteers

Join us for an essential webinar on creating and embedding effective risk assessments to protect your volunteers and those they support

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

Tools and methods for measuring outcomes (1 day)

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

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

Recruiting volunteers (0.5 day)

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