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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.

Governance round-up: February 2022

  • Governance
  • Law and regulation

Government policy and funding round-up: February 2022

  • Government and politics
  • Funding and income
  • Governance

What can charities learn from the Charity Commission's Kids Company report?

  • Governance
  • Law and regulation

How we delivered a programme evaluation with partners Rocket Science

  • Impact and evaluation
  • Collaboration

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund: What needs to happen next

  • Government and politics
  • Funding and income

Charities must do more than survive, they must change too

  • Business planning and strategy

Levelling up White Paper: What it means for charities and volunteering

  • Government and politics
  • Funding and income
  • Involving volunteers

Volunteering round-up: January 2022

  • Involving volunteers
  • Funding and income
  • Safeguarding

Governance round-up: January 2022

  • Governance

The Road Ahead 2022: Finding a new practicality through uncertain times

  • Law and regulation
  • Government and politics
  • Coronavirus

Managing reputational risks

How to plan ahead for, and manage, safeguarding allegations

  • Safeguarding

Planning for safeguarding in your organisation

Find out about the responsibilities of a volunteer manager and how to plan a safeguarding policy

  • Safeguarding

Recruiting volunteers safely

Guidance for volunteer managers to ensure safeguarding when recruiting volunteers

  • Safeguarding

Safer recruitment principles

Principles for safer recruitment

  • Safeguarding

Creating and advertising the volunteer role

How to create role descriptions and advertise for volunteers

  • Safeguarding

Choosing the right volunteers

Guidance on finding and selecting volunteers

  • Safeguarding

Getting new volunteers started

Guide to welcoming and training new volunteers

  • Safeguarding

Supporting your volunteers

How to provide ongoing support to your volunteers and manage any concerns.

  • Safeguarding

Ending the volunteering relationship

Recognising safeguarding opportunities and risks when a volunteering relationship ends

  • Safeguarding

Managing safeguarding risks

How to manage safeguarding risks at an operational level

  • Safeguarding

Strategic planning: tools for decision making (1 day)

This course will introduce processes and tools to help ensure that decision-making is responsive to your environment and focused on the most important issues affecting your organisation

Advanced data protection (2 x 0.5 days)

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

Volunteers and the law (0.5 day)

This course will help you create a positive and inclusive experience for volunteers. The course will explore best practice in relation to safeguarding, data protection, health and safety, and equality

Successful funding applications (0.5 day)

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

Data protection essentials (2 x 0.5 days)

This course will take you through the essentials of lawful data processing for charities and help improve your compliance with the law

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

Outcomes and impact measurement (1 day)

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

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