The £16.5 million Youth Covid-19 Support Fund is open to grassroots youth clubs, uniformed youth groups, and national youth and umbrella organisations in England, to help to mitigate the impact of lost income during the winter period due to the coronavirus pandemic, and ensure services providing vital support can remain open. The deadline for applications is 12th February at 5pm. Find out more.
Knowing how to communicate and promote your organisation during a global pandemic can be tough. Fear not, DSC have a range of courses which will give you the skills you need to do it with confidence.
Business Writing Skills – Thursday 4 February
Write with confidence in an appropriate style and communicate clearly and concisely. Sign up here.
Communications and Branding – Monday 15 March
Public benefit organisations need to appeal to, and engage with, many stakeholders and good communications is vital as it impacts on every facet of an organisation. This course will take you through communications and branding for your organisation. Sign up here.
Fundraising with Digital Marketing – Friday 23 April
If you are seeking to develop your marketing expertise and knowledge and expand your donor reach, then this course is for you. Sign up here.
Nominations are live for the SMK National Campaigner Awards 2021.
SMK are hosting the National Campaigner Awards. Last year it was hosted digitally allowing thousands of people to join in on the celebrations. This year they are doing the same thing.
Can you help find those who have made change happen most effectively & courageously?
Nominate them here: https://smk.org.uk/what-we-do/awards/
Deadline for nominations is: Tuesday 2nd February 2021.
As we are getting back into the full swing of 2021, the FSI would like to keep you updated with some news and opportunities to support you and your charity to start the new year right.
Survive and Thrive 2021
Charity excellence framework has had a major upgrade to provide the free tools, help and support charities need to manage the charity crisis. Survive & Thrive gives you the tools, help and support you need to make 2021 a great year for your charity, despite the crisis; everything is free. See here more more details.
Free 90-minute Webinars for small charities
Don’t miss out our January 90-minute webinar sessions from 20th to 22nd January. The topics will include: Project Management, Risk Management and Digital Fundraising. These are all free to our charity members thanks to National Lottery Community Fund, click here to book a place.
Free 2-day National Online Charity training event
The FSI has just launched our latest 2-day online national training event on 9th and 10th February, offering over 180 free training places so that our small charities members, wherever they are, can access the skills they need to become self-sustaining. Choose from 9 interactive full and half-day webinars covering popular topics such as: Capital Campaigns, Stewardship, Fundraising Strategy and Digital Fundraising. Click here to secure a place.
VCSEs: Winning Central Government Contracts and the New Social Value Model
This free online event, hosted by VCSE Crown Representative Claire Dove CBE, is aimed at VCSE organisations interested in finding out more about the new Social Value Model and the opportunities it brings to the sector. Click here for dates and more details
New E-learning course and Bursary places available for International Development members
To celebrate the launch of our new E-Learning course, focusing on ‘Major Donor’, the FSI are offering 25 bursary places for 25 international development charities to access this interactive online course entirely free of charge. In order to be eligible for this opportunity your charity must be an International Development organisation who is also FSI member and have an annual turnover of less than £250,000. To apply please click here.
New £4m fund for charities and community groups tackling loneliness
Local Connections Fund is now open for application from charities and community interest groups that are working to help social isolation across their communities. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and The National Lottery Community Fund are investing £2 million each. This will be used to fund hundreds of ‘microgrants’ between £300 and £2,500, so small, local organisations. See here for more details on how to apply.
Community Business Renewal Fund now open for application
Power to Change has launched the Community Business Renewal Initiative, in response to the COVID-19 crisis and this £3million Community Business Renewal Fund is part of this support package for the community business sector. Application will be closed on 19th January. Click here for more details on how to apply.
Small Charity Guide to Cyber Security
It’s more important than ever to ensure your charity is as protected as possible from cybercrime threats and fraud. A good place to start is the National Cyber Security Centre’s Small Charity Guide. Click here to access the guide.
When: Thursday, 22nd April 2021 Where: The Royal National Hotel, London Time: 08:30 – 16:35
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH: RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS
COVID-19 has intensified dislocation amongst campus communities, propelled healthcare students onto the front line of a global pandemic and upended traditional teaching models; but it will pass – and when it does, preexisting issues will resurface compounded. This conference will break-down the cultures, economic factors, social and institutional pressures that contributed to dramatic rises in disclosures of mental health issues and student suicides at universities in the UK – providing delegates with the knowledge and tools to ensure that students return to campuses better equipped after the pandemic.
Mental Heath is a big problem for many right now. Please click on the link for a useful list of Mental Health Organisations
The fourth episode of Carers Network’s new podcast series is live and available to stream and download here:
https://carers-network.org.uk/new-podcast-episode/
In this episode, Carers Network’s Services Manager Sandie Roberts talks to Sharon Hammond, Project Manager for Working For Carers at Camden Carers.
Working For Carers supports unpaid carers and former carers in London, who are aged 25 or over, to move closer to employment. Carers can access free support, which is tailored to meet individual needs.
They discuss how the project helps to support local unpaid carers along with the impact the pandemic has had on employment opportunities and how they deliver their services.
Other episodes in the podcast series can be accessed here.
Refer to Carers Network securely online:
Refer any unpaid carers you are working with who are over 18 and looking after an adult here
This Government scheme temporarily increases data allowances for mobile phone users on certain networks. This is so that children and young people can access remote education if their face-to-face education is disrupted.
Who can get help
Schools, trusts and local authorities can request mobile data increases for children and young people who:
• do not have fixed broadband at home
• cannot afford additional data for their devices
• are experiencing disruption to their face-to-face education
Children with access to a mobile phone on one of the following networks might be able to benefit:
Three
Smarty
Virgin Mobile
EE
Tesco Mobile
Sky Mobile
Other providers may join the scheme at a later stage.
When help is available
Schools, trusts and local authorities can request mobile data increases when schools report a closure or have pupils self-isolating. Schools, trusts and local authorities need to submit mobile information through the Government online service. Click here for instructions on submission
How to use an Xbox or PlayStation for Online Learning
Click here for guide
Not for profit organisations such as community organisations, charities, schools and social enterprises in England can apply for grants of over £10,000 for up to five years to develop a more strategic approach to improving their community by developing and growing new and existing partnerships. During the current Coronavirus crisis, The National Lottery Community Fund will support people and communities most adversely impacted by COVID-19. Support is available to continue to deliver activity to existing users, responding to the immediate crisis or undertaking recovery activity and to change and adapt, becoming more resilient in order to respond to new and future challenges. Applications can be submitted at any time. Click here
