Hi Polly UK’s free confidential anonymous helpline for women, girls and anyone who identifies as female ages 13+ is now open. It is a safe place to unburden, find guidance and advice, connecting you to local and national charities/organisations. Call 0808 802 0006 or chat at hipolly.org/chat from midday-4pm Mon-Weds.

The Department of Health and Social Care is offering free PPE (personal protective equipment) for use by voluntary sector organisations. Find out more and complete the form here.

Civil Society have reported that nearly a third of charity leaders do not do not plan to reopen their offices at the end of the coronavirus crisis, a survey of 500 individuals has found. Read the article here.

The Big Give is a registered charity (1136547) and the UK’s #1 match funding platform. We specialise in bringing charities, philanthropists and the public together to multiply their impact. The Big Give has raised over £156m for thousands of great causes through the power of match funding.

We run the Christmas Challenge, an annual match funding campaign which raises millions of pounds for good causes, as well as other match funding campaigns. We also provide a platform for charities to run their own fundraising campaigns.

Vision

The Big Give’s vision is a world in which everyone is connected to causes and inspired to give to them.

Mission

The Big Give’s mission is to provide a platform to promote causes and inspire people to give.

We achieve our mission through:

  • Online match funding campaigns
  • Showcasing charities and their work
  • Providing services which help connect charities, their supporters and philanthropists

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Civil Society have reported that Touchstone, London Funders and the Just a Drop Appeal have been recognised at the Charity Awards this year for the fantastic way each of them responded to the coronavirus pandemic. Find out more here.

SASH stands for Support and Advice on Sexual Health.

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The Charities Bill, announced in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021, proposes several technical, but important, changes to charity law.

What are the key changes?

Here are 5 of the key proposed changes for charities and their trustees:

  • charities and trustees will be able to amend their governing documents or Royal Charters more easily – remaining subject to the Commission and the Privy Council’s approval in certain circumstances
  • charities will have access to a much wider pool of professional advisors on land disposal, and to more straightforward rules on what advice they must receive, which could save them time and money when selling land
  • charities will have more flexibility to make use of a ‘permanent endowment’ – this is money or property originally meant to be held by a charity forever. This includes a change which will allow trustees to borrow a sum of up to 25% of the value of their permanent endowment funds, without the Commission’s approval
  • trustees will be able to be paid for goods provided to a charity in certain circumstances, even if not expressly stated in the charity’s governing document (currently trustees can only be paid for supply of services). From pencils to paint, this will allow charities the flexibility to access goods from trustees when it is in the best interests of the charity (e.g. if cheaper), without needing Commission permission
  • charities will be able to take advantage of simpler and more proportionate rules on failed appeals. For example, if a charity appeal raises too little money, the charity will be able to spend donations below £120 on similar charitable purposes without needing to contact individual donors for permission

When enacted…

When enacted, the changes will ease some of the regulatory pressures on trustees and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. This will enable charities to deliver greater impact for the people and causes they are set up to support.

Given the additional pressures placed on trustees during the pandemic, the changes chime directly with a key objective in Charity Commission’s 2018-2023 strategy, which is to give trustees the tools they need to succeed.

The Commission is preparing to implement these changes as soon as they come into effect, subject to the approval of Parliament.

With Refugee Week taking place in June, a few facts and figures about refugees feels timely.  The following information has been provided by the Refugee Council, and much more can be found on their website: (https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/)

The truth about asylum

The same old myths and scare stories about refugees and people seeking asylum are peddled again and again.  However, if you take a look at the facts and figures below – how often are these accurately reported in the news or on social media?  Help spread the truth about refugees and asylum seekers.

Read on

Civil Society have reported that the recipients of the 2021 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service have been announced, with 241 organisations honoured across the UK. This year’s winners include Bradford Immigration and Asylum Support and Advice Network (BIASAN) and Asylum Link Merseyside, which both provide support for asylum seekers. Read the article here.