Andy Jackson FRSA

Legacy Futures' new report Building Better Futures in Legacy Fundraising is out now, available to download for FREE. We're pleased to have contributed to this important report, which explores the recruitment and retention crisis facing the legacy sector and provides strategic and practical recommendations that charities could take to help overcome the challenges. Read more and download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gfxT9MVD #Legacy #Fundraising #Recruitment #Report

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The article begins by exploring the transformative impact of the pandemic on the dynamics between parents, children, and schools, signaling a profound shift in attitudes and relationships within the educational landscape. This initial framing sets a comprehensive backdrop, underscoring the changes and challenges arising from COVID-19's widespread disruptions. However, as the narrative unfolds, the focus shifts to the role of local authorities in facilitating connections between schools and families. This shift emphasises the importance of local government support mechanisms but somewhat diverges from a broader examination of evolving relationships in the post-pandemic era. This discrepancy is key to understanding the complexities of the post-pandemic educational landscape, highlighting the need for schools to build stronger relationships with parents and children. In my experience, the pandemic greatly impacted the relationship between schools and parents. The usual communication channels weren't enough anymore. Parents were anxious, and children faced new stressors. We needed to find new ways to connect with families on a deeper level, often through personal outreach and direct communication. This more personal approach helped to rebuild trust and redefine our relationships with families. During this period, I was struck by the resilience of our school teams, who, under the leadership of our governors and senior staff, had to make quick decisions with limited guidance from the government. It wasn't just about following rules—it was about creating a sense of community during a time of uncertainty. The article discusses the role of local authorities, and while that's important, my experience showed that the strength to navigate these challenges comes from within the school and the connections we created and developed with our local communities and organisations. By focusing on these local relationships, we were able to create a more inclusive and responsive environment for our children and young people. As we move forward, the key to building a successful school community is creating a sense of belonging and trust. It's about nurturing a culture where everyone feels valued, collaboration is encouraged, and support is freely given. This localised approach not only strengthens the school community but also creates a supportive environment where children can thrive. In conclusion, while local authorities play a role in supporting schools, the real foundation for success lies in the relationships built within the school community. By focusing on these local connections, schools can create a resilient and adaptable environment that benefits everyone involved. This approach will ultimately help our children and families receive the education and support they need to succeed. #together #support #relationships #families #schools #local

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Free AI workshops for charities snd non profits. Do you run or work for a charity? We want to help train your staff on the use of AI for tasks like fundraising, reporting Not affiliated with a charity but want to help? Comment / share this post for reach. Thanks! #ai #charity #nonprofit #goodvibes #chatgpt Prince’s Trust

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Do you work with young people that are interested in social action? The #iwill Fund, which supports the #iwill Movement, works with young people across England to make a real difference. They’ve created a handy resource centre with lots of useful guides to help you get started on your youth social action journey, including top tips for involving underrepresented groups and how to make youth social action more accessible. Save and share! https://ow.ly/AETE50TkbS4

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Navigating the world of funding can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. GrantFinder is your gateway to over 7,500 funding opportunities, with access to top funders across the UK. Whether you're a charity, local authority, or small community group, GrantFinder helps you find the right grant for your project. This week, GrantFinder focuses on Wales, where funding opportunities are available to support the heart of local communities. The first grant we’re highlighting is from Community Foundation Wales and is specifically for small, volunteer-driven organisations in Wales. This funding aims to support projects that strengthen local communities by delivering on several key outcomes including improving people's chances in life, building stronger communities and improving rural and urban environments. However, GrantFinder does more than provide a list of funding opportunities. It filters through thousands of options to find the most relevant grants based on your organisation's needs and goals. Our database features grants from top funders, so you know you’re accessing the best opportunities out there. Ready to find out more about this week’s Welsh funding opportunity or explore others? GrantFinder has the tools you need to make the process quick and straightforward. With over 7,500 grants in our database, there’s sure to be something to help your organisation grow. Contact us today for a free demo. https://lnkd.in/eAc_vpMZ #GrantFinder #CharityFunding

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Great to hear the new UK government is bringing in education legislation to promote student wellbeing! This is the time for schools and colleges to introduce programmes like Persona Life Skills from Persona Education that help to boost wellbeing during the crucial teenage years and prepare young people for life after school ⤵ #studentwellbeing #studentmentalhealth #schoolleaders

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Strategic Planning for Voluntary Organisations 📅 Tuesday 24th September 2024 | Online | 9:30am - 12:30pm Free for Cambridgeshire-based organisations. This session will help voluntary organisations manage increased costs, decreased funding, and rising demand by developing clear strategies. Learn how to make better use of resources, communicate your purpose, and build a unified team. Ideal for trustees, committee members, or managers, this training covers the importance of strategic planning, tools for creating a strategy, and actionable next steps. Link - https://zurl.co/tBUf

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Great study on microaggressions against mental health lived experience experts/peer support specialists in the workplace. Findings: “The content of microaggressions fell into two domains: 1) negative messages about the nature of having a mental illness and disclosing this information to others and 2) negative messages about the role of peer support specialists.” Impact: “Peers’ responses to microaggressions included: feeling isolated, seeking social support, employing coping strategies, and demonstrating resiliency and increased motivation to do peer work. Some peers, however, also reported leaving positions due to these experiences. Findings indicate that microaggressions are a common experience for peer support specialists that can have detrimental impact on their sense of self and role as mental health specialists.” So much research says lived experience expertise is a best practice for community-driven change and support, yet we continue to see microaggressions and discrimination against folks with lived experience across many fields. Shout out to the team who conducted this research and to the amazing leaders out there who are cultivating healthier, safer work environments for lived experience experts, and in turn, everyone.

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Would you like to share your strategic skills with some of the UKs most exciting small charity leaders and social entrepreneurs? Are you an experienced professional who enjoys defining and articulating strategy? If so, we would love you to join us as a Strategic Applicant Consultant. Consultants are at the front line of The Fore’s assessment process during each funding round. They help us to identify and advise the best charities and social enterprises for whom funding and strategic support could unlock transformational impact. Useful info: - Consultants typically have 10 years+ experience in business, public or non-profit sector senior leadership positions. - No previous grant experience is required, and we encourage applications from a range of backgrounds. - A total of 8-10 days of remote work spread over a 12-week funding round period. - Low-bono model- stipend paid per application assessed. - Training provided. Join our info session on 11th September to hear more. Sign up here: https://buff.ly/3SCxq9e Joining us will be Jane Rich, Founder of Cambridge Community Arts, a charity we funded in 2022. She will share her experience of working with a consultant during The Fore's assessment process to bring to life how you can have a massive impact on small charities with lots of potential. #smallcharities #socialchange #socialjustice #funding #socialenterprise #charities #inequality #grantmaking

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Have you read our Social Mobility Toolkit? Click here to access it: https://lnkd.in/epSw5dGX This ‘Levelling the playing field - How to break the link between background and opportunity’ Toolkit has been created to offer practical help and assistance to proactive organisations seeking to improve socio-economic diversity in the workplace. The asset shows the most common barriers to data collection A few key themes are: Disjointed efforts in the industry, legal and operational barriers, lack of well-defined roles and accountabilities, lack of understanding of commercial case, inadequate people systems and technology, no connect with why this is important, and distrust and apathy. Want to learn more? Download the toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/epSw5dGX #WhatWorks #SocialMobility #LevellingThePlayingField David Aujla Rachel Allan James Whiteman Adriana Weber

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📢 Last chance to book your place on our course, ‘Creating a theory of change for your charity’. A theory of change is a popular tool that can help you: 🔹 Plan and communicate what you do 🔹 Support your monitoring and evaluation 🔹 Articulate the changes your organisation wants to make 🔹 Connect these changes with the activities you’re planning Register for our course to learn how to create your own theory of change and narrative: https://lnkd.in/eeDK4egy

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What an incredible Parentkind - Education Policy Institute panel this morning. Much gratitude to an amazing panel of experts, including: Labour MP Natasha Irons MP , Jim Knight, Multi Academy Trust CEO Matthew Shanks FCCT and education reporter Connie Dimsdale from the ‘I’. Also to the amazing James Zuccollo for chairing the event. A full room of more than 70 addressed the topic of 'How to change our curriculum so that children enjoy learning again'. Parentkind research shows that almost half of children are bored by school! With the curriculum and the way we assess it largely to blame. Enjoying school might once have been taken for granted but for today’s youngpeople school has become a chore. It's vitally important that we address why children see school as a chore and why so many see such little value in school that they no longer attend. We’re pushing the government to make school enjoyment a priority in any shake up of the way we do school and how we assess learning. Our packed event at the Labour Party conference tells us it isn’t just parents who take this seriously. Children who enjoy school have better attendance, behaviour and attainment, but evidence from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) shows that happiness falls as children get older, with significant long term consequences. Last year’s National Parent Survey found uncovered a big drop in children enjoying school when it came to children at secondary school. Parentkind is leading the debate on school enjoyment because parents tell us it matters to them. In a special poll of parents, we commissioned before the General Election, 80 per cent of parents told us they would back a politician who said how much children enjoy school is just as important as a school’s exam results. A packed room saw questions including the pressure on teachers, a packed curriculum, the exam treadmill and the gulf between primary and secondary school as well as issues around SEND and managing behaviour. There are signs the new government is listening, with the announcement of a major curriculum and assessment review likely to look at how to make the curriculum more engaging for young people who say they are bored by school. We’re going to push the review to be really radical and talk about school enjoyment as a priority. Later this year we will be putting together our own response to the curriculum and assessment review and will make the case for changing the way we do school so children can look forward to school once again. Our policy work is informed by parents and we will be speaking to parents about their priorities and asking experts to help us make the case for a reformed school day that children can look forward to.  

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The UK Autumn Budget 2024 introduced crucial social initiatives aimed at enhancing welfare and addressing inequality. These measures are designed to foster long-term social stability and economic resilience in the face of ongoing challenges. In this blog our consultant, Bindi Jacob, has provided a summary of the key social impact initiatives and implications businesses need to consider. #socialimpact #sustainability #mentalhealth #inequality https://lnkd.in/eCsiwnmX

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This week, we're excited to share our collaboration with Southdown, the largest not-for-profit care, support, and housing provider in Sussex, to bring their inspiring Southdown Beacon framework to life. 🏡 🎯 The Challenge: Southdown needed an eLearning module that was as inspiring, positive, and supportive as their Southdown Beacon framework. They wanted something visually engaging yet easy to use, ensuring all colleagues could connect with the material. 🛠 Our Solution: We worked closely with Southdown to create a bespoke eLearning module using our development framework. The module guides learners through each "beam" of the Beacon, featuring real-people videos, client and tenant quotes, and practical examples. We ensured the learning experience was deeply connected to the real world by encouraging learners to reflect and bring their insights into their next supervision. 🏆 The Results: The result is a visually serene and optimistic module that perfectly encapsulates the values of Southdown Beacon. The peaceful landscape illustrations, a favourite with the client, capture the essence of how the Beacon aims to make people feel. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with colleagues finding the module inspirational and deeply engaging, reminding them why they do the work they do. 💕 We loved working on this project, showcasing how thoughtful eLearning design can reinforce and elevate organisational values. #elearning #elearningdesign #onlinelearning #learninganddevelopment #bespoke #bespokeelearning #successstories

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Don't let your charity miss out on the transformative power of legacy fundraising! Only a week to go before Launch Day of our upcoming Legacy Programme workshop series. 🚀 Get hands-on experience and practical strategies to boost your legacy pipeline—and ensure your organisation’s future success. ▶ ▶ A Growing Trend: Legacy Giving is the only fundraising income stream projecting upward trends. ▶ ▶ Sustainable Income Source: Legacy gifts provide a stable and long-term income stream, which is crucial for small charities that often face financial uncertainty. ▶ ▶ Amplifies Impact: Even a single legacy gift can have a transformative effect on a small charity's operations. ▶ ▶ Lower Fundraising Costs: Legacy fundraising often has a lower cost compared to other forms of fundraising. Once a legacy is secured, the return on investment can be substantial! ▶ ▶ Engages Loyal Donors: Legacy fundraising allows small charities to engage deeply with their most loyal supporters, often resulting in stronger relationships and more significant lifetime giving. Studies show that legacy pledgers tend to give twice as much during their lifetimes. --- Join us and unlock the full potential of Legacy Fundraising! ▶ ▶ ▶ https://lnkd.in/eWxsqD2z We hope to see you there! Emma Low Emma-Louise Singh MCIOF(AdvDip) #HelpingSmallCharitiesShineBrighter #SmallButMighty #LegacyGifts #GiftsInWills #LegacyFundraising #SmallCharitySupport #BuildYourLegacyProgramme

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Our first mission focuses on supporting #neurodiversity in Warwickshire, a cause that promises to deliver significant economic and societal benefits. With over 200,000 neurodiverse individuals in the county, our initiatives aim to empower this community, providing them with the tools and support they need to thrive. By positively impacting just 20% of these individuals, we project a transformative economic uplift of £7 billion over the next decade. This isn't just about helping neurodiverse individuals; it's about boosting the local economy, strengthening Warwickshire, and creating a ripple effect of prosperity throughout the region and the UK. The Social Impact Academy is committed to reducing unemployment among neurodiverse individuals, a strategy that promises to yield substantial economic and societal returns. Integrating our initiatives into (ESG) Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting allows companies to showcase their commitment to social responsibility while reaping significant financial rewards. This alignment promises not just short-term gains but also long-term sustainable growth and societal benefits, making Warwickshire a beacon of inclusive excellence. By leveraging our deep local ties and a comprehensive approach to social impact, we envision a future where Warwickshire leads the way in embracing and celebrating neurodiversity. Our efforts provide a powerful case for stakeholders and potential investors, underscoring the transformative potential of our mission. As we embark on this noble journey, we invite you to join us in making a lasting difference, not just in Warwickshire but across the UK, one community at a time. #NetZero #nuerodiversity #Inclusion #innovation https://lnkd.in/dqmFu9b9

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