Rob Woods

If you are mulling over #tlevels industry placements, you will already know you will need to take colleagues on the journey with you, this webinar can really help you pull together the relevant business case justifications to support your internal conversations.

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*** 2024 GRANT FUNDING NOW OPEN *** Cornwall Women's Fund is now accepting applications for our 2024 grant funding! We aim to support community projects in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly supporting women’s mental health. For this round of funding projects with a focus on perinatal mental health will be given preferential consideration. In 2021, a team from Oxford University undertook in-depth research into the needs of women and girls across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. They considered existing research where it was available and interviewed charity and community leaders, and women from across the county to get a true picture of what really mattered to them and which areas it was difficult to find funding for. (Read the report here: https://bit.ly/3QLpgdv) One of the 4 key areas in their report “Understanding what matters to women and girls in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly” was women and girls mental health, identifying a particular lack of support for those accessing perinatal mental health services. Our Members have voted the area of Women and Girls Mental Health for our 2024 grant funding and we are now accepting applications. Grants range from £500 to a maximum of £1,000 Our grants are administered by Cornwall Community Foundation and you can find more information and details of how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/gY3Ryzy

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*** 2024 GRANT FUNDING NOW OPEN *** Cornwall Women's Fund is now accepting applications for our 2024 grant funding! We aim to support community projects in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly supporting women’s mental health. For this round of funding projects with a focus on perinatal mental health will be given preferential consideration. In 2021, we worked with a team from Oxford University that undertook in-depth research into the needs of women and girls across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. They considered existing research where it was available and interviewed charity and community leaders, and women from across the county to get a true picture of what really mattered to them and which areas it was difficult to find funding for. One of the 4 key areas in their report “Understanding what matters to women and girls in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly” was women and girls mental health, identifying a particular lack of support for those accessing perinatal mental health services. Our Members have voted the area of Women and Girls Mental Health for our 2024 grant funding and we are now accepting applications. Grants range from £500 to a maximum of £1,000 Our grants are administered by Cornwall Community Foundation and you can find more information and details of how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/e_ECFKh4 #funding #grant #cornwall #womenandgirls #mentalhealth #givingcircle

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This is deeply alarming - The impact of the NIC rise on charities is estimated at £1.4bn annually. This comes at a time when charities are already stretched to their limits, grappling with escalating demands for their services while battling declining donations and rising operational costs. Finding money to cover NIC increases will mean reducing the spending on services. Without urgent action, the very survival of many charities will hang in the balance. Who knows when you will need the support of a charity but more than likely you will. Approximately 90% of UK households will use the services of a charity at some point in their lives. Let's hope they still exist when you need them. NCVO and ACEVO, co-signed by 7,361 charities and voluntary organisations, have issued a joint letter to the chancellor outlining their concerns for the sector. You can read more at https://lnkd.in/eGiWrNBc

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Why has Relationship Fundraising failed? I'm back with another episode of Two Ps on a Pod with Giles Pegram CBE, and one of my favourite fundraisers, Ken Burnett. In today's episode you'll see we chat about the brand-new edition of Ken’s fantastic book on donor-centred fundraising, Relationship Fundraising. You can watch the full conversation on YouTube... https://lnkd.in/eE7wS-ng But the attached video will give you a taster. You'll see that we don't tell Ken how brilliant the book is (it is brilliant). Instead, we look critically at why Relationship Fundraising has failed! After all, there are very few significant charities that practice it today. Despite evidence supporting Relationship Fundraising as the sole long-term strategy guaranteed to boost lifetime and legacy giving, its widespread adoption seems to have been hindered by the delayed realisation of its benefits. This means that the new broom or innovation FOMO syndrome can easily destroy its impact, way before the rewards are felt. But I can vouch for Relationship Fundraising. Over Bluefrog’s history, we have seen the benefits of implementing it for many of our long-term clients. Even at times of crisis (pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and economic downturns) we have been able to grow income for charities that follow its guidelines. I have also seen what happens when innovations or rebrands are introduced without giving thought to donors' needs. That’s when we see income stagnate and go into decline – even in the face of increased spending. The fact is it takes about two years for a “new creative or strategic direction” to have a significant negative impact on a previously well-run relationship fundraising programme. That’s enough time for the collective memory in the charity to grow dim and fuzzy, loosening the ties to the original strategy as decline is now accepted as the ‘new normal’. What usually follows is a series of lurches from one new creative solution to another as a charity tries to regain the growth that was once taken for granted. If you’ve read the first or second edition of Relationship Fundraising, there is plenty of new insight in the new volume. Ken focuses on the donor experience and covers my favourite area of fundraising – thanking. He also takes a deeper strategic view, as you’ll hear in our conversation, where he considers the importance of developing a strong and supportive organisational culture. You can buy a copy of Relationship Fundraising through Ken’s website – kenburnett.com or you can get a free copy by answering Giles' question, which you’ll find towards the end of the main YouTube video. Answer in the comments or email Giles at [email protected] or Mark at [email protected]. We’ll announce the winner at the end of September. I mention the fundraiser’s promise in the video, which can be found here https://lnkd.in/eg9WZR-J Happy fundraising! #fundraising #relationshipfundraising

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What Needs to Change Scotland doesn’t need more reports like this. What we need is action, grounded in truth and driven by accountability. Here’s what must happen: Complete the Data: Every treatment provider, including residential rehabs, must be mandated to report. No more gaps. No more excuses. Don't pay them if they dont provide it ! Measure Recovery: Track real outcomes—abstinence, employment, family reunification. Show us who’s helping people moving beyond addiction and how they’re doing it. Tackle Regional Disparities: Stop hiding behind national averages. Expose the inequalities between regions and address them head-on. Bring in Lived Experience: Don’t just pay lip service to those in recovery. Listen to them. Let their insights shape the system. Link Data to Policy: Make it crystal clear how every intervention is—or isn’t—working. Hold policymakers accountable for results.

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TOY TRUST GRANTS The Toy Trust generally awards small grants under £5,000 to "such charity or charities or charitable purposes connected with children as they (the trustees) shall in their absolute discretion decide". In exceptional circumstances, the Trust also makes donations to any crisis involving children which require an immediate response. In addition to the smaller grants made by the Trust throughout the year, the Trust's committee can decide to award a larger grant to one or a small number of charities in conjunction with the Trust's annual fundraising events. Applying charities working overseas must have a UK office (applications are not accepted from overseas offices). Grants are available for equipment and services for smaller UK charities working to help disadvantaged children aged under 13 years of age and their families to: o Alleviate suffering. o Bolster existing initiatives. o Encourage achievement through adversity. o Initiate brand new projects. o Provide care. o Purchase vital equipment. o Satisfy basic needs, and o Support children through awful experiences. Projects should: o Be in support of children and projects regardless of faith, sex or disability. o Run for a minimum of 12 months, and o Show real benefit for relieving hardship and suffering to beneficiaries. All grant awards of £2,500 and over are listed on page 14 of the Trust’s annual accounts. The Trust meets 4 times each year to review applications. The deadlines are: 1. Mid-February for its March meeting. 2. Mid-June for its July meeting. 3. Mid-August for its August meeting, and 4. Mid-November for its December meeting. The next application deadline is therefore on Friday 16th August 2024. Further information, guidance and details about how to apply for a grant is available on the Trust’s website. Contact details for the Trust are: Tracey Butcher Charity Coordinator British Toy and Hobby Association 142-144 Long Lane London SE1 4BS Tel: 020 7701 7271 Email: [email protected] Thank you, to @GRIN SW LLP who shared this opportunity, in their daily grant bulletin. Contact @Heaward Solutions for help to make an application. #grant #fundraising #charity #youngpeople

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Why are some large charities struggling with their IG fundraising? Are they going the way of the dinosaurs? That's the question that I'm looking at today, with the help, as usual, of a box of lego - and a brand new contraption. I have a presentation that I've given a few times recently that looks at what is happening to giving. I highlight the £3.5 billion hole we are facing compared to 2005, but show that It's impact doesn't apply equally across all charities. It often shocks my audiences that some of the charities that are struggling the most are some of the biggest brands in the sector. If you compare income between 2016 and 2022, looking at inflation adjusted IG/DM numbers from annual reports, you'll find it's quite common for income to be 40% down. Sometimes more. In todays's video, I'm sharing anonymised data that shows what's happening to some struggling charities. Then I'm comparing their numbers to those achieved by some named charities - such as MSF, Shelter, Alzheimer's Society and UNHCR – who are seeing significant growth. I then highlight four issues that could be responsible for the disparities in growth rates. 1. Branding that focuses on visual and descriptive elements and ignores the experience of being a supporter (there's nothing wrong with great branding - but make sure it involves the donor). 2. An unbalanced supporter portfolio where recruitment has failed to engage the donors who have most ability to give over the long-term. 3. Forgetting the fundamentals of fundraising in favour of a focus on innovation. 4. Not staying relevant and remaining unresponsive to how donors needs states have morphed over the years since the pandemic. If you'd like to undertake your own research into what's happening for some charities that you admire - or would like to copy – you can get hold of their annual reports with numbers going back to 2017 by visiting the Charity Commission website – https://lnkd.in/eeJb7bEU And you can use the Bank of England Inflation calculator to work out the impact of inflation on their numbers – https://lnkd.in/eteqeKB6 As ever, if you'd like to chat in more detail about our research into why donors are switching the charities they support and why they are stopping – or giving more, please drop me a line at [email protected]. #fundraising #fundraisingstrategy

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What are the small things which could revolutionise the charity board room? How about: 🙂 Paying trustee out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. travel to meetings) as standard 🙂 Recruiting trustees openly 🙂 The expectation that trustees should get some training (and then helping them to get it) 🙂 Good inductions 🙂 Having trustee terms and using them religiously 🙂 Chairs equipping excellent contributions from trustees 🙂 Positively welcoming debate Common sense? But are they common practice...? For those interested in this topic, we have a free webinar on Monday 24th June for Small Charities Week to discuss the small changes which might make the difference between an engaged and effective board and one which, well, isn't... Jumara Stone, Shaminder Rai and Catherine Hemingway will talk about the changes they made on their boards, and me, Colette Harrison and Laura Lowther will talk about how small changes can make boards (and volunteering as a trustee) more interesting, engaging and inclusive. Event details in the comments.

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You might think that email newsletters are full of content that doesn’t apply to you - but if you’re a carer, or involved with carers in any way, our Carer’s Collective newsletter won’t be more of the same.    Our monthly newsletter is packed with information on programmes and webinars you can attend, forums that are near you and relatable stories and bits of information that may just inspire you. Join our community of dedicated parent-carers and get exclusive insights and practical advice delivered straight to your inbox, as well as all the news on our latest offerings to help you manage stress and beat burnout.  We write our newsletters from a Carer’s perspective and write what YOU want to hear. We know it will soon be your favourite 10 minute monthly read.   If you’d like to sign up then follow this link -  https://lnkd.in/e6-3Ncz3   If there are any topics you would like to see us cover in the following months' newsletters then please let us know in the comments!   Happy reading! #Newsletter #MonthlyNewsletter #Carers #CaringForCarers

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The Skills England report published last month illustrates the difficulty that officials and their advisors have with reconciling early 20th Century Fabian/Haldane planning mindsets with the 21st Century pace of change and the need to harness the full diversity of human talent, not just traditional filtering for memory and logic - "which any properly programmed computer can handle". The challenges of educating for an AI-driven world were identified over 40 years ago. See "Learning for Change", put on-line for me by the Oxford Internet Institute in 2010. Albeit we used the terms "Intelligent systems" and "Machine Learning" and the "systems" often needed air-conditioned mainframes to drive them. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Better Hiring Institute (BHI) TechSkills.org Skills England Labour Digital WCIT Financial Services Technology Panel Real Time Club Digital Policy Alliance Digital Leaders https://lnkd.in/efSqwmEZ

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Small Charity Leaders: It's Time to Invest in Yourself! 💚 As leaders of small charities, we're often so focused on serving others that we forget to invest in ourselves, and goodness knows we (probably) don't have a professional development budget?! But here's the truth: when we prioritise the growth and development of our people, we become even more effective at serving our communities. That's why I created Small Charity Essentials—an online, self-paced course designed specifically for small charity leaders. With six comprehensive modules covering everything from governance to fundraising, you'll gain the knowledge and skills you need to lead with confidence and make a lasting impact. This course is different to my Small Charity Leaders Club. Small Charity Essentials is for folks who perhaps can't commit to a live cohort, who need to navigate a course at their own pace, or who need a lighter-touch programme. And at £295 it's the most affordable way to work with me. With lifetime access, you (and your team) can continue learning as I add updates the course in years to come. Learn more and grab your copy here: https://lnkd.in/eXRdTASZ #SmallCharityLeadership

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Does your charity have established public fundraising income streams? Are you seeing a worrying decline in your income generation results? Or does it just feel like there’s a lot at stake over the coming months (particularly from your planned Q3 activities, because this is such an important income generation period for many charities)? Perhaps you'd benefit from a fresh perspective and expert support to make sure your fundraising activities over Q3 are optimal. I can help you identify: - Where your untapped opportunities are (quick wins and longer-term gains) - Where small changes to existing activities will increase your net income now - Where you can focus your resources to increase your return on investment (in the short, medium, and long-term) I have very limited availability over the summer to support charities who want an expert review of their public fundraising plans and activities in time to ensure the best possible results during quarter three of this financial year (and benefits to your longer-term income generation). This can be across any of these income streams: - Individual giving - Prize led giving - In memory giving - Events fundraising - Community fundraising - Trading / e-commerce I love sharing the experience I've gleaned over 25+ years working in public fundraising, across more than 120 charities, on hundreds of appeals and campaigns, to help the charities I work with achieve far better results than they thought possible. My flexible way of working means there's always ways you can access my expertise and support that fit with your budgets and team structure. But we'll need to get started soon to make sure your Q3 fundraising results are the best they can possibly be in this challenging climate. So, if you want to raise thousands more in unrestricted income and re-engage hundreds or thousands more of your supporters in the process, ping me a DM and we can book a free exploratory call while there's still time to get your ducks in a row. (Please note, it's highly unlikely any ducks will feature - unless your charity's mission includes ducks) #fundraising #PublicFundraising #IndividualGiving #Results #IncomeGeneration #Q3

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THE MARMOT CHARITABLE TRUST GRANTS UP TO £25,000 While the charitable objects of the Marmot Charitable Trust are to make grants for general charitable purposes at the discretion of its trustees, it places a strong emphasis on funding green initiatives that are working towards a sustainable future, as well as peace and security actions that seek to reduce international conflict including by the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. Grants are available to UK registered charities working in the UK and/or overseas. The Trust, which is a member of the Association of Charitable Foundations and the Environmental Funders Network, has decided to spend out over the next 2-3 years with a view to ending its grant-making. During the year ended 5 April 2023, the Trust awarded 29 grants totalling £368,464 (2022: £326,750). Awards ranged from £250 to £25,000 (to several charities) with an average grant size of approximately £12,706. Grants made were categorised against the following headings: o Environmental Sustainability: £247,300. o Peace and Security: £90,414, and o Other: £30,750. All grant recipients are listed on pages 10 and 11 of the Trust’s annual accounts. Grants made appear to indicate a preference for charitable organisations with a national or international reach rather than for local causes. The trust does not have a website. Further information is, available on the Charity Commission website. The Trustees meet twice annually to review policy and governance issues and make decisions about grants. Where appropriate fast track decisions on grant applications are made between meetings. Applications may be made at any time in writing, addressed to: Bevis Gillett Secretary The Marmot Charitable Trust BM Marmot London WC1N 3XX Thank you, to @GRIN SW LLP who shared this opportunity, in their daily bulletin. Please contact @Heaward Solutions if you need support to make an application. #grants #fundraising #sustainability #peace #security #charity

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Yay! - this self-assessment tool for all charities and social enterprises is now live. It’s been labour of love to develop with Eastside People People colleagues. It’s an exciting addition to the charity leader’s toolkit - at least we think so! Regardless of where organisations are on their Environmental, Social or Governance journey, this will help you to review and evidence it. Do it with your team to generate great discussion and a framework for progression. #goodgovernance #charityevaluation #climatechange #socialinvestment

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As today is the international day of charity, why not set yourself a challenge and join #TeamWHY to run the Bath Half Marathon for We Hear You (WHY) in March 2025. Your participation will assist in raising the vital funds needed to support individuals in our communities who require emotional support. Date: 16th March 2025 Sponsorship & Costs £45 Registration fee, £250 minimum sponsorship (excluding gift aid). Own Place If you've secured your own spot in the Bath Half directly, we'd be thrilled to have you on #TeamWHY. There's no minimum sponsorship requirement for those with their own place, yet any funds you raise will be immensely valued. Join our team and you'll receive a WHY welcome pack, which includes: - A guaranteed race spot - A 'We Hear You' running vest - Fundraising support, including hints and tips For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/eTmZACvi Or to become a part of #TeamWHY, please send an email to [email protected], and a member of the fundraising team will assist you in joining the team. #runthebath #bathhalf2025 #supportWHY #givesomethingback #teamWHY #charityfundraiser #weneedyou #BathHalf #bathhalfmarathon #personalchallenge #runforus #sponsorus #WHYwehearyou #cancerawareness #cancercounselling #cancersupport #InternationalDayOfCharity

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Did you know that in 2022, a young man tragically lost his life on the streets of Birmingham, West Midlands? In response, the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership reached out to us at First Class Foundation for support and consultation. They asked: What can be done to make a difference for high-risk young people involved in youth violence and gang activity? This question led to the creation of a specialist team that began engaging with young people in targeted hotspot areas, particularly after hours, from 6pm till late at night, during the times when they were most at risk. We focused on those deemed "hard to reach" and considered the most problematic by the system. Before starting our intervention, our team went through extensive training in safeguarding, de-escalation techniques, and collaborating with multiple agencies to ensure we could make a meaningful impact. The results were significant. We were able to demonstrate engagement and positive outcomes. However, despite our efforts, some young lives in Birmingham were still tragically lost to serious violence. This painful reality forced our team to extend our services to include pastoral and family support for those impacted by the trauma of such violence. This is the first time we’ve publicly shared the work we’ve been doing since 2022. (It wasn't easy, but important as reflective practitioners.) It provides a unique insight into the challenges practitioners face when working in sensitive and often heartbreaking situations. For instance, we’ve supported a family for three consecutive days, around the clock, while a young person was on life support. We’ve walked alongside families during the unimaginable grief of funeral services for young lives lost too soon. We also reflect honestly on the personal toll this work has taken on our team, and the importance of clinical supervision and personal therapy to maintain our well-being. Tune in to Episode 2 today to get a glimpse into the work of the Black Jackets team. A huge thank you to all the partners who have supported us over the last two years. Sustaining this work hasn’t been easy, especially with cuts to services, but we continue exploring ways to keep this much-needed work going. Recently, we were able to offer support to a family and do some behind-the-scenes work with young people, only made possible through kind private donations to our charity. Another conversation for another day, but what breaks our hearts is how reactive the whole system is 💔—not thinking about long-term proactive PREVENTION initiatives CONFESSIONS OF a YOUTH WORKER #YouthIntervention #ViolencePrevention #CommunityImpact #MentalHealthSupport #BlackJacketsTeam #YouthSupport

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Do you use TikTok for your charity? 🤔 If you don't, TikTok's latest Charity Academy might help change your mind! According to Charity Digital's Skills Report 2023, 4 out of 5 charities do not see themselves as excellent on social media. Furthermore, almost 80% of charities see improving their website, digital presence or social media as the greatest priority. TikTok's latest free academy is designed to upskill and empower charities to make the most of the platform and create an impact. The 100 selected charities will benefit from: ✅ TikTok Strategy training ✅ Understanding of practical tools and skills ✅ Learning how to boost awareness and impact on TikTok The deadline to apply for the academy is on Tuesday 21st May and you can apply via Media Trust's website. We're encouraging our clients to apply for a coveted spot on this training academy and make the most of TikTok as an awareness-raising tool. Let me know if you apply and get on! We're always looking to learn more about how charities can create impact 💪

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