Buckinghamshire’s charities to get help in securing essential funding through new training

Fundraising Festival: series of training webinars (4-13th October 2022)

Local charity Community Impact Bucks is running its first Fundraising Festival (4th-13th October 2022) to help charities and community groups in Buckinghamshire secure essential funding as traditional sources of income are hit by increasing pressure on local government finances and household incomes[i].

Consisting of four free interactive sessions led by professionals who are experts in their chosen fundraising area, the Fundraising Festival will provide a comprehensive overview of the following four key areas of fundraising income:

  • In Memory and Legacy Fundraising (4th October/ 12-1.30pm) with Sally Swann, Head of Partnerships, Muchloved Charitable Trust – the UK’s leading online tribute fund platform
  • Trust and Foundation Fundraising (6th October/ 5.30-7pm) with Lee Lloyd, Head of Fundraising, Florence Nightingale Hospice, and Jennie Gillions, specialist grant writer
  • Corporate Fundraising (11th October/ 12-1.30pm) with Ros Lee, Supporter Engagement Manager at Hospice of St Francis, and Emma Carroll, Partnerships Manager at Florence Nightingale Hospice
  • Community and Event Fundraising (13th October/ 5.30-7pm) with Leah Lewis, Civitas Consulting.

“Securing essential funds is key to the survival of all not-for-profit groups but, with greater demand on their services and some areas of fundraising not being as profitable as previous years, fundraisers need to look to widen their funding sources – in fact one in five of our members recently told us that one of their biggest challenges is to diversify their income streams,” commented Frankie Hockham, Community Impact Bucks’ VCSE and Community Development Manager.

“The Fundraising Festival will provide local fundraisers with the tools to do this, and by focusing on these four fundraising areas – all of which offer huge amounts opportunity but can be daunting especially for small charities – we will give fundraisers the knowledge and confidence to venture into new funding territories.”

The four sessions will provide a bited size introduction or refresher to a core fundraising option that all charities and community groups should consider, and are ideal for anyone who is responsible or oversees fundraising including fundraisers (paid/ unpaid), trustees, charity leaders, Heads or Directors of Fundraising.  Find out more about the Fundraising Festival and how to book by visiting Virtual Fundraising Festival.

The Fundraising Festival is being run as part of Community Impact Bucks’ free VCSE Support Service. Funded by Buckinghamshire Council, the Service offers support, guidance and training to charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises (not-for-profit groups) that want to make a difference in their local communities, with priority given to with income of less than £100,000. Not-for-profit organisations needing help can access support by:

  • Submitting the Request Support form to get tailored advice, guidance and bespoke support
  • Booking a one-to-one session for support on recruiting and managing volunteers, and funding and governance
  • Completing the Healthcheck Tool, an online tool for Trustees and staff to assess the internal processes of their organisation
  • Registering with online funding databases – Bucks Funding Search and Grantway – to identify funding opportunities
  • Registering for training and networking events such as Meet the Funder on 7th July – an opportunity to meet key local funder Heart of Bucks and find out what makes a good funding application – and Local Voluntary Sector Networks, a chance to meet other organisations to discuss and collaborate on key issues in the area (11th and 14th July)
  • Reviewing wide range of online resources and guidance on all aspects of running a voluntary organisation on the Community Impact Bucks website.

The Fundraising Festival is being launched during Small Charity Week (20-24 June), a national awareness week which celebrates and raises awareness of the essential work carried out by the UK small charity sector.

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For any media enquiries, please contact Rachel Fisher.

E: comms@communityimpactbucks.org.uk / T: 01844 617216

Notes:

  • Community Impact Bucks is an independent charity that supports people and groups to get involved and make a difference in Buckinghamshire communities. We offer expert advice and training, help people to find volunteering opportunities, and help charities and not for profit groups to get started, be effective and grow.
  • The VCSE Support Service, funded by Buckinghamshire Council and delivered by Community Impact Bucks, supports charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises (VCSE or not-for-profit groups) in all aspects of their work, including securing essential funding, being well-managed, and recruiting volunteers. Organisations of all sizes can access a wide range of online resources and guidance on the Community Impact Bucks website, and further tailored support can be requested via a support request form with priority given to organisations with an income of under £100,000.
  • The Funding Survey was conducted amongst Community Impact Bucks’ members (VCSEs in Buckinghamshire) in June 2022.
  • Small Charity Week is a national awareness week which celebrates and raises awareness of the essential work carried out by the UK small charity sector.

[i] Pressures on local government finances and household incomes mean charities are likely to see fewer people donate this year, NCVO’s The Road Ahead 2022 has warned.”

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