SMALL CHARITY WEEK: CONNECTING SMALL CHARITIES

#SmallCharityWeek is back for 2022 with the theme of connection. Running from Monday 20th to Friday 24th June, it is a great opportunity to publicise your organisation and services, and to celebrate your achievements.  

The week is all about celebrating small charities and the amazing work that you do. Small charities make up 81% of the third sector in Buckinghamshire, yet we often struggle to have our voices heard and raise funds to keep our doors open.  

As a small charity ourselves, we understand the challenges that you may face and are able to support and advise your organisation on all aspects of running a voluntary organisation, including funding, governance, and recruiting and managing volunteers both during the crisis and beyond. 

Building on the theme of the week – connection – we want to share some of the resources available to help small charities thrive. 

Connecting you to funding

If you would like help securing funds, join our free  Meet the Funder sessions, check the local funding opportunities, and register with online funding databases  Bucks Funding Search and Grantway Funding Search.  You can also get free tailored advice at our  one-to-one support sessions, and pick up  tips on writing a successful grant. 

We also offer resources to help organisations looking at  other funding streams  including  legacies,  challenge events, and  individual giving. 

“Frankie gave us invaluable advice on fundraising planning, funder relationship management, criteria variation and modelling diverse income strategies. Without this, the charity would have not made the best choices with scarce resources. We can now plan feeling confident, validated and supported.” Kyle Banks, Charity Director, Missenden Walled Garden CIO

Connecting you to volunteers 

We support groups with volunteer recruitment,  developing volunteering policies, role descriptions and volunteering strategies. As well as promoting general and expert volunteer vacancies, we manage the  Volunteer Matching Service  which places volunteers with groups and organisations across the county. Add your volunteer vacancies to the Service and we will look for a registered volunteer who matches your role. 

Have a look at our online resources for groups, including guides on developing and advertising volunteer and trustee roles, and access tailored advice on all aspects of your volunteer programme through a one-to-one support session.  

“Thanks for your support and enthusiasm. Just to let you know that we have found someone to help with our website. I put a plea out on the nextdoor social media site and we have a professional web designer helping us now. Many thanks for you help.”  Jan Sambrook, Trustee,  Dementia Action Marlow

Connecting you to peer-to-peer support

We provide an informal space for Bucks-based not-for-profit organisations to share ideas and resources, and collaborate on the local issues that matter most through the Local Voluntary Sector Networks. There are two Network forums being held in early July – North (Monday 11th July/ 6.30pm) and South (Thursday 14th July/ 6.30pm).

Connecting you to expert advice and training 

We provide  guidance and advice to charities on how to run their group or get started, and deliver  training  on a range of topics including safeguarding, funding, governance, and recruiting and managing volunteers, as well as bespoke coaching for charity leaders and pro bono legal advice. 

“We had a really good session on the structure of our organisation and were sent follow up information that included links to document templates. Following on from the session our group has a meeting next week to adopt our new structure and appoint trustees so the session was invaluable- thank you!”  Lucy Read, A Greener Padbury

Get involved in the week 

We would love to help spread the word about your organisation during Small Charity Week – mention us in your social media posts and we will share your news through our networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , Linkedin) 

To be kept up to date with all Small Charity Week news, sign up to the Small Charity Week mailing list by emailing info@smallcharityweek.com and follow @SCWeek22 on Twitter/ #SmallCharityWeek. 

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