Information and advice for the third sector across Lancashire District – 10 Nov 21

Do you need help with your payroll? Talk to LDCVS.
Managing a charity can be challenging and we understand how time-consuming managing your payroll can be. If you need payroll support, we are here to help. Our years of working with charities and our local knowledge & expertise help us to offer the right services you need. We can help you to:

• Pay your staff, accurately and on time. 
• Use accredited payroll software to keep your organisation HRMC compliant. 
• File your payroll online with HMRC (monthly).
• Calculate pension and provide support with auto-enrolment.
• Provide reports for net pay and deductions.
• Create monthly or quarterly Pay As You Earn (PAYE)/National Insurance (NI) liabilities  statements.
• Complete P45 documents for exiting employees.
• Support year-end processes.

Our payroll fees are reasonable and are billed annually from as little as £100 (minimum fee). Our best practice approach is guided by frameworks from the Charity Commission, code of good governance and fundraising.

Email us at [email protected] or telephone 01524 555900 to find out how we can help your organisation.

Lancaster district community projects boosted by £80k Covid support
Individuals and organisations across the Lancaster district have raised more than £80,000 to support 45 projects run by charities and community groups during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Click here to read the Lancaster Guardian article about these successful community projects supported by the Urgent Respond Fund.

Lancaster District VCFSE Leadership Forum
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 11th November, 9.30am – 11am

This forum provides a strategic network for Voluntary, Community, Faith, organisations, Not-for-Profit and Social Enterprise leaders in the Lancaster District.

The forum is guided by the principles of:

• Shared values
• Open dialogue
• Investment for the future
• Creative, innovative and cooperative joint working
• Outcomes focused activities

If you would like to join this network and be added to the distribution list, please email [email protected]

Morecambe Inter-Agency Forum (MIG)
MIG is an informal gathering of representatives (paid and unpaid) from voluntary and statutory organisations who deliver services to the community. It provides an informal network open to all organisations and agencies working in the community sector, and its is a great forum for information sharing and offers an opportunity to develop joint initiatives.

MIG sessions are normally held every two months at different locations in Morecambe but for time being, this is being held online.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 24th November, 12.30 – 2.30. Please email [email protected] for more information or to be added to the mailing list.

Children Young People Multi-Agency Forum
The CYPMAF provides a valuable opportunity for people working with children and young people in the district to share information ideas and keep n touch with other organisations.

This forum is open to anyone working with children, young people and families. The next meeting is taking place on Wednesday 1st December, 9.30am – 11am online (for now).

If you wish to attend or be added to the mailing list, please email [email protected]

£10 million top up for investment readiness fund
Access – the Foundation for Social Investment (Access) and Social Investment Business (SIB) have announced that the Reach Fund, the pioneering grant programme which supports charities and social enterprises to increase their resilience by taking on social investment, will continue for a further four years.

Access plan to make at least £10 million available over the next four years to support up to 1,000 further organisations to develop social investment proposals. The fund is available to charities and social enterprises in England.

Funding for disabled children
Little Lives UK is offering grants of up to £1,500 through its Children’s Community Support Programme to provide services to disadvantaged and disabled children. The programme is open to applications from children’s groups and organisations such as play groups or sports classes.

The Children’s Community Support Programme is also open to applications from other projects, as long as their primary objective focuses on providing services to disadvantaged and disabled children.

There is no monetary minimum that groups can apply for, and Little Lives UK will additionally support the work of successful applicants through their social media channels and on their website. Four or five grants are awarded on a monthly basis.

Application deadline is 30th November 2021. Click here to find out more and apply.

Funding for spaces and places
Investing in Spaces and Places is a new higher value Asda Foundation grant for local groups aimed at improving community spaces and places where local people can be together and thrive.

The first round of Investing in Spaces and Places Grants launch in October 2021 and will be awarded in June 2022.

Application deadline 9th January. Click here to find out more.

Funding for organisations working with vulnerable people
Leathersellers Company’s small grants fund is now accepting applications. Grants of up to £3,000 are available.

Applications must be from UK registered charities (this includes Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO) but not Community Interest Companies (CIC)) that are:

• currently supporting vulnerable people
• working in geographical areas of high deprivation within the UK
• with an annual income under £200,000

They have 10 remaining ‘rounds’ or opportunities for applications to be submitted, until May 2022, with a decision returned within a month. The number of applications is capped with submissions accepted on a first-come, first-served basis (though you will be able to save a draft until next time).

The next application deadline is 30th November. Click here to find out more and apply.

Free data for charities from Vodaphone
Vodafone has launched Charities Connected, an initiative allowing UK charities to apply for free data. The aim is to help individuals and families supported by charities, as well as enable organisations to improve their digital capacity. Each SIM is loaded with 20GB of data plus unlimited texts and minutes to be used over 6 months.

Click here to complete your application.

Funding for sport and activity groups
Sport and activity groups, clubs and organisations in England can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to respond to the challenges of returning to play in a coronavirus-safe way. The funding is available through the Sport England Return to Play: Small Grants Fund and can cover costs such as minor amendments to facilities, additional sports equipment, signage, sanitation and training courses for clubs in areas of high deprivation. The Fund will now also support ongoing running costs.

Application deadline is 31st December 2021. Click here to find out more about this fund and how to apply.

Thomas Wall Trust – Funding for developing skills from disadvantaged groups
The Thomas Wall Trust recognises that communication is underpinned by a set of key features and skills such as empathy, listening, emotional intelligence, confidence, and clarity, amongst others. The Trust offers grants up to £5,000 to specific projects or core activities that develop these critical life skills for people from disadvantaged groups.

Application deadline is 22nd January 2021. Click here to find out more or to start your application.

Matthew Good ‘Grants for Good’ – Making a positive difference to communities, people & the environment
The Matthew Good ‘grant for good’ invites local charities, voluntary groups or social enterprises that have an average annual income of less than £50,000 to apply. Every three months, the grant shares £10,000 between 5 shortlisted projects that have a positive impact on communities, people or the environment. The next application deadline is 15th December 2021.

Click here to start your application. If you need help with completing the online application form, please email [email protected]

The Arnold Clark Community Fund
Grants of up to £1,000 are available for UK registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations who need financial assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund aims to help UK charities and local community groups continue their important work which may be at risk due to the pandemic. Grants are awarded by a weekly draw during the winter campaign. Unsuccessful applications will be kept in the draw for the following week. The funding must be used for charitable or community purposes.

The current funding focus is on organisations that deal with or address the following categories:

• Food banks
• Toy banks
• Poverty relief
• Housing and accommodation

The deadline for applications is 31 December 2021. Click here to find out how to apply.

Connect Fund
The Connect Fund was established as the social investment infrastructure fund. Its objective is to improve the social investment (SI) market in England by supporting and strengthening infrastructure, so it can better meet the needs of charities and social enterprises.

The Connect Fund currently has four programme areas – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Post Covid-19 Recovery; Peer Networks and Challenge Funds. The Fund does not provide grants and/or social investment to frontline charities or social enterprises for direct service delivery unless the proposal is directly linked to improving the social investment market in England.

Click here to apply or find out more, or email [email protected]

Step Change – Resilience and wellbeing support by Francis C Scott Charitable Trust
As a local funder with around ninety active grants, FCSCT has a lot of conversations with community organisations and charities who have been weathering the storm in all sorts of different ways.

One of the concerns raised is the human effects of the crisis on charities, their organisations, and their teams – at all levels. Some experience tension and challenges bringing teams back together after periods of furlough, for others there is anxiety about returning to an office environment or directly delivering programmes with groups of people. And for senior leaders and Trustees, the strain of navigating their organisations through 18 months of heightened levels of uncertainty and dynamic change. All these factors risk the health and sustainability of our vital community organisations.

FCSCT is therefore encouraging eligible organisations (those who fit the existing FCSCT eligibility criteria, which can be found here) to apply for up to £4,000 as part of the existing Step Change programme, specifically to help address these needs.

Organisations should determine their own solutions, which may include but are not limited to – team and/or board development events, coaching or mentoring for key staff, structured well-being programmes for staff and volunteers.

Click here to start your application.

For guidance and advice, please get in touch with the team at FCSCT by calling 01539 742608, or emailing Helen or Kevin on: [email protected] or [email protected]

Comic Relief Community Fund for England Invites 2021 Applications
This grant is for local community groups who are driving change by drawing on the expertise of people with lived experience of the issues being tackled.

Not-for-profit organisations across England can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to be used for projects that fit with one of Comic Relief’s four strategic themes:

• Children Survive and Thrive – ensuring every child has the best start in life.
• Fighting for Gender Justice – tackling gender-based violence, inequality and exploitation.
• A Safe Place to Be – supporting those who have been displaced to access secure housing and feel settled in their new homes.
• Mental Health Matters – helping people experiencing poor mental health to access appropriate support and live free from stigma and discrimination.

Funding will be split as follows:

• £1,000 for capacity building activities including those which strengthen operations, improve governance and help to better understand beneficiary needs.
• £9,000 to deliver projects which align with the programme’s strategic themes

Application deadline is 29th November 2021 (funding may close earlier if enough applications are received).

Organisations must have an annual turnover of less than £250,000 to apply.

Click here to find out more or to start your application.

Urgent Response Fund (URF)
The URF is still open and available for charities and community groups in need of resources to effectively deliver projects/activities which support the basic health and wellbeing needs of vulnerable members of the community in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the lockdown and the gradual easing of restrictions.

No minimum or maximum award amount. Applications are reviewed monthly.

Click here to find out how to start your URF application.

Lancaster District Street Aid – helping people stay off the streets
The Lancaster Street Aid initiative helps people who are, or have been, on the streets to apply for a grant to help them get off, and stay off, the streets.

Types of support that can be applied for via the scheme include access to housing, furniture and other home essentials, education/training courses, clothing for job interviews, transport to interview/place of work, and help with searching for a job.

Any VCFSE organisation or public body can apply on behalf of a homeless or vulnerably housed person they work with. Maximum application value of £750. Applications are reviewed as submitted. If you would like to apply, click here for more information.

Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission – Join the conversation
Have you had enough of not being heard? Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission is inviting people who have experienced poverty to join this conversation.

These sessions will involve meeting local people in positions of power to tell your stories, challenge the stigma, change the understanding of poverty, make practical changes for the better, and help to find solutions.

Breakfast in Morecambe: every other Wednesday 9 am to 11 am.
Lunch in Lancaster: once a month 10 am to 12 pm.
Chippy tea in Lancaster: once a month, 6 pm to 8 pm.

Zoom sessions are also held once a month.

Call 07766933884 or email [email protected] for more information.

Mental Health in the Workplace – Is your organisation looking to support your employees with mental health training?
The mental health crisis is growing, and the need for training and awareness in the workplace has never been greater.

Join this webinar organized by Learning Curve Group to discuss the mental health crisis, the steps employers can take to be more inclusive, and the free training available to businesses to support their staff.

Date: 11 November 2021
Time: 1 pm – 2 pm.

Click here to register.

New Mid-Week Hangout for young people at More Music
If you know of a young person who is struggling with social isolation or anxiety, accessing mental health support or on a waiting list for services, they could benefit from the range of sessions More Music offer. Having a safe and supported space for socializing, creativity and self-expression are of the utmost importance for young people’s personal, social and emotional development.

Wednesdays from 4 to 7 pm
13-17 Devonshire Road, Morecambe, Lancashire. LA3 1QT.

Click here to view the full list of activities.

Email [email protected] or [email protected] to sign up.

Morecambe Bay Health Coaching Sessions for 2022
New dates for the 2022 Morecambe Bay Health Coaching course are now available. The course aims to equip staff to have better conversations and support people to reach their self-identified goals.

The course is highly interactive and participatory and therefore it is important that all participants have access to a camera and microphone for the duration of each session.

Date: Monthly (from January to August 2022)
Time: Varies per session

Please note that this course is made up of two sessions (3.5hours per session) and requires full attendance on both of the identified days.

Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)

For more information, or to a booking form and full 2022 schedule, email [email protected]

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week – Think CO
The Gas Safe Charity is offering free carbon monoxide (CO) Zoom workshops to help launch Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week on the 22nd of November.

As the days get colder and the heating is turned on, the potential risks of CO poisoning increase. The workshops last about an hour and are a mix of practical information and interaction aimed at staff and volunteers from any organisation that delivers a service in the home of a vulnerable person via face to face or telephone support.

Available dates: November 23, 25 & December 7 & 8, 9.30 to 10.30 am

Click here to book a place

The course is also delivered as an e-learning course you can take at a time convenient for you, accessible by emailing Gas Safe at [email protected]

Boxing 4 Fitness Activator Course by Active Lancashire
The Boxing 4 Fitness Activator has been developed by StreetGames in partnership with England Boxing. The workshop will provide volunteers, young people, community workers, leaders and sports coachers with the skills needed to deliver NON-CONTACT boxing for fitness sessions in their local community.

Date: 27th November 2021, 10am – 1pm

Venue: Gregson Arts & Community Centre, 33-35 Moor Gate, Lancaster LA1 3PY

Cost: £60pp

Email Abi to book a space: [email protected] or call 01772 299838.

Free Funds Online webinar from the Directory of Social Change (DSC)
Join DSC’s Funds Online expert George Knight for a 30-minute webinar exploring some tips and tricks to help get you access to the funding you need. The session will explore everything from completing a basic search to saving funds and search results.

Date: 20th November 2021, 12.30 to 1 pm
Venue: Online (Zoom)

Click here to book a place.

Want to learn how to support community businesses? 80 free training spots on New Economy Programme
Power to Change is partnering with Stir to Action to offer 80 free training places on the 2021/2022 New Economy Programme, a learning and action platform to support community business. Power to Change aspires to diversify our reach, particularly with people from communities experiencing inequity. The free training is available to the following people:

• Minority ethnic communities
• Young adults (aged between 18-35)
• Those living in areas of deprivation (IMD 1-3, check your postcode here.)

Visit here to find out how to apply for the fully-funded training.

How to host a hybrid meeting by Charity Digital

Explore how charities can successfully hold meetings catering for both virtual and in-person attendees as the world of work goes hybrid. Find answers to questions such as, how often should people come into the office? How should the office timetable be managed? Is everyone feeling included?

Click here to find out more and access other online training events by Charity Digital.

Register for a free 30-minute session on Digital Trustees
Ross McCulloch, founder of Third Sector Lab, is offering a free 30-minute session to help your board to understand what digital trustees can bring to a charity board, figure out what type of expertise you need, and recruit digital trustees.

Click here to register.

We can help you find new volunteers. Register your voluntary roles online with us to reach the widest possible audience.

The Lancaster District Volunteer Centre provides support services for all not-for-profit organisations, helping them to recruit, train and retain quality volunteers.

The registration process is quick and easy. Our Volunteer Centre manager, Mark, will contact you to discuss your volunteer requirements, whether straightforward recruitment and promotion of roles, training, or anything else related to volunteer engagement.

If you would like to ask questions or just have a chat about your requirements, you can contact Mark by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 01524 555900.

Finance & Office Manager at Global Link
Global Link is seeking a permanent part-time Finance & Office Manager. Global Link is a Development Education Centre (DEC) based in Lancaster, UK. They run workshops, exhibitions, training and other events in schools, colleges and the wider community on global citizenship issues such as diversity, human rights, migration, fairtrade, climate change and sustainable development. They also provide a range of support services and integration activities for refugees and asylum seekers.

Salary: £25,160 – £31,629 pro-rata plus a 5% contribution towards a designated pension fund.
Hours of work: 14hours per week (Flexi-work hours)
Closing date: 22nd November 2021

Click here to download the job application pack.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust (LSCFT)
As an integrated Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults
• Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism.
• Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

LSCFT are in the process of developing plans to open a new mental health rehabilitation service in Wesham and have various job opportunities for a Deputy Ward Manager, Clinical Lead, Team Administrator, Health & Wellbeing Worker and others.

Main area: Wesham Rehabilitation Unit
Grade: Band 3, Band 5, Band 6 and Band 7 Vacancies
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time and Part time positions available
Salary: £20,330 – £45,839 Per Annum, Pro Rata
Closing date: 15th November 2021

Click here to view all the available job opportunities and to start your application.

Development Worker needed – Lancaster District Food Poverty Alliance (LDFPA)
LDFPA is seeking a Development Worker to work towards addressing issues outlined within the LDFPA Action Plan. The post holder will report to and work alongside the Alliance Coordinator and be overseen by the LDFPA core group. The successful candidate will have a passion for engaging with communities in food insecurity and issues of poverty.

Salary: £22,500 (£27,500 per annum pro-rata)
Hours of work: 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE)
Closing date: 15th November 2021

Click here to download the application pack and apply.

Rossendale Youth Works – Employability Officer – Active Lancashire
Active Lancashire is looking to recruit an Employability Officer to support the Rossendale Youth Works project. The project aims to support young people ages 18-24 who are currently out of work and claiming universal credit. The successful candidate will be required to facilitate the initial assessment stage by engaging with young people and introducing them to the support available through the project.

Salary: £22,183 – £23,541
Hours of work: Monday to Friday – 37 hours per week.
Location: Based at Rossendale Borough Council, Futures Park, Rossendale.
Closing date: 12th November 2021

Visit here to find out more about the role or start your application.

Charity Retail Shop Manager at Active Lancashire

• Salary: £19,312 – £21, 748 (SCP 5-11)
• Hours of work: Full-Time, 37 hours per week (Fixed Term for 12 months, starting in November 2021).
• Location: Active Seconds Retail Community Hub, Unit 26, Accrington Arndale BB5 1EX with travel occasionally to the main office in Leyland and other parts of the County.
• Closing date: 19th November 2021

Click here to find out how to apply

Pilotlight’s pro bono support
Have you thought of ‘pro bono’ support? There is an opening right now for charities who would like to take part in a free assistance programme, where senior business experts come in to support you and your charity’s strategy over the course of twelve months. This is typically for charity or social enterprise leaders of small and medium sized organisations – less for ‘micro’ voluntary organisations without staff or with one member of staff alone.

The Pilotlight Programme comes highly recommended and has a track record of helping to solve problems and find new ways forward even for the most effective of charities. Apply here.

Lancashire Local Skills Improvement Plan
The Lancashire Local Skills Improvement Plan mass survey aims to help shape technical skills provision to meet future business needs. Please complete the survey to help make the transformational change Lancashire firms deserve.

Click here to complete the survey.

New guideline to help reduce health inequalities in people experiencing homelessness
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) have jointly published a new guideline to increase the access people experiencing homelessness have to health and social care services.

Click here to find out more.

Impact of COVID-19 on charities
The Charity Commission recently published their research into the impact of COVID on charities.

Tax Relief Information from the Charity Excellence Framework – Are You Losing Out on Guaranteed Funding?
Each year charities fail to claim £600m in Gift Aid and you can claim up to 4 years retrospectively. This Charity Excellence resource gives you what you need to claim the different types, with links to everything you need.

Gift Aid is just one of many tax reliefs you can claim – find further resources here.

Digital tool for Universal Credit Users
The process for claiming universal credit can be lengthy and complicated. That’s why Catalyst collaborated with several charities to work out how they could provide remote support for online Universal Credit claims. If you’re an organisation that works with those trying to claim Universal Credit, do have a look.

Supporting people with learning difficulties with digital passports
University Hospital of Morecambe Bay (UHMBT) has launched digital passports to support patients who have learning difficulties. A hospital passport provides important information about patients care and communications needs, including personal details, the type of medication they are taking, and any pre-existing health conditions.

Mental health crisis lines – here for you and your loved ones
If you or a loved one is struggling to cope with mental health, you can contact the mental health crisis lines for help. The helpline is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services – ring it if you need to access services or for advice about someone who needs treatment/support.

Click here to find your nearest line.

Mental Health Resources at Work
Mental Health at Work has created a toolkit for small organisations. The toolkit empowers employees to look after themselves and gives leaders the tools to support them too.

This toolkit contains:

• a handbook filled with advice and tips for small business owners and the self-employed
• a free and confidential mobile app for employees
• two practical tools to help you to start implementing change straight away.

Click here to access the toolkit.

A public health model for mentally healthier integrated care systems
Better together: A public health model for mentally healthier integrated care systems outlines how integrated care systems can adopt a public health model to use their budgets, powers and influence to support better mental health outcomes for all.

Involving all NHS bodies and local authorities in 42 areas covering the whole of England, integrated care systems have an increasingly important role to play in organising health and care and addressing the wider factors that influence people’s health.

Click here to read more and to find out how to join the conversation.

Lancaster District CVS – We are here to help
Our organisational development team provide support on fundraising, governance, policies & procedures, safeguarding, DBS checks, monitoring and evaluation, media & marketing and setting up new community groups.

If your organisation needs support whether it be a listening ear, all aspects of volunteering, doing payroll, independent examinations of accounts, or funding guidance and support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team:

Free one-to-one development support, contact [email protected]

Volunteering and upskilling your workforce, contact [email protected]

Payroll, bookkeeping and independent examinations, contact [email protected]