What a great week.

This week the Foundation @lbfew.bsky.social has awarded £675K to #SmallButVital local charities in the North West. We are proud to be investing in 9 more charities in the area who do amazing work and really understand the complexity and the needs and aspirations of the people they support. I ❤️my job

AI & Compliance for UK Charities: A New Era! A free event at Microsoft London on 27 March, from 1pm to 4pm. This event is primarily aimed at larger charities. Book your free ticket now. www.exquitech.com/activities/a...

Youth Shedz: helping young people thrive Youth Shedz provides a safe place for young people who have been in care, or experienced other challenges, to explore who they are, develop relationships with positive role models, learn new skills an...

Find out how a little empty garage became a hub for young people with care experience to develop a sense of purpose, identity and belonging.

"We want to meet the young people where they’re at and walk with them into a brighter future." @youthshedz.bsky.social
ow.ly/Fnjl50UTQRk

Job vacancy: Public Affairs and National Programmes Manager

📢New vacancy alert!

Alongside recruiting 4 new trustees to our Board, we have an exciting role of Public Affairs and Programmes Manager.

Come join our team!

Deadline: 17 March. Full-time/Hybrid | £52,000

ow.ly/rNAm50V2AaK

Fantastic news.

Infographic titled '5 top tips for designing inclusive digital services with people and communities'. Point 1: Make it meaningful, emphasizes user involvement. Point 2: Share power and have an equal voice, highlights consistent participation. Point 3: Provide training and support, focuses on building staff skills. Point 4: Streamline the process, discusses removing constraints in engagement. Point 5: Make it business as usual, suggests integrating engagement

8.5 million adults lack the most basic digital skills. So how can we create digital health and care services that are inclusive? Our long read, supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social, argues that it's essential to listen to the voices of people & communities. Read more👉 https://buff.ly/4goybLQ

We have not one, not two, but FOUR opportunities to join our Board!

You will be joining us at a pivotal time in our journey as we prepare for a new strategy for 2026 as well as celebrating our 40th year as a Foundation!

Find out more below

starfishsearch.com/jobs/lloydsb...

We know that the UK refugee and migration sector faces unprecedented challenges in the current political, economic, and social landscape.

A strategic approach to leadership development is crucial.

This new fund seeks to bolster leadership capacity and capability. Find out more below 👇

Advocating for better BSL provision in Wales Deaf BSL signers in Wales currently face significant barriers to accessing support and services. A new Bill plans to change this.

Deaf BSL users in Wales currently face significant barriers to accessing support and services.

This consultation on the BSL Bill for Welsh Senedd seeks to improve access to essential services.

Find out why its important to contribute and advocate for this change ow.ly/ZRAh50UEaB3

Trust & Foundation Survey Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

📢 Get voting! Our friends, @charityexcellence.bsky.social ence.bsky.social wants you to kick off the new year by participating in their grant makers survey!

▶️ www.surveymonkey.com/r/LLM6RRN?dm...

Get your voice heard!

#bidwriting #grantmaking #fundraising

Are you based in Cheshire or Merseyside? This could be a great opportunity to join our team.

Useful Resources Download our free resources on human resources, risk management and trustee recruitment, developed by experts with small charities in mind.

Looking to diversify or strengthen your current skills? From learning to how influence change things on a national and local level, to supporting you to get the most out of your comms, we have a range of free toolkits to help you guide you.

Download for free bit.ly/403Kl6Y

📰 #News | LCVS has compiled a list of useful services and resources for individuals regarding the ongoing #CostOfLivingCrisis and for the current winter period.

➡️This is for those based in #Liverpool.

👉Please share widely.

⬇️FULL INFO⬇️
🔗 buff.ly/4f44T4I

Zoe Amar: The digital trends charity leaders need to know for 2025 From crypto to AI agents, here are my top tips for the next 12 months

"Among my colleagues in AI, the latest buzzword is agents. These are AI tools which can complete and manage sub-tasks from other AI tools, such as researching and writing emails to donors" @zoeamar.bsky.social

Funder opens applications for £22,000 ‘transformational support’ package Garfield Weston Foundation is inviting charities in the North of England, Wales and the Midlands to apply for funding packages worth more than £22,000.

Garfield Weston Foundation is inviting charities in the North of England, Wales and the Midlands to apply for funding packages worth more than £22,000.

www.charitytimes.com/ct/Funder-op...

Bluesky for Charities Join our webinar to learn how to harness Bluesky’s unique features to engage supporters, build communities and achieve your marketing goals.

New to Bluesky and want to get to grips with some of the basics? Our friends @mediatrust.bsky.social have an excellent starter workshop to help understand the basics, engage new supported and achieve your marketing goals

Register for free

17 January
10-11am

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bluesky-fo...

Helping charities do what they do best, better, is an important part of our work

A practical guide for charities

Moment or movement? Getting to grips with Bluesky This blog covers the latest thinking and tips on this emerging platform that has been soaring in popularity recently.

New to Bluesky and not sure where to start? This helpful blog from our friends @charitycomms.bsky.social is a useful place to start

www.charitycomms.org.uk/moment-or-mo...

Also, @madlinsudn.bsky.social has an excellent starter pack go.bsky.app/TnicTFM

3 trains cancelled to Birmingham due to a shortage of crew. All within 1.5 hours. UK rail system is getting worse.

Calling all Bury-based VCSE groups! Don’t miss our FREE upcoming training sessions:
Inclusive Economy Meeting
Exploring Social Enterprise
Social Impact Reporting
Business Planning
Empower your team and make a greater impact! Book your place now:
https://buff.ly/4eLUdId
#betterbury #BuryVCSE

Lloyds Bank Foundation and Lloyds Banking Group are working together to help tackle financial abuse Over the last four years, the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales has been working with Lloyds Banking Group’s Customer Vulnerability Team to address key financial issues faced by the clients...

Did you know: We continue towork with @lbgplc.bsky.social Customer Vulnerability Team to address financial issues faced by people experiencing #DomesticAbuse and supported by our #SmallButVital charity partners. Learn more.

#16daysOfActivism www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/our-impact/n...

Apply for funding under our Specialist Programme This programme is designed to support small specialist charities with an annual income between £25,000 to £500,000 that work with people to help them overcome complex issues.

Our funding for specialist #SmallButVital charities with an income of £25,000–£500,000 that work with people to overcome complex issues remains open.

Eligible charities can now apply for a three-year unrestricted grant of £75,000.

Deadline: 23 Jan 2025

ow.ly/21W150UgBGN

25% discount on region s trains for charity employees, reminds Northern to mark UK Charity Week | Northern News Northern has issued a reminder to employees of registered charities that they are eligible for 25%-off travel on their 2,500 services a day across the North of England.

"Empowering charity workers! Did you know Northern offers a 25% off on daily train services for them? Have you availed it yet? #UKCharityWeek"

media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/25-percent-discount...

Evaluating the impact of our support on the homelessness charity sector Read our evaluation and learning relating to the homelessness sector to help understand the value of our support to small and local charities, people and communities

We evaluated our support to #SmallButVital charities in the homelessness sector to understand its impact on people and communities. Our report highlights the wide-ranging efforts in this area, benefiting individuals, charities, and society.

Find out more: ow.ly/L88S50Ugwo0

Purposeful collaboration: Commissioning from the VCFSE sector, a practical guide to using the Procurement Act 2023 If you are a commissioner, this is an indispensable guide to the commissioning cycle, with a particular focus on how you can use the flexibilities of the Procurement Act 2023 to achieve better value f...

We are pleased to have supported NCVO and Local Government Association to commission this new guidance on the opportunities for charities and commissioners through the Procurement Act. Thanks to Fione Sheil and Dr Julian Blake for producing such a high quality guide.
www.local.gov.uk/publications...