Alison Dunn

*** 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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📢 Important Read: "The Effectiveness of Government in Tackling Homelessness" by the UK National Audit Office (NAO) The timing could hardly be better. With a new government in place, it’s crucial to evaluate priorities, and elevating efforts to tackle #homelessness should be high on the list. The NAO’s findings highlight both the challenges and progress made to date, as well as the many opportunities we can focus on to go even further. This report is a valuable resource for anyone committed to making a real difference. Read it here 👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/ehFBGzU3

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A simple tool to help charity trustees navigate the complex area of campaignjng. Aimed to build clarity and confidence so that charities feel able to campaign more, and more effectively. Know any charity trustees? If yes, please share. #sheilamckechniefoundation #charity #campaigning #voice

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Today’s Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)  report is more than just statistics; it’s a reflection of the reality that many of us witness daily. As part of Faith in Families  I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our communities face, which in my last 25 years is now worse than ever. Since March 2024, we’ve launched Wales’ first multi-bank with Amazon and have already provided over 30,000 people in Swansea with essentials like clothes, shoes, bags, cleaning, and hygiene items—necessities for survival - an incredible project. The findings from JRF and Thinks Insight & Strategy are a stark echo of our experience: 9 in 10 staff members feel the weight of hardship. 7 in 10 struggle to help those who can’t afford basics. 6 in 10 say poverty impedes their job performance. Teachers and GPs stepping in to provide food and clothing is a testament to their dedication but also a clear sign that systemic change is needed. At Faith in Families , we’re committed to being part of that change. Do you want to join us in transforming lives and giving hope to people who are not as fortunate as others? Join us in supporting our children and families, because everyone deserves the dignity of having their basic needs met and reaching the essential items needed. City & County of Swansea Welsh Government Pobl Group Coastal Housing Group Caredig Swansea Bay University Health Board FSG Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SwanseaCVS) We want a city where every child can reach their full potential, where every child can flourish, do you? Then please help us - ❤️Explore our website 👉 https://bit.ly/3odGoNx 💛Support us here 👉 https://bit.ly/3U7i4co 💙Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 https://bit.ly/3wDuaib

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Some very interesting (and challenging) options here. Should there be a reference to building more homes too? Many tenants live in overcrowded homes and the lack of more affordable housing affects them as much as those on housing waiting lists.

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Charities and Government Excellent Research from Pro Bono Economics who have published a very useful free resource for charities https://lnkd.in/e_a8ybFN . This says "The 2024 General Election brought 335 new MPs into the House of Commons. For the many charities that seek to influence parliamentarians, this creates a significant challenge. That’s 335 new MPs to research and sift through to try and understand if they might be inclined to support a charity’s cause. "Many small charities cannot afford parliamentary monitoring systems or expensive agencies to do that sifting for them. If hundreds of organisations all undertake the same research into those MPs’ backgrounds, it means massive amounts of duplication and wasted time for already time-starved organisations. Also see https://lnkd.in/ebSvCG_Y which explains that "Experience in the charity sector has accelerated the most dramatically of all with this new Cabinet. #Starmer has appointed eight #Cabinet members who have previously worked within the charity sector. That is a quadrupling of charity experience at the top of government." CFG : Charity Finance Group Charity News Association of Charitable Foundations Association of Chairs The Resource Alliance Charity Excellence - a FREE one-stop-shop for everything a non-profit needs.

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A perfect example. 👀 For funders to show fundraisers a little insight into their grant making. Well done to The Robertson Trust who today told us: ❓How many grants they had made. 🕣 The timeframe in which they were awarded. 💫 The success rate. 🏆 And a breakdown of how the money was awarded by theme, type and location. Here's the link - https://lnkd.in/en9qpFxe If you have any similar examples you would like to share, comment below.👇🏻 ♻️ And if you want other Funders to see this post for inspiration, hit the repost button. #philanthropy #funders #fundraisers

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🚨 Good news! Funding announced for 8 new nature-friendly spaces to benefit NHS patients, staff and visitors. 🍃 The 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 is supporting NHS charities to reimagine healthcare spaces. We're transforming often concrete-heavy sites into spaces where connection to nature can thrive. The Fund has awarded £2 million over two years to 17 NHS charities. It's a partnership between Hubbub and NHS Charities Together 💙, made possible thanks to the Starbucks UK 5p cup charge. The benefits of nature are increasingly recognised by the healthcare sector. Green Social Prescribing programs improve our physical and mental health through activities like gardening, walking, and spending time outdoors.   The nature-friendly spaces to be funded include: • A woodland walkway at a hospital 🌳 • A health centre growing herbs and vegetables 🥬 • Habitats for endangered beetles at an ambulance call centre 🪲    Swipe below to see how this year's winning projects will help increase access to nature for hospital staff, patients and local communities ⬇️ ++ P.S. I'm CEO of environmental charity Hubbub. We bring business, government and civil society together to create campaigns that inspire & support people to make choices that are good for the environment. Follow me - Alex Robinson - for insights on environmental change, leadership and more. #environment #sustainability #nature #NHS  

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Today justice was denied! Before we examine why, let's remind ourselves of the 'what'. On 25th January 2024, Warwickshire County Council was debating Special Educational Needs provision, and three councillors (Councillor Hammersley, Councillor Golby, Councillor Morgan) offered views which were abhorent, inaccurate and highly damaging to one of the most vulnerable parts of our society: 👉"Why are there so many people now jumping out with these needs? Where were they in the past when I was at school. I'd never heard of SEND" 👉"They must of had better ways of dealing with them, at that time. Let's go back to some of those ways" 👉"I don't know what the fix is, I just look back at years gone by, those people were dealt with by whatever means. It was right at the time" 👉"To stop this spend fix the problem at source. An investigation took place into hundreds of complaints and yet all three councillors have just been cleared of breaching the authority's code of conduct. It seems that they will not resign, so please let's vote them out at the next opportunity! 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Who is with us here? Give this post a like if you are disappointed too and think society needs to do better? ⁉ PS: Let me know in the comments what you thought of their statements and where have your families faced an unecessary fight to secure basic human rights for our kids? #NeuroInclusionNow #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance Video ID: Council meeting where three Councillors were debating Special Educational Needs

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Why Is the VCSE sector key to optimising Social Value? As CEO of Social Value UK, I witness the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector's crucial role in driving meaningful change on a daily basis. Organisations like whatimpact.com, led by Tiia Sammallahti, and an organisational member of Social Value UK, illustrate this in the work that they do, connecting the VCSE sector with the private sector to optimise social value in a meaningful way via: Community Connection - VCSE organisations, deeply embedded in their communities, understand local challenges and design effective, tailored solutions. Innovation and Flexibility - Without large organisational constraints, VCSE entities innovate and adapt quickly, optimising their impact. Collaborative Partnerships - Collaboration within the VCSE sector amplifies social value, leveraging resources and expertise efficiently. Holistic Approach - Addressing social issues holistically, VCSE organisations create substantial and sustainable social value. Trust and Accountability - With transparency and accountability, VCSE organisations build community trust, enhancing engagement and support. Advocacy - VCSE organisations ensure inclusive, equitable social value creation by advocating for the marginalised. What are your thoughts on the role of the VCSE sector in optimising social value? How have you seen VCSE organisations make a difference in your community? #SocialValue #VCSE #CommunityImpact #SocialValueUK #Innovation #Collaboration #Equity #SocialGood

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With FY25 charity budgets set and the question of 'value for money' a live dialogue in funding related discussions about services for children and families, it's timely to recall findings of the 2022 Paying What It Takes report, which found: *indirect costs are not an accurate measure of the efficiency or effectiveness of a not-for-profit or charity *true overhead costs often far exceed the amount charities are funded for *caps on overheads lead to lower capability and effectiveness. And we all know what has happened with the rising costs of living over the past 2 years... What it costs to look after children in statutory care systems is more than a 'value for money' analysis and must be connected with how long children stay in care, and where they go when they leave #OOHC #costs #outcomes #measurementmatters Barnardos Australia

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London calling! Me and Daniel O'Driscoll will be delivering some SIC disability and neurodivergence training in London on Thursday 27th June, so we're offering a 50% discount to any London based businesses on Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th June. We also - won't be charging and travel fees. So it's an absolute steal. If your team wants to explore disability and neurodivergence in the workplace as well as how and why adjustments can (and do!) benefit everyone, then why not get in touch to book? Not only will you have some really creative training, but you'll also be paying into the social economy, supporting SIC to provide more services and support to the disabled and neurodivergent community around careers and employment. Tagging some of my favourite London people in case anyone in their networks is interested: Kyra Ingrao, Vijaya Nath, Louise Clifton, Peter Oden, Will Morris, Georgia Bondy, Madeleine Jenness Nikki Adebiyi, Jessica Lloyd. Marina Logacheva, Dan Orchard, Lucy Cashin, Julie Reynolds, Sonia R., Mae Yip, Emmie Faust If you want to get in touch, email hello@sicofficial.co.uk #LondonTraining #LondonAwayDay #LondonBusinesses #DisabilityAndNeurodivergence PDF ID: 6 slides. They are all bright blue with the yellow SIC logo in the top right corner and white writing. On slide one there is an outline drawing of Big Ben in white with pale orange stripes. On the other slides this image is in the bottom left corner. Slide one: "London Calling. 50% off. an exclusive offer for the 26th and 28th June." Slide two: Alice and Dan from SIC. "We're in London. So why not take advantage of no travel costs and a 50% discount?" Slide three: "a full day of learning. Usual price £3,995 plus travel Today’s price £1,995. 9am - 5pm. Includes: 1 hour of pre-recorded content (yours for the year), Disability and neurodivergence in the workplace, Lego Serious Play, User Manual for Me, Actions for the team" Slide four: "a half day of learning. Usual price £2,195 plus travel Today’s price £1,195. 2pm - 5pm. Includes: 1 hour of pre-recorded content (yours for the year), Disability and neurodivergence in the workplace, Lego Serious Play" Slide five: "Why work with us? A team of lived experience experts. We bring:  Creative facilitation experience, Lived experience, Intersectional case studies, A social enterprise approach meaning your support funds the support we offer the disabled and neurodivergent community." Slide six: "Interested in booking? These prices are only available on Wednesday 26 June and Friday 28 June. Bookings must be made my Friday 7th June. Email hello@sicofficial.co.uk now."

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This article sums up what it’s like for me living in a shared ownership home. I remember the joy of collecting my keys when I was a teacher over a decade ago. Now, the home I was once so proud and happy to live in has become unaffordable and impossible to sell (one of my neighbours has had theirs up for sale for almost 2 years and another sold at a big loss). If you want a quick glimpse into shared ownership, have a read of the article 🏠 #housingcrisis #unaffordablehomes #sharedownershipnightmare

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Who do I work with? ✅ NHS Trusts, Foundation Trusts and Integrated Care Boards – who want to measure their impact but aren’t sure how to do it or have new projects where they want to understand the outcomes and impacts those projects deliver. ✅ CEOs and Founders of social enterprises working in health and social care or financial inclusion (including CDFIs) that know impact measurement and reporting matters but don’t have the internal resources to do this themselves. The reason I love working with these types of people and organisations is because the outcomes they deliver are around peoples’ wellbeing and go beyond the core set of physical health or financial outcomes. They go above and beyond and are not box tickers. The more they do, the more it impacts the person, their family/friends and beyond. I’m here if you’d like to work with me. Send me a direct message to book a call in, with the text 'book a call'. ------ Hi, I’m Heidi, an impact measurement expert, passionate about helping you make a bigger impact in the world by maximising the impact your services have. I can help you to measure, manage and communicate the impact you have better to funders, investors, commissioners and other stakeholders, and to systemise your data collection and analysis so that it frees up time and doesn’t become an additional burden. I love helping you to measure social and economic impacts, including Social Return on Investment or value for money assessments, as part of understanding the change you make to peoples’ lives.

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Key points from IVAR's new publication ‘Batten down the hatches’; 💡 Fierce competition for funds, especially between larger organisations and smaller grassroots groups. 💡 Charities are struggling to keep up with shifting funder priorities, feeling pressured to demonstrate innovation at the expense of proven long-term work. 💡 Grant application processes have become increasingly onerous and opaque, with lengthy applications, reporting requirements, and delays in decision-making. 💡 Charities are calling for more long-term and unrestricted funding to reduce the burden of constant applications and enable the delivery of well-evidenced, effective services. 💡 There's a need for more flexible and human practices in grant-making, including reduced reporting requirements, increased transparency in decision-making, and more feedback on unsuccessful applications.

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https://lnkd.in/dpCExdCG There are still some important results to come from Thursday's local elections in England and Wales, not least the mayoral election in West Midlands where the Conservatives will be hoping to hold on as they did in Tees Valley. However, here is John Curtice's analysis based on where things stood when counting was suspended last night and it does indeed look grim for the Conservatives who have lost over half the council seats they held (and counting). The Beeb is reporting that there is no sign of a right-wing rebellion against Rishi Sunak yet; but, personally, I would not expect anyone to make a move before the West Midlands result is announced. If the Tories lose there and even more so if the loss of council seats crosses 500 an attempted ouster would come as no surprise even though the commentariat consensus (with which I agree) is that it would probably not succeed. What the threat might do, however, is push Mr Sunak into calling an early election - 20 percent probability only, according to the bookmakers (and, again, I agree) but one which cannot be dismissed.

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This is well worth a read if you are seeking grant funding. Some great tips here thank you Gill Pipkin. Writing bids is time consuming and so often pressured with short deadlines. So important to do the groundwork, be prepared, read the funding criteria carefully, write in simple terms and avoid jargon, tell your story of who you help, why and the difference you will make but make sure you are answering the question being asked! Take any opportunity to build a relationship with your funder. #charity #fundraising

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At Northamptonshire Community Foundation we're developing our strategic philanthropy to ensure our grant making on behalf of donors is not just about crisis and immediate response to community needs but funding of preventative projects. The earlier people get the crucial help and support they need, the more likely we are to help avert more serious issues later on in their life journey. The challenge for funders is of course if you fund preventative work, how can you prove the impact of what never happened? The answer to me is simple: by reporting the stories of change where people can inform charities and groups about what has gone well in their lives. Not every impact measurement has to be a number or data quantification. #prevention #grantmaking #upstreaming

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