We are pleased to draw your attention to the application process for Leading Greater Essex (LGE) 2022 which is now open until 3rd December 2021.
As many of you will be aware for the past few years we have run Leading Greater Essex, a whole system leadership programme to support emerging leaders across the Greater Essex gain the skills and experience to further progress in their roles, look beyond organisational boundaries and help tackle complex cross-profession challenges.
Since 2016 more than 200 leaders have already successfully completed Leading Greater Essex and are now applying their learning within their place of work, operating as effective system leaders.
If you or your colleagues would like to hear more about the programme this year we would welcome the opportunity to talk to you further, if you would like to arrange a chat or presentation at an upcoming session please email Shammi Jalota ([email protected]).
Local charities, community groups, and food banks have until 5 December to register to receive surplus food donations from Aldi this Christmas and New Year.
As part of Aldi’s pledge to donate 10 million meals this year to families across the UK facing hunger, the supermarket has committed to donate more meals than ever to good causes over the festive period.
Through its partnership with Neighbourly, all of Aldi’s 930 UK stores can already donate surplus food seven days a week, all year round. With all Aldi stores set to close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, the retailer also wants to ensure that any products approaching the end of their shelf life reach families who might otherwise miss out this Christmas.
Charities, food banks and community groups who could benefit from the scheme are encouraged to get in touch and register now for a festive food donation.
Existing charity partnerships will be prioritised for these festive collections, but where there’s availability, additional organisations are being invited to apply to be paired with a local Aldi store to collect fresh and chilled food products – including fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, fish and bread – ahead of stores closing on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Mary Dunn, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said:
“Our food donations scheme operates year-round, but we know that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for the families and communities we support.
“That’s why we are so committed to increasing the number of meals we donate over the festive season, and we look forward to working with local charities this Christmas to help us meet our 10 million meals target for the year.”
Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added:
“With the impact of the pandemic still being felt by communities up and down the country, charities and local causes are expecting record demand for their services this Christmas.
“We’re sure there are lots more groups out there that could put this food to good use, so we’d encourage them to get in touch.”
Organisations do not need to be a registered charity to apply but must:
Have a level two hygiene certificate gained in the last two years
Be able to transport and store chilled food products after collecting them on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at 5pm
Those interested in working with Aldi this Christmas should contact Neighbourly at [email protected] before 5 December.
Aldi has been donating its surplus Christmas food for a number of years, and has been working with Neighbourly since early 2019. As part of this partnership, Aldi introduced community donation points in all stores earlier this month, offering customers the opportunity to donate any food or household products to local causes all year round.
If you represent a charity or an organisation that provide assistance to serving and former members of the British Armed Forces who are in need, you can apply for a grant from the Veterans’ Foundation. Grants are also available to operationally qualified seafarers and their dependants. Since mid-2016, the Veterans’ Foundation has given over £8 million in grants via 480+ grants to more than 270 unique organisations across the United Kingdom.
You can apply for a grant from the Veterans’ Foundation through our online platform. Before telling us about your charity or project please read our guidance.
Please note that the Veterans’ Foundation’s trustees are more likely to award grants to low and medium wealth organisations rather than ‘wealthy’ ones. They will consider a range of factors including the service or item being funded, the number of beneficiaries, the importance of the grant to the applicant organisation, the efficiency of the organisation, need of the beneficiaries and its urgency.
Eligibility Criteria
The Leathersellers’ Small Grants Programme 2021-22 will consider applications from charities registered and operating in the UK (including Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO) but not Community Interest Companies (CIC)) that are working
to provide assistance to vulnerable people in their community
in geographical areas of deprivation (within the UK) – we recognise all relative measures of deprivation as tracked by the Indices of Deprivation or similar tools. We ask you who your work helps and why this is needed for that group or in that area so you can explain the need that exists there.
with an annual income of under£200,000 (secured for the coming year)
We do not typically fund the following:
Medical research
Hospices
Capital restoration projects for the sole purpose of conservation/heritage
Applications are now open for the 11th January 2022 committee meeting.
Human beings don’t like change. We are creatures of habit, fearing that change may come with a loss of control or cause us to stray outside our comfort zone.
But change can be a very good thing. Change means we’re learning, improving on what went before and adapting our behaviour accordingly. The brain might not like it much in the short-term, but in the long-term, our ability to change is what keeps us all going.
The charity sector is no stranger to change, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Fundraising, especially, has changed dramatically since the pandemic. We’ve gone from fundraising in-person to fundraising online, from buckets full of change to contactless payment devices, and the switch has not been seamless.
The Charity Digital Skills Report 2021 revealed that digital fundraising was one of the top five skills that charity professionals struggled with during the pandemic. Almost a third (32%) of respondents claimed to have limited fundraising skills and cited fundraising as the third biggest challenge charities faced with digital during the pandemic.
So while adapting to new situations and adopting new fundraising avenues is excellent, there remains a gap between what charities hope to do and how they are able to deliver it. Any tool, however useful it may seem, is only as good as the person using it. If those tools change, people must too.
“Digital transformation is historically even more difficult to pull off than traditional change methods,” says digital consultancy Trillium in its e-book, Managing Change in Charity Organisations. “A 2018 McKinsey report highlights that while less than 33% of traditional transformation projects succeed, the success rate for digital transformation is even lower.
“For those that say digital transformation is dead, this might feel irrelevant, but it isn’t. In this day and age, there is no transformation without digital. Digital is inherent in everything we do, so any sort of change programme you initiate will include it.”
This process of transformation can be stressful for charity volunteers, supporters, and staff, even when not in the middle of a pandemic. It is vital that charities continue to put their people first, placing them at the heart of every decision when it comes to bringing about change. It is about managing change through managing emotions –something that charities are better at than most, given that they do it in their fundraising already.
In this article, we delve deeper into the emotional side of change, and how that can be managed when charities want to bring in new tools and systems. Change doesn’t work unless everyone is on board and you can choose all the platforms in the world, it’s no good if people don’t use them.
So how can charities reduce the stress and fear that comes with organisational transformation? And how can they ensure that their employees feel supported?
Putting people over platform
As we’ve established, adopting fancy new fundraising technology is no good if no one knows how to use it. Deciding to use tech in the first place is the easy part – empowering people to use it is a bit trickier.
People might be resistant to it for a variety of reasons – perhaps they don’t feel informed enough, or consulted, or are unsure of why it’s happening. Perhaps it’s down to capabilities or simply habit.
But a charity’s people are the reason it exists, from employees and volunteers to donors and beneficiaries. Charities need to think about all their different audiences and who the proposed change most affects, both directly and indirectly.
For example, if you implement a new donation platform, how does this change the way you fundraise? Many charities work with staff and volunteers that have been with them for years – do they all have smartphones? Are they able to show others how to scan QR codes, instead of rattling a bucket?
It is also important that you bring leadership along with the journey, too. One of the big concerns could be finances – how will you pay for the new platform and how will it look to donors if a lot of the money they give you goes towards it?
Indeed, charities are always under intense scrutiny when it comes to how they spend their money. Research reveals that around seven in ten donors look up an organisation’s overall efficiency before donating, with philanthropic impact and general reputation also factoring highly.
Supporters need reassurance that their money is going to the cause they donated it to, and this means reassurance about the new technology you’re bringing in too.
People are comfortable putting money into a fundraising tin or donating via a website, but bringing in new platforms could cause them disquiet, especially given the growing sophistication of phishing scams. It is important to be clear about any changes to your donation process to give your supporters confidence that their money is secure and going to the right place.
All of these sticking points are solvable. That’s why change management exists. The key point is to ensure that people are at the heart of your decision-making, whatever the fundraising platform you choose to use.
Embracing change, not resisting it
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the best thing any charity can do is to embrace change. But it is not always easy. It requires entire organisations to be on the same page, to be brought along the process together, with no one left behind.
Communication is everything. First start with the reasons why you’re changing. If you’re changing the way you fundraise, talk about the shift towards online and contactless giving and use evidence to back up your points. Reports suggest that only one in six payments is now made in cash – relying on those donations alone could reduce the amount you’re able to raise.
Charities should also dissect the change into small chunks. Don’t just think about the next ten years, think about the next ten minutes. Change that happens abruptly can cause more stress and resentment within organisations.
Being open about the timeline is one way to prevent this. It sets clear expectations and gives people a sense that they’re on a journey, rather than constantly chasing new goalposts.
Make sure that everyone has everything they need. Provide fundraisers with a toolkit they can keep referring to when needed and keep the lines of communication open for any questions, anticipating the most common ones so you have answers ready.
Simple chat channels on platforms like Teams can work for this or having an Open-Door hour where employees know they can bring issues up. “Allowing access to the driving forces behind the change will enable your employees and supporters to feel like they are part of the process,” adds Trillium.
The process of changing the ways you fundraise will never be totally easy. And there will be change within change – no plan is ever 100%, as charities know well. But because of constant changes in the sector, charities are also adaptable.
Keep reviewing your process, keep asking the question “Why are we doing this?”, and keep learning. Pushing through a long-term plan that isn’t working breeds just as much resentment as changing everything overnight.
There are also plenty of change management models that charities can follow, many of which are helpfully outlined in Trillium’s e-book. Whether it’s nudge theory (which works on the principle that small actions have a substantial impact on behaviour) or Bridge’s Transition Model, there is a lot of guidance and behavioural science that can influence how your audiences adapt to change.
Change is inevitable. With 2022 around the corner, new fundraising trends are popping up all the time. Get ready to embrace QR codes, Artificial Intelligence, and much more. But always keep your people in mind as you do so.
The top three things to think about when managing change
Why? Why are you changing? Organisations that can show the impact of the change they’re trying to push through will have more success in getting people on board
How? How will you bring about that change? Have a plan in place so you can bring change in smoothly, anticipating any concerns such as funding or resource
Who? Who will this change affect? Consider all the different groups in your organisation, map out potential problems they may face and think about how you can address them in your communications
In September 2021, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DDCMS) unveiled a new open consultation, titled ‘Data: a new direction’, proposing changes to data protection law in the UK. In this blog we look at what those changes could mean for charities in the context of fundraising.
Background
Data protection compliance is crucial for all stages of fundraising, from collecting supporter data and planning campaigns through to delivering fundraising messages to those supporters.
Charities must be able to demonstrate a lawful basis for obtaining and using personal data, and to be sufficiently transparent with supporters about how their data will be used. Complying with those obligations can be particularly challenging when charities want to research or analyse their supporter base.
Charities engaged in this kind of research or analysis tread a fine line when balancing their legitimate interests in pursuing this kind of fundraising against the privacy interests of current and prospective supporters. This kind of research often relies on using data from third parties, sometimes businesses offering products that analyse data from a wide variety of more-or-less publicly available sources. Charities working with that sort of data face the question of whether re-using data in this way complies with the purpose limitation principle set out in the UK GDPR, and whether data subjects are sufficiently informed about how their data is used.
Compliance does not stop once a charity has collected supporter data and planned a campaign; there are some important additional rules around direct electronic marketing that charities have to comply with. Any messages that promote the work of a charity, whether they solicit donations or not, are treated as marketing by the ICO. If those messages are sent by email or text message, then the charity must have obtained and be able to evidence opt-in consent from the supporter.
Changes proposed by the consultation
The current consultation contains a handful of proposals that could simplify some of these issues for charities. The consultation proposes to:
clarify the circumstances in which data can be re-used by a party other than the original data controller . This could help clarify when and how charities can use publicly accessible data for supporter research, for example;
amend the legal basis most frequently relied upon for prospect research, the ‘legitimate interests’ basis. That legal basis currently requires a balance to be struck between the interests of a data controller and the interests of the individual. That is a difficult thing to do, because it often involves making assumptions about an individual’s expectations and wishes. The government is proposing to remove that balancing test in some situations, including ‘using personal data for internal research and development purposes’. It remains to be seen whether ‘research’ in this context would include research for fundraising; and
introduce a charity-specific change to the rules on direct marketing by electronic means. At the moment charities require active opt-in consent to send direct marketing materials by email or text message. The proposed change would extend the so-called ‘soft-opt-in’ exemption, which currently only applies to organisations selling goods or services. If this proposal is implemented, it would mean that charities could adopt an opt-out model for email or text message, so long as they are able to satisfy the strict conditions of the soft opt-in exemption.
More broadly, one of the government’s stated aims in the consultation is to reduce compliance burdens. This includes proposals to:
remove some of the more prescriptive requirements to document compliance;
create alternative mechanisms for international data transfers;
clarify the rules on scientific research, which will be relevant for charities engaged in that area; and
introduce certain limits on the rights of individuals to request access to their data.
What happens next?
No doubt few in the sector will welcome the prospect of further data protection changes so soon after the introduction of the UK GDPR, however, changes are coming and there is an opportunity for the sector to influence them now. The consultation is open for responses until 11.45pm on 19 November 2021 for those who wish to contribute, and there will be further opportunities for engagement during the process of turning the proposals into legislation.
Essex County Council is offering grants of up to £20,000 to support voluntary and community projects tackling climate change in the county.
The £500,000 Climate Action Fund, which is available until March 2023, was announced at the Essex Climate Action Commission’s report launch event on 20 July. The fund has been created to support the Commission’s ‘Net Zero: Making Essex Carbon Neutral’ report, which makes recommendations on how all organisations, businesses, local communities and residents can work together to make Essex net zero by 2050.
Speaking about the fund, Cllr Peter Schwier, Climate Czar at Essex County Council said: “We are all working to tackle the climate challenge here in Essex. I hope this ambitious fund can inspire people across Essex to act and do their bit with friends and family. It’s a great opportunity for more communities to get involved.”
A heartwarming video from Danbury Park Primary School kicked off the event, with the young pupils discussing their concerns about climate change and bright ideas to help prevent its adverse effects. Intelligent and fervent words from the Co-Chair of the Commission, Prajwal, helped the voice of the next generation hit home as he handed over the report to the people of Essex and appealed for help in changing the county’s future. Further encouragement was drawn from a showcase of all the impactful projects already happening across Essex, from flood management schemes to solar panel installation, cycle hire schemes and retrofitting homes with sustainable heating systems.
Alongside showcasing these ongoing inspiring actions, during the event the Essex Climate Action Commission revealed its recommendations on how Essex can transform itself into a net zero county as quickly as possible. These included recommendations for best practice across six core themes: land use and green infrastructure, the built environment, waste, energy, transport, and community engagement.
An interactive audience poll at the event highlighted the steps that residents are prepared to take to tackle climate change. 25% of delegates said they would prefer to use greener forms of transport, such as cycling, walking or getting the bus, while 24% are looking into switching to renewable energy at home. A final poll revealed that 91% of delegates were likely or very likely to take action to tackle climate change after the event.
The Essex Climate Action Commission is an independent, voluntary, and cross-party body, made up of over 30 commissioners from the public and private and third sectors, to promote and guide climate action in the county. The online event marked the end of the Commission’s first year considering how best to achieve net zero in Essex.
Lord Randall of Uxbridge, Chair of the Essex Climate Action Commission, said: “The Commission’s 30 plus members include an array of experts and people who are really expert and experienced in their field. This includes not just academia, but those in the public sector, business leaders, people who really have a grounding in what the practical issues are when it comes to climate change.”
The Commission’s second year will focus on green growth and green finance, establishing how the county can benefit from the many opportunities that changing to a low carbon economy will bring.
Speaking about the Essex Climate Action Commission’s recommendations, Cllr Kevin Bentley, Leader of Essex County Council, said: “Climate change is the biggest issue we are facing both globally and in Essex, because it’s not just about us, it’s about the generations to come. Essex County Council is proud to be on the forefront of combating this alongside the Commission, and we look forward to working together with everybody who lives and works in Essex to help make net zero a reality.
“What’s more, I’m delighted to launch the new Climate Action Challenge Fund to support inspiring environmental initiatives in the region. The future truly is bright for a greener Essex.”
When you first realise that your child experiences the world in a different way it can feel overwhelming, but once you begin to understand their way of thinking it can be rewarding and you can learn so much from your child.
We are a group of parents, at various stages on this same journey. We were desperate for guidance and didn’t know where to look to find what we needed. A few years on, our knowledge has grown. We now know there is a lot of information available, but it can be hard to find the bits that are factually correct and relevant to your own situation.
So, we wanted to share not only our own experiences, tips, and best practices, but also those of other families and children from across Essex, Southend and Thurrock, who have been where you are now.
We have provided an overview of what we have found to be the most relevant information from sources such as the NHS website, national charities and IPSEA but we aren’t trying to recreate textbooks that are already available. There are links included that you could follow to find out more on specific topics.
We have also recommended some books, videos and blogs, which are all resources that we have used ourselves. We don’t intend for you to read this whole pack in one go, but dip in and out when each section becomes relevant to your family’s situation. Just as every child is unique, every family’s experience will be different, but we hope there will be some information here that will help you.
Books and websites can provide very useful guidance but we believe it is equally important to find your own ‘tribe’ of other SEND parents, who will understand how you are feeling and provide emotional, as well as practical, support. Thanks to all of the young people, parents and professionals who have provided input.
Good luck on your journey. Maggie, Paula, Sam, and Katrina
An annual UK-wide national awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self-care across communities, families and generations.
In addition to helping people look after their own health, Self-Care Week is also used to promote better use of the NHS by signposting people to the right service relevant to their health needs – in particular, signposting people to pharmacy for accessible health care and advice.
As part of the many activities taking place across mid and south Essex, an Instagram Live will take place on Wednesday, 17 November at 6:30pm. The session will cover some top tips to help any parent self-care for their child or children if they are unwell through the winter months. The live broadcast will cover what services are available to help, advice on what you should keep in a medicine cabinet and how to use the Essex Child Health app.
It will be hosted by local mum of two, Jenna Chapman, (@_the.mini.mum¬_) with local guest GP, Dr Alex Shaw, providing clinical advice.
Jenna said: “The purpose of the Instagram live will be to provide parents with some really useful practical tips and advice on self-caring for their child during the winter months, when flu and colds are particularly prevalent. It’s really useful for parents to feel confident in how to self-care for their child and to also be aware of the range of services available to them for support. I’m looking forward to lots of positive interaction and the chance to engage with local parents in the area”.
Dr Alex Shaw, a GP based at Highlands Surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, said: “Self-care includes many health conditions, from coughs, colds and flu to self-care for longer term conditions.
“It’s about raising awareness and giving confidence to parents about how they can safely treat minor ailments and what to keep in their medicine cabinet to help both parents and children to stay well. It’s important that parents know which services and information resources are available when children fall ill.”
The pandemic has had a huge knock-on effect on charity events. From fundraising to awareness raising, events are vital for not-for-profit organisations. Many charities rely on event fundraising to grow their income, so not being able to hold physical
gatherings has been a real blow for the sector.
For the past 18 months, charities have turned their hands to virtual events to increase fundraising income. They’ve shown great skill and ability to run these well.
Now that life in the UK has returned to an “improved normal”, how will event teams run events next year and beyond? Will they stick with virtual, move back to physical, or combine the best of both worlds?
The hybrid model
There are lot of benefits to hosting events online, including being able to reach broader audiences and cost savings. For example, when you run events virtually, you save on things like venue fees, photography, and merchandise.
On the flip side, we know there are lots of benefits to holding physical events. One of the biggest advantages is they give delegates the chance to network with others and feel a part of something. This social element is harder to achieve virtually.
So, is it possible to merge the two? Hybrid events – combining virtual and live elements – can bring together the benefits of both types of events.
YourStory says hybrid events combine a small group of people at one location with lots of others joining in remotely. It says: “Hybrid events are made for the COVID-19 era. They bring together the charm of physical presence as well as the convenience of remote participation.”
Hybrid events also give people choice about whether to attend virtually or in person. This is particularly helpful for people who may have health concerns and don’t yet feel comfortable returning to physical events.
Making physical events safe
It’s important charities think about how they can host physical events safely. Delegates will want to know there are protocols in place to keep everyone safe. This includes everything from providing hand sanitiser at registration desks to reducing occupancy numbers in venues.
Open Audience says there are lots of health and safety protocols and different groups of people to consider. It says: “There is the audience, the speakers and the technology crew. For example, in physical meetings the AV team normally stand by to attach the mic to the speaker. Does the tech person leave the mic on the table, and explain how to attach and use the mic?”
Using advanced technology
Event venues will need to be more tech savvy. EventsCase says that having a larger online audience means you need the latest technology in networking, cyber-security, online conferencing, audio components, and cloud-based technology.
You need to think carefully about how you engage your physical and online audiences. It’s important that virtual audiences can interact in the same way as those attending in-person.
Hybrid events will also need online audiences to be able to interact with live audiences. You could use mobile apps to connect the two groups and help people network, or live polling and Q&As with audiences able to submit questions.
Managing content for a virtual audience
An article in Forbes, which featured interviews with events professionals, says when running hybrid events, you need to think about the content you share with your virtual audience.
Events specialist Dahlia El Gazzar says: “Hybrid doesn’t mean you only broadcast the face-to-face content, because often that content doesn’t translate well to the online audience. You need to consider their online experience and have exclusive content for the online audience.”
Plan your events
It’s important to plan a hybrid event carefully. As part of your planning, you need a strategy and goals. The goal for all hybrid events is to engage as many attendees as possible, no matter how they are taking part.
You should also think about your event programme as it will need more consideration as you balance the needs of two audiences. Marketing is also important so think about creating a website for your event or adding dedicated event pages to your existing website. You also need to send out emails to potential delegates.