The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme is offering free Independent Energy Assessments (IEA’s) to eligible frontline community organisations across England to help them save money and be more energy efficient. With a satisfactory IEA, your organisation may be eligible for a Capital Grant through the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme. Applications close in August 2024.

Wednesday 28th February | 9:30am-4:30pm

Charity managers, you have a lot on your plate. So why not take a brief break and join the Directory of Social Change at their Good Management Matters conference to get re-energised and take a much-needed day to learn and hear from the experts.

You will hear from a range of speakers on key areas that managers are dealing with, including: leading your team; understanding the finances; inspiring and engaging people, dealing with differences and keeping yourself and your team well.

This conference is critical for anyone in a middle or high-level management roles in any size or type of charity.

Thursday 14th March | 2:00pm

Join this Third Sector webinar, in partnership with Microsoft, on Thursday 14th March at 2pm to learn how National Trust and Charities Aid Foundation have revolutionised their daily operations with AI. Their expert panel explore: 

• Why you should invest in AI
• How to convince the higher-ups of its relevance in your organisation
• The day-to-day use of AI e.g. writing fundraising bids, cutting through repetitive administrative tasks
• How to implement it: what privacy, security, compliance regulations you need
• How to build a learning culture where risk isn’t viewed as off putting but an opportunity

How often do you get asked: “How much of my donation is going to the cause?”

Nonprofits often face scrutiny for allocating funds to overhead costs. This fixation can hinder the growth and impact of charities. Third Sector’s exclusive screening of UnCharitable, challenges the notion that this question is the be-all and end-all of charitable giving.

UnCharitable's creator, Dan Pallotta explores why society's obsession with nonprofit overhead is unfair and proposes a new mindset.

Pro Bono Economics (PBE) published its Women and the Charity Sector report in early November 2023. It comes hot on the heels of NCVO’s Almanac 2023, which touched on the demographics of the voluntary sector’s workforce. This report from PBE goes more into depth about gender in the sector. Some key points from the report are:

• The charity sector ‘feels’ female
• Men are in the minority but dominate the sector’s decision-making
• Gender inequity has consequences
• The sector has made progress, but a long path is ahead of us

If you would like to read the report, you can download it here.

There has been “little or no improvement” to the operating environment of charities since last year’s autumn statement, a coalition of charity umbrella bodies has told the chancellor. The Civil Society Group urged Jeremy Hunt to take action to alleviate the “challenging financial environment in which the voluntary sector continues to operate”.