What’s Strong, not what’s wrong. “Almost half of all council areas in England have youth work “black holes” with few or no services despite high levels of deprivation and antisocial behaviour, analysis shows.” https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/12/youth-work-cuts-england-map-study In February this year, The Guardian ran a story that pointed to significant gaps in youth work provision across England. The research estimated the level of youth work activity based on or

What VCFSE Organisations should consider to remain inclusive

Updated guidance on how the Equality Act 2010 applies to the VCFSE

Worship spaces and their legacy as places of gathering My role as the Faith Development officer at Wirral CVS is not a common one, and although there are many faith based infrastructure organisations, few are looking specifically at the nuances of how the faith sector fit within the wider civil sector. Those organisations are often concerned specifically with building capacity and supporting faith groups independently of the wider sector which is not bad by any means, but not

A look into recent funder events, as well as a ones on the horizon!

Small Charity Week is worth celebrating, but is also an opportunity to reflect on unique challenges We are really proud to celebrate Small Charity Week this week, a time dedicated to recognising the incredible impact that small charities have on our communities and to highlight the multitude of challenges that they have to navigate each and every day. NCVO defines small charities as those with an annual income of less than £1 million. While they may be defined as small with

Here's what charities need to know. From 6 April 2026, major reforms to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) come into force which is one of the most significant updates to employee sickness rights in years. Whether you’re an employer, trustee, or employee, these changes are set to reshape how sick pay works across the UK. So, what’s actually changing? One of the biggest shifts is the removal of the Lower Earnings Limit. This means SSP will now be available to all employees, regardless o

A look into the Charity Commission's guidance on the Online Safety Act Charities and Social Media guidance from the Charity Commission has been thoroughly updated in response to the recent introduction of the Online Safety Act 2023. This new legislation aims to enhance the safety and security of online interactions, particularly focusing on the responsibilities of organizations and individuals in maintaining a safe digital environment. As a result, it is crucial for charities

A quick guide to understanding and implementing Charitable Soft Opt-Ins for your organisation It has always been challenging for charitable organisations to establish clear consent to be able to reach out to people we interact with via email or text. In short, if we have collected someone's email or phone number can we contact them? The Data Use and Access Act 2025 has extended Soft opt-in rules to charities and came into effect in February 2026. Charitable soft opt-in allow

Does your charity need a property? - free webinar for charities The Ethical Property Foundation (EPF) is pleased to continue their 2026 webinar series. Do charities need property? As the UK’s leading property advice charity for the voluntary sector, they offer this free webinar to help charities and voluntary organisations make informed decisions about property. This practical and reflective session will support you to think carefully about the role property plays in your w

And how to avoid them. Setting up a Community Interest Company (CIC) is, for the most part, a straightforward process. However, it’s important to remember that the documents you complete at the very beginning don’t just sit in a filing cabinet—they become part of the public record. That means anyone, including potential partners and funders, can access them. Getting things right from the start helps you present your organisation professionally and avoid unnecessary delays. Ge

Critical changes charities should know before April 2026 In our sector, we're constantly dealing with the tough task of managing complicated and often tricky budgets, which can really put a dent in how we operate. Depending on short-term contracts and part-time staff just makes things more complicated when it comes to managing our workforce. This can cause instability and disrupt the continuity of service, which is a big hurdle for organisations trying to offer steady support

Charities occasionally face situations where they feel a moral obligation to make a payment or waive a right to property, even though there is no legal requirement to do so. These are known as ex gratia payments. For instance Adjusting a legacy where a will does not reflect the donor’s final wishes or making a payment to resolve a situation where fairness or compassion is at stake. From 27 November 2025, new powers under the Charities Act 2022 will make the process simpler f

Updated guidance to help charities stay compliant and maintain public trust A new Code of Fundraising Practice came into effect on 1 November, introducing important updates that modernise fundraising standards and help charities ensure their fundraising activity remains compliant, transparent and ethical. These changes are designed to reflect the evolving ways that charities engage supporters and to provide clearer guidance in an increasingly digital fundraising environment.

Would you like to design a bespoke Safeguarding Adults training course for volunteers while gaining a nationally recognised qualification in training and facilitation? Wirral CVS is offering 10 fully funded places on the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) . This opportunity is open to staff from Wirral-based Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations who support and train volunteers. About the Programme This initiative forms part of W

Important guidance for CICs and charitable businesses on upcoming Companies House identity checks If you are a Director of a Community Interest Company (CIC) or another type of charitable business, it is important to be aware of new legal requirements coming into force from 18th November 2025. From this date, identity verification will become a legal requirement for all company directors. This change is part of wider reforms introduced by Companies House to improve corporate

On Friday, I attended the Liverpool City Region Digital Inclusion Network at Mann Island focused on all aspects of Digital Inclusion....

From the in-person Faith Forum at Christ the King Church on 13th May The Faith Forum meeting held on 13 May 2025 focused on discussing...

Tell us about your training offer In a recent discussion, a question was raised about whether our sector has a shared prospectus of...

A summary of our recent Meet the Funder At the recent Meet the Funder event with the Johnson Foundation, the room was buzzing. This...