Sharp Consultancy’s Post

It's the last day of Small Charity Week and there has been heaps of great noise about the amazing work that small charities do on the frontline in the UK. There are, of course, lots of brilliant things we can do to support the small charities that often get overshadowed by large national charities, but one of the most impactful, in my opinion, is to be a Trustee or NED of a smaller organisation. You really get to understand the inner, complex workings of a charity, you get to see how your time, knowledge and input helps move the organisation forward, you know that you are making a difference to (usually) vulnerable people who really need a helping hand from a charity, and you can hopefully take some weight off or be a sounding board for an overstretched Chief Exec (thank you to my own generous trustees Lara Sonola, Tracy Cherrington, Karrie Liu (CMath FIMA), Richard Smuts at Age UK Wandsworth for all their help!). I often get asked why I volunteer my time (I'm a trustee at the wonderful BLINDAID and a newly-appointed volunteer NED at Beyond The Page) when I already work in the voluntary sector and when I must be already at capacity in my own charity role. Yes, I'm not going to lie, I do have a never ending to do list (who doesn't?), but it's really important to me to use some of my precious personal time to support my community and to support my peers. As well as all the skills they can't afford in consultants, small charity Boards need people who understand/work in charities on them too, to help provide a balanced perspective about the operational reality of running a charity and how that marries up with strategic objectives. So this is a shout out to anyone on here who isn't already a trustee to go have a look at Reach Volunteering and apply for a board role this weekend. Pretty please 💕 #smallcharityweek #volunteeringmatters https://lnkd.in/ecYZB7UY

Community perceptions of charities and community groups are shifting. That will require a reset in some of our thinking to find a new North. Community Council for Australia CEO David Crosbie delves into an absolute must read for #charities and #communitygroups: The Community Compass. In this article for the Community Advocate he discusses four of the many issues that arose for him when reviewing the findings: indifference; volunteering; our shifting values; and community views on purpose. 'People are generally very supportive of our work, and happy to become more involved where possible, but if we really want more engagement and support, we’ll have to do more than appeal to values like fairness and equity that no longer resonate strongly with everyone in our communities.' #charities #communitygroups #nfps #giving #volunteering Finding a new north – reflections on the Community Compass Report: https://lnkd.in/gPaNX2F3

as an agency, we look upon the work of #charities and are amazed at what they do. through their amazing work, we also see the effort and struggle - to build connections, strengthen online communities and to raise the funds needed to keep missions afloat. that's why we're around. this is why we exist. we exist to give all charities a helping hand. we want charities to succeed because when they do - people are helped, causes are helped, humanity wins. the world is better because of the work of charities. and today, we want charities from all around the world to know this: we're on your side. #cbm #forcharities #charity #impact #support #help #funds #fundraising 

Happy International Charity Day! Today’s a great reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Whether it's donating, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness, we can all contribute to positive change! How are you giving back today? Share your favorite charity or how you plan to support below! #InternationalCharityDay #GiveBack #MakeADifference

Just like that #SmallCharityWeek2024, is over. Small Charity Week is a time to celebrate the unsung heroes; small charities that quietly transform lives. Did you know that a staggering 96% of all UK charities fall into this category? These small charities often operate under the radar until someone in your community, perhaps even someone close to you, needs their assistance. They are a resilient bunch even if they are facing mounting demand, dwindling income, fewer funders, rising costs and have to raise their voices a little louder to be heard. Take Challenge Wales, for instance. A small charity that thrives on the dedication of its volunteers and supporters who generously donate their time, passion, and voices to help transform and inspire the lives of young people in a positive way. Small charities like Challenge Wales stretch every donation to its limits while striving to achieve more. As we bid farewell to Small Charities Week 2024, let’s raise our virtual applause for all those small charities making a significant impact in challenging environments and all those small charities that local businesses are supporting. If you are a business perhaps with the community at your core, or are wanting to do more with the local community, why not see which local charities are on your doorstep where a little bit more support would make a world of difference! 🌊👏 #SailTraining #OutdoorLearning #Philanthropy #InKindDonations #SmallCharityWeek #Volunteering #CommunityImpact #Cardiff #Penarth🌟

A new report has found that charities need to listen more to remove the digital barriers that prevent disabled people from volunteering - find out more on the Third Sector website at https://lnkd.in/e3cmY5Xr #afcf #digitalbarriers #fundraising #fundraisingprofessionals #disabledvolunteers

ICYMI: our new #employeevolunteering product and matching service launched to charities yesterday exclusively in Third Sector! 🎉 For the first time, charities can now use their Doit account to advertise exclusively to businesses through our Doit Day app for corporates - and it's completely FREE for charities and community groups of every size. And if you're the kind of charity that wants to support employee volunteering but can only do it on demand, we've got you covered - you can tell us what your possible opportunities look like, what corporates need, and we'll advertise them in the most appropriate way for you. Check the comments to find out more! 🔗 #volunteering #csr #wellbeing #esg #socialresponsibility #nonprofit #charity #charities

If you're not a trustee, chances are that you know someone who is, so please pass this on. Times have never been harder for trustees, who as volunteers have a challenging task to make the right strategic decisions, so this input may be invaluable. Thanks in advance! #charitychairs #charitytrustees #trusteematters #charitystrategy

Volunteers are a lifeline for many charities, so it’s important to treat them with equity and fairness. Everyone should be able to volunteer and make a difference, whatever their background. Making volunteering accessible to everyone benefits both charities and those who want to give back, we look in to how to make volunteering more inclusive in our latest article. 🔗 Read the full article here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eRKSiYu6 #CharityDigital #VolunteersWeek #NonProfit