NCVS e-bulletin - Thursday 26 June 2025

Welcome to this edition of the NCVS e-bulletin – your perfect excuse to put the kettle on and skip that email you’ve been putting off!

There’s been a bit of change in the team over the past few weeks – we’ve said a fond farewell to one of our GreenSpace team but also welcomed a new face to the ever-growing Changing Futures project. Meanwhile, Helen’s been working hard behind the scenes supporting potential applicants to the new Police and Crime Commissioner fund (you can find out more about that fund here).

Now, let’s get stuck in. In this edition, you’ll find:

• Team updates: welcoming a new colleague and saying goodbye to a valued one
• Dave’s latest blog on resolving those tricky volunteer issues
• Training for anyone keen to become a bike ride leader, courtesy of Travel Well and Ridewise
• Loads of new funding and training opportunities

...and plenty more.

Happy reading!

Everyone at NCVS would like to offer heartfelt congratulations to Merlita Bryan, who has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025 for her outstanding services to the community in Nottingham.

Merlita is the inspirational founder of the Black Achievers Awards, a celebration that shines a light on the incredible contributions of Nottingham’s Black and ethnic minority communities. NCVS is proud to sponsor the Community Volunteer of the Year category at the Awards each year, and we’ve seen first-hand the passion and dedication Merlita brings to championing local people.

Read Merlita’s interview with the BBC

We’d also like to extend our warmest congratulations to Ben Rosser of The Pythian Club, who has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). NCVS has supported the Pythian Club for a number of years, and it’s fantastic to see Ben’s work recognised in this way.

Read more about Ben’s story, and the other Nottinghamshire recipients

Their recognition is richly deserved, and we’re proud to see Nottingham’s community champions honoured in this way.

We’ve got a team update to share! Below, we’re saying a big thank you and goodbye to a much-loved colleague, and giving a warm welcome to a new face joining the NCVS team. Read on for both messages…

Changing Futures is committed to making positive and lasting change for people who face severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) in Nottingham.

As a partnership programme, they’re keen to connect with our local community and invite you to join our mailing list to receive updates and stories directly to your inbox.

If you’d like to hear more about Changing Future's impact, click the button below to join their email list and you’ll receive their first newsletter soon!

Welcome to the new Team Talk centre, your one-stop shop for all things tips, tricks, and resources. Here you'll find the latest from the team at NCVS.

There are plenty more blogs, think pieces and helpful resources on our website. 

There are multiple deadlines throughout the year, the next deadline is mid-August

The Toy Trust has funding of up to £5,000 available for small UK-based charities that work for the benefit of disadvantaged children aged 13 years and under. Organisations must be a registered charity and have been running for at least one full year.

The next deadline for applications is Monday 15 September 2025

Grants for Good provides unrestricted funding to small and growing local charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises that significantly impact communities, people, or the environment. The funds can be utilised for any of your organisation’s expenses, including core running costs.

There is an ongoing deadline and groups are advised to apply as soon as possible

The National Lottery Community Fund is offering large-scale funding for organisations in England tackling the root causes of inequality, including poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. Grants of between £1 million and £5 million are available to be spent over five to ten years.

This funding is aimed at supporting and strengthening long-term work that leads to lasting change. In particular, they want to fund organisations that involve people with lived experience of these issues enabling them to shape and lead the response.

We're regularly updating the funding news on our website, so click the button below and find the fund for you!

Do you lead, support or work with volunteers in Nottingham City? Then why not join our Leaders of Volunteers Network (LoVN)? It's a great way to connect with others who understand the ups and downs of volunteer management. We meet online every few months to share ideas, hear from guest speakers and chat about all things volunteering. We also host occasional in-person meetups, known as LoVN Extra, for a more relaxed chance to network face-to-face. There’s no pressure to attend every session – just join when you can. You’ll still get all the key updates, notes and news. Click the button below to find out more and sign up for the LoVN mailing list.

Active travel social prescribing connects people to walking, cycling, and wheeling activities to improve health and wellbeing, often via referral from healthcare professionals.

The 'Travel Well' project operates in Nottingham neighborhoods, enabling referrals to activities like cycle training, bike repairs, and guided walks. NCVS works with partners, including Nottingham City Council and local organisations, to deliver this support.

Two Care Coordinators help manage referrals and ensure access to these services, promoting active travel as a way to enhance mental and physical health.

Travel Well has three free one-day Ride Leader training sessions available with Ridewise.

There are only eight places available on each course, so book soon to avoid disappointment!

• Monday 30 June 2025 - 9.45am to 1.30pm at Harvey Hadden Sports Village, Wigman Road, NG8 4PB
  
  
• Wednesday 2 July 2025 - 10.15am to 2pm at Bulwell Riverside (room 2), 108 Coventry Road, NG6 8PS
  
  
• Wednesday 16 July 2025 - 9am to 1pm at Brendon Lawarence Sports Centre, 35 Hungerhill Road, NG3 4NB

Riders must be confident cyclists and able to cycle on the road 

The Practice Development Unit (PDU) aims to promote and facilitate collaborative learning and the sharing of good practice among professionals and volunteers from all sectors, in Nottingham and neighbouring areas, who work with people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD). This is understood as a combination of mental ill-health, substance misuse, homelessness, offending and domestic abuse, among other issues.

Contact our PDU Team if you need more information: pdu@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

Join our free online hub www.pdunottingham.org

Follow us on Twitter @NottinghamCVS #PDUNottingham.

Our full Training and Development programme is available to view on our website. All courses take place online via Zoom.

We have new sessions and new dates for 2025/2026. Book now.

Here’s what’s on offer:

• Core training – Now free*!
  Expert-led sessions covering essential skills for your organisation. You've said, we've listened, introducing brand new training to support your funding needs.
  
  
• Meet the... Series
  Join us for this new series where sector leaders share insights on the topics that matter most to Nottingham’s voluntary sector.
  
  
• PDU Training
  Supporting those working with people experiencing Severe and Multiple Disadvantage (SMD) with specialist insights and practical approaches.
  
  
• Social Enterprise Accelerator Programme (with NTU)
  Providing hands-on support for those starting or growing a social enterprise.

Check out upcoming sessions and book your place today!

* Please be aware of our Terms and Conditions and Cancellation Policy.

Tuesday 8 July July 2025, 10am to 11am
Online via Zoom

Join Dave Thomas for a friendly, practical online session that guides you through the full volunteer journey - from planning and recruitment to support and supervision.

Whether you’re just getting started or want to refresh your approach with new ideas, this training will help you build strong, effective relationships with your volunteers and feel confident in your leadership role.

Book your place and take the first step towards becoming the volunteer leader your team needs.

Wednesday 16 July July 2025, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

Join Dave Thomas for this friendly and practical online session, all about handling conflict and difficult conversations when they pop up in your volunteer team. From small misunderstandings to bigger personality clashes, you’ll learn how to approach issues calmly and confidently.

Whether you’re new to working with volunteers or just want a fresh perspective, this training will give you useful tools to keep your team happy, supported and working well together.

Save your spot and feel more prepared for whatever comes your way.

Thursday 17 July 2025, 10.30am to 11.30am
Online via Zoom

Join us online for a relaxed and helpful session with Sue Heyes, Severn Trent Community Fund Officer, to hear all about their new funding opportunities.

You’ll learn what kind of projects they’re looking to support, how to apply, and have the chance to ask your questions. Helen from NCVS will also be there to chat about how we can support you with your application.

Ideal for groups with new ideas that support people, places or the environment.

Wednesday 9 July 2025, 10.30am to 1pm
Online via Microsoft Teams

Curious about how Secondary Adult Mental Health services work – especially Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP)?

Join Eleanor, Anthony and Lilian from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for this practical, introductory session. You’ll get a clear overview of what psychosis is, how the EIP service supports people from referral to recovery, and what to expect if you’re working with someone accessing these services.

Perfect for anyone supporting people experiencing psychosis or simply wanting to understand the service better.

Looking to grow your social enterprise or diversify your income in the face of recent cuts? The Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) project could be just what you need. Delivered in partnership between NCVS and Nottingham Trent University’s National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory, and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, SEA offers tailored support to help you start or scale your social enterprise. From workshops on business planning, marketing, governance and tender readiness, to mentoring, networking and even small grant opportunities, this programme is packed with practical support to help turn your ideas into impact.

If you are a VCSE organisation in Nottingham City or a VCSE organisation recruiting to a job role which covers the Nottingham City area, you can submit a job advert for our website. Adverts remain on our website until the closing date. We feature new adverts once in the e-bulletin, where possible, depending on the volume of new adverts received.

There are lots more job listings on our website. You can view all the job vacancies available by clicking on the 'More Vacancies' button at the bottom of this section.

Tuesday 1 July 2025, 10am to 1pm
Online via Zoom

The Collaboratory Research Hub is offering a workshop to support evidence-based change in local communities. The pilot course aims to provide practical tools for driving meaningful impact. Participants will learn to identify root causes, assess impact, break issues into manageable steps, explore strategies, develop solutions, and build evidence-based cases for change. Spaces are limited to 15 participants, and early registration is encouraged.

Attendees will receive a £30 high street voucher as a thank-you for their participation.

Every second Thursday of each month, 10am to 12 noon
Nottingham Central Library, 1 Carrington Street, NG1 7FH

The Business and IP Centre (BIPC) Women’s Network is a monthly meet-up designed to connect and support women at any stage of their business journey.

Hosted in collaboration with Coffee With Ella, each session offers a relaxed, welcoming space to share ideas, gain inspiration, and build genuine connections. Expect practical insights from guest speakers, informal networking (no awkward pitches), coffee-fuelled conversations, and an optional co-working session to keep the momentum going.

Whether you're just starting out or growing something big, you're welcome to come as you are - big ideas, early-stage plans, and everything in between.

• Monthly sessions
• BIPC Nottinghamshire
• Guest speakers
• Informal networking
• Coffee and optional co-working

Got questions? Contact Ella at ella@coffeewithella.com.

Saturday 26 July 2025, 11am to 5pm
Stonebridge City Farm, Stonebridge Road, NG3 2FR

The Stonebridge Arts Festival is back this summer! This time there will be so many workshops and interactive performances for you and your little ones to get involved with. From belly dancing to silent disco, they've got it all!

This free, family-friendly event is made possible thanks to support from Arts Council England.

No need to book; just turn up on the day. Information about how to plan for your visit is on the Stonebridge City Farm website.

More event listings on our website

Head over to the dedicated 'External Events and Training' page on our website to view more events and training opportunities from Nottingham's Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.

If you would like to submit an event to feature on this page, please fill in our online event submission form. Events will be approved for publication on the NCVS website at our discretion, taking into account our aims and mission.

Thursday 10 July 2025, 12 noon to 1pm
Online via Zoom

The Ethical Property Foundation (EPF) is offering a free webinar series in 2025 to help charities and community groups manage their premises effectively. The webinar will guide participants through essentials of premises management, including assessing property needs, managing risks, finding cost-saving opportunities, maintaining property efficiently, creating an environmentally sustainable workplace, and understanding tenant responsibilities. The session will also provide exclusive resources.

Citizens Advice Nottingham and District is offering free training to help frontline staff in Nottingham city charities, groups and organisations become Advice First Aiders. It’s all about giving your team the tools to spot when someone needs help, support them to find the right information, and know when to refer them for expert advice. Your staff will stay connected with Citizens Advice after the training, joining a friendly network of Advice First Aiders across the city.

Upcoming training dates:

• Tuesday 1 July 2025, 10am to 1pm
• Monday 21 July 2025, 1pm to 4pm
• Friday 15 August 2025, 10am to 1pm

If you can't make one of these dates, but are interested in future courses, you can let the team know via the form below.

Rosterfy’s new survey is now live, gathering insights from volunteer managers across the UK. It takes just 10 minutes and you could win a £200 Amazon voucher (or one of three £100 vouchers). Help shape future tools, policy and support for the sector.

General VCSE sector resources

• Show of support: Uncovering current trends in volunteering in the UK - The Access Group analysed Google search data from March 2024 to February 2025 to understand how the public’s interest in volunteering has changed over the past 12 months.
  
  
• UKGrantmaking 2025 - UKGrantmaking is the annual publication on grant funding in the UK, providing a comprehensive overview of grant recipients across all funding sectors.
  
  
• Trusteeship – a positive opportunity - This research by PBE demonstrates that trustees experience multiple benefits from their role.

The Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) e-bulletin will be back in a fortnight. The deadline for contributions and comments is Monday 7 July 2025. Email communications@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

Did you know we keep an archive of past NCVS e-bulletins? View the archive here.

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