News Articles
What the 2025 Spending Review means for charities and communities
Helen Oparinde, Sector Growth Coordinator, breaks down what the latest government spending plans mean for the voluntary sector.Government spending is split into two main categories: Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) and Annually Managed Expenditure (AME). The spending review focuses on departmental budgets - including day-to-day spending (resource DEL) and investment in infrastructure (…
What to do if you have concerns about a charity
‘I’m worried that a charity might not be operating as it should - what should I do?’ It’s a question no one wants to ask, but sometimes we must. Whether you're a member of the public, a volunteer, or a staff member, Helen Oparinde, NCVS Sector Growth Coordinator, guides you through the process, including the latest guidance (released today, Monday 6 June), to support you through what can be a…
Celebrating volunteers, one brilliant conversation at a time
NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas has had a busy Volunteers' Week and has sent this detailed report:Last week’s Volunteers Week was, again, a very busy and very positive week for us at NCVS. We hosted an online Leaders of Volunteers Network, the first face-to-face training in about five years, and I went to talk to students at a volunteering event where I was invited by the…
New Ministry of Justice funding boosts partnership support for people facing severe and multiple disadvantage
Changing Futures Nottingham has announced a new funding partnership with the Ministry of Justice that will strengthen ongoing collaborative work with the probation service in Nottingham. The 18-month investment will support efforts to reduce reoffending, improve rehabilitation, and enhance resettlement pathways for individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage.As part of this initiative, an…
Charity or social enterprise? Choosing the right structure for your purpose
As part of our monthly Focus Week, we're concentrating on our Frequently Asked Friday, a space for us to answer your frequently asked questions. This week, Helen Oparinde, NCVS Sector Growth Coordinator, has been looking into organisational structures.Question:As part of NCVS’s request for support services, we get asked for support on various topics, from volunteer recruitment to reviewing…
NCVS Birthday Bimble
What do you get if you mix a 150th birthday with a county wide walking festival and an organisation involved in Active Travel and nature-based social prescribing projects? The NCVS Birthday Bimble, of course! Kate, NCVS ATSP Community Development Coordinator, gives a summary of our Birthday Bimble. On Wednesday 7 May 2025, a week into National Walking Month, 28 of us met at NCVS…
Relevance of quality standards to effective partnerships with government
A little while back, Nikyla, our Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator, asked Helen, our Sector Growth Coordinator at NCVS, about tools to support her work in Gedling. In response, Helen has put together a practical rundown of quality standards to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations navigate what’s out there.Read on for Helen's expert insights.Back in…
A message of support and trans-inclusive solidarity from NCVS
Next week is Trans+ History Week which runs from 5 to 11 May 2025 Trans+ History Week is dedicated to celebrating the rich history of transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse, and intersex individuals through stories, events and lesson books for the whole world to use. At Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS), we believe that education and awareness around trans+ identities…
Tools to engage and support online and remote volunteers
During a recent conversation online with a leader of volunteers, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas was inspired to consider one of the biggest changes in volunteering since Covid-19. In a more detailed follow-up to his 2021 blog, Dave writes:Leaders of volunteers have always sought to use the most effective ways to support and communicate with their volunteers. This almost…
When Helen met Gary - Meet the Funder with Lloyds Bank Foundation
As part of the Broxtowe project, we had hoped to organise a funding fair to introduce local and national funders to the voluntary groups in Broxtowe. However, with the knowledge that many funders are undergoing a strategy review, Helen Oparinde, NCVS’s Group Support Coordinator, came up with an alternative way to achieve similar goals – an online meet-the-funder event. Here she shares her…