On this page you will find a range of practical advice, guidance and tools to help Voluntary, Community, Social, Faith and Enterprise (VCSFE) groups in Sheffield.
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) has a range of guidance and resources to help with topics like:
Management committees and boards
NVCO: management committees and boards.
Supporting trustees with understanding their roles and responsibilities
NVCO: roles and responsibilities.
Good decision making
NVCO: decision making.
Charity Digital has published Ten EDI actions for your charity
Charity Digital: Ten EDI Actions for Your Charity.
The Association of Charitable Organisations has a regularly updated directory of resources
The Association of Charitable Organisations: directory of resources.
The Co-Production Collective has resources to support organisations understand the structural and cultural roots of racial inequality
Sheffield’s Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board provides introductory training to safeguarding.
SASP: introductory training.
Ann Craft Trust has host of resources to assist with safeguarding adults
Ann Craft Trust: resources.
NSPCC offers a range of in person and virtual training courses in safeguarding and child protection
NSPCC: training courses.
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) has a useful overview and supporting documents on safeguarding
NVCO: safeguarding.
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service have a variety of online resources and guides that can be accessed by anybody
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service: online resources and guides.
The NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) website has guidance, techniques and tools for charity finances and posts regular articles on latest developments
NVCO: Financial Management.
Sheffield Social Enterprise Network has a resource hub and coordinates events, networking and joint working opportunities
Sheffield Social Enterprise Network: resource hub.
The Social Enterprise Exchange also supports social enterprise in South Yorkshire
Unltd provides funding and support for social entrepreneurs
Voluntary Action Sheffield’s Development Team can provide model policies on topics like Data Management, Safeguarding, Health and Safety, and Recruitment
VAS: Development Team.
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) have a range of model HR policies
NCVO: HR policies.
SOAR also have model policies available via their website
SOAR: model policies.
The Charity Commission has published guidance and expectations on the use of social media
The Charity Commission: guidance and expectations.
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) have summarised key actions and considerations for the VCSFE
Sheffield’s Volunteer Centre provides advice and support for organisations that host volunteers and can also match people to volunteering opportunities
Time2Volunteer provide examples of volunteering policies
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) have several articles to help organisations that are considering involving volunteers
NCVO: involving volunteers.
What Works Wellbeing have resources and prompts to help organisations capture and demonstrate the difference they make
South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau (SYFAB) offer a course on aims, outcomes and impact as part of their regular training programme
SYFAB: Training and Events.
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) also have a suite of tools and planning templates
NCVO: Impact and Evaluation.
The Charity Commission has a step-by-step guide for organisations that are choosing to close voluntarily, and advice for organisations that are insolvent or at risk of insolvency
The Charity Commission: How to close a charity
The Charity Commission: Improving your charity’s finances.
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) have resources with other points to consider in addition to fulfilling legal obligations
NCVO: Closing your charity or voluntary organisation.
The Decelerator offers information, tools and hands-on support for organisations and individuals to anticipate and design closures, mergers and other ways for organisations to wind down
Sheffield has networks to help organisations stay up to date with their practice, influence future decisions that affect their communities, and identify opportunities to collaborate with like-minded people. These include Employment and Education, supporting Children and Young People, improving people’s Health and Wellbeing and Volunteering.
Voluntary Action Sheffield coordinates some of Sheffield’s networks and can introduce organisations into networks convened by others, particularly those led by communities of interest
Locality lead on regional and national networks, working with members to influence decision makers to better understand and recognise the VCSFE. Locality also lead on the national Health and Wellbeing Alliance
Locality: influence and networks
Locality: Health and Wellbeing Alliance.
The Scottish Community Alliance publishes useful policy briefings and an informative newsletter
Any organisation that provides, or wants to provide, support for people who lack the skills, confidence or who can’t afford to get online can join Good Things Foundation’s National Digital Inclusion Network for free. Membership gives you access to free training and support in digital inclusion, access to the free basic digital skills platform Learn My Way and free mobile data for people who can’t afford to get online through the National Databank
Good Things Foundation: National Digital Inclusion Network
Good Things Foundation: Learn My Way
Good Things Foundation: National Databank.
Digital Unite provides digital champions training for staff and volunteers who support people to get online, there are some free and some paid resources
Matrix is a widely recognised standard for organisations providing information, advice and guidance
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) offers their Trusted Standard which covers governance, financial management and difference
NCVO: NCVO’s Trusted Standard.
Investing in Volunteers recognises good practice in volunteer management
Ealing and Hounslow CVS has published a guide to quality standards like Investors in People and ISO 9000
Ealing and Hounslow CVS: Quality Standards in the VCSFE.
NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) has a service directory of specialists that are experienced in working with charities and voluntary organisations
Voluntary Action Sheffield can also match organisations with consultants through their development team
Locality offers support and consultancy through their membership programme
Locality: Locality Consultancy.
South Yorkshire Charity Mentors matches VCSFE leaders with a mentor to help grow their skills and strengthen their organisations