Hello,

Another year means another opportunity to make things better. Hopefully this newsletter can help you and your organisation have the best possible start to 2023.

London Plus had a particularly busy end to 2022 with the announcement of the London Communities Emergencies Partnership. After much preparation, we have also released the Community Resilience Fund, which you can read about below.

There are a lot of other great things going on already this year across the sector, so be sure to read on.

If you have any suggestions for the next newsletter, feel free to contact Henry at info@londonplus.org.

London Plus News

Cost of Living Document
As always, here is our cost of living support and resources document. It’s filled with useful resources for those struggling with the cost of living crisis. We’re constantly updating it, so it’s always worth checking to see if there’s anything new there. We also have an organisational good practice document, which has examples of good practice relating to cost of living. If you have anything useful that could be added to these documents, please contact Henry at info@londonplus.org.

Community Resilience Fund
London Plus is working with the Greater London Authority to deliver the Community Resilience Fund. This fund will build partnerships between the community and voluntary sector, local authorities and other statutory partners in order to better prepare London for emergencies
Deadline: Wednesday 25th January
London Councils has released a Supporting London Boroughs Engagement Grant. This may link well with community resilience work, so you might wish to share this opportunity with your local authority.

Food Aid Volunteering
London’s Lifelines celebrates volunteers throughout London. It has created a webpage about volunteering opportunities that address the growing need for food aid in the capital.

Food Aid Survey
London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP) are conducting this survey for organisations who are offering food aid to Londoners during this winter 22/23 period. The aim is to gauge local needs and challenges in terms of demand and need for volunteers. Please take a few minutes to fill this out and share with your partners.

News

Charities and Social Media
The Government has released some draft guidance on how and why trustees should go about developing a social media policy for their charity. They are currently accepting responses and comments from charities on this matter.

Cost of Living Concerns
A number of London boroughs have increased their cost of living funding after residents express huge concern on the issue.

Homes for Ukraine
Long-term hosts of Ukrainian refugees are being given £500 a month by the government as a ‘thank you’ for their unwavering support and commitment.

Smiley Charity Film Awards
The Smiley Charity Film Awards campaign is one to keep an eye on. Round 2 of voting is currently active, and winners will be revealed on Monday 13th February. It’s a great opportunity to watch some incredible charity films.

Volunteering & the Cost of Living Crisis
Volunteer Now has written this piece on the ways the cost of living crisis is affecting volunteering. They have interviewed a range of volunteers in order to get a full picture of the current landscape, and will be interviewing them again in February.

Events & Training

Emergency Preparation
Thursday 19th January
If you’d like to learn more about how communities can be better prepared for emergencies, check out this introduction session from Communities Prepared.

Great Mental Health Day
Monday 23rd January
Thrive LDN are offering mental health training throughout the beginning of the year.

Ethnicity Data
Wednesday 25th January
The Office for National Statistics are holding a workshop about ethnicity data and how it works for charities.

Measuring Impact
Thursday 26th January
Hackney CVS are hosting this free event on how an organisation can effectively measure their impact. They have a lot of other events coming up, so keep an eye on their schedule.

Community Transport Association
Wednesday 1st February 
This London Community Transport Association Forum event will bring together transport providers and other stakeholders, offering a place to discuss current issues and solutions for transport in London.

Charity Energy Costs
Thursday 9th February
Concerned about rising energy costs? Attend this webinar from The National Council for Voluntary Organisations for some expert advice.

Resources

Resource Hub
The Access Group has this useful resource hub for charities and fundraisers. Find out about the ‘mindset of the new giver’, how to write great fundraising copy, and loads more.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Kings Fund has written a piece to help guide and shape your diversity and inclusion plans for the coming year.

Feeling Good in 2023
Good Thinking are offering the Feeling Good app for free though their website, which usually costs £10.99. It’s a mental health and wellbeing app which combines audio tracks with relaxation techniques.

Funding

Span Trust
The first deadline for the Span Trust’s annual fund is approaching. They will give grants of up to £20,000 to those working on poverty, disability, age or ill health initiatives, as well as urban regeneration.
Deadline: Friday 27th January 

Food for the Planet
Sustain have launched new grants to help communities make their food better for people and planet. The information session has been and gone, but you can still apply.
Deadline: Friday 10th February

Grassroots Movements
The Grassroots Movements Fund is offering grants of between £10,000-£70,000 for grassroots organisations that are working towards transformative change.
Deadline: Sunday 19th February 

Warm Spaces Funding Boost
Co-op and Crowdfunder are giving community groups the opportunity for a £3,000 boost to their warm space fundraising initiatives.
Deadline: Tuesday 28th February

Building Strong Communities
If you work with a community that has been socially or economically affected by COVID-19, and have an idea for a project that will help rebuild community strength, voice or connection, consider applying for final round of the Building Strong Communities Fund. The Greater London Authority is inviting applications from organisations with an annual turnover of £50k or less. Be sure to look out for their upcoming information sessions.
Deadline: Monday 13th March.

Small Grants Programme
The Haberdashers’ Benevolent Foundation wants to help small charities for whom up to £3,000 in funding would make a significant contribution to their work. Restricted to specific boroughs and geographical areas.
Deadline: Friday 3rd March

Together Fund
BME Youth has released the Together Fund, which aims to deliver sports and physical activities to culturally diverse communities, disabled people, lower socioeconomic groups and people with long term health conditions.
Deadline: Friday 31st March

Match Funding
Big Give is doing a number of ‘match funding’ campaigns soon, which means anything donated through them will be doubled. Applications are open for their Green Match Fund and their Champions for Children campaign.
Deadline: Friday 31st March

The Ubele Initiative
This Recovery Loan Fund is specifically for people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and will support organisations that are improving people’s lives or their environments.
Deadline: Wednesday 30th June 2024

Reports

Third Sector Trends
Here is an end-of-year report about third sector trends across England and Wales in 2022.

Breaching the Dam
Read a summary of the current state of the voluntary and community sector from Pro Bono Economics.