funding cuts

Master Fundraising in Challenging Times – Training & Tea with DVA

Facing the Future Together: Introducing DVA’s Fundraising Masterclass
With the recent cuts to discretionary funding announced by Derbyshire County Council, charities, community groups, and voluntary organizations across Derbyshire face an unprecedented challenge. At Derbyshire Voluntary Action, we’ve heard the concerns of our members loud and clear. The question is: how do we keep delivering vital services with reduced financial support?

In direct response to the needs of our members, we are thrilled to launch our Fundraising Masterclass Training & Tea series, kicking off in January 2025. This series is designed to equip VCSE groups with the tools and confidence to unlock new funding opportunities, align their missions with funder priorities, and craft standout applications that make an impact. Join us online for a bitesize training session that will set you up for the year!

Meet Your Trainer: Anna, Fundraising Expert
Anna has always been interested in how we can make a real difference to the world. When she began working for Citizens Advice in 2006 she started to learn more about what was needed in communities, and came up with the same issue again and again. “So how do we make these things happen?” Her work is the answer to that question.

With nearly two decades of experience and a proven track record of working with over 30 charities and not for profit organisations, Anna is a powerhouse in the fundraising world. As a seasoned fundraising consultant and bid writer, Anna’s passion lies in empowering small and medium-sized charities to thrive without their own dedicated fundraisers, especially in the face of adversity. She specialises in work tackling deprivation and poverty and currently manages all aspects of grant fundraising for several charities. Anna knows what it takes to secure the funding needed to drive change, and it’s that experience she brings to our members.

Her experience isn’t just about writing bids—it’s about helping organizations see their services from fresh perspectives and making them “application ready.” This series is your chance to learn directly from an expert who’s been in the trenches and knows how to navigate the funding landscape in challenging times.

What’s in Store?

  1. Unlocking Opportunities – Finding grant funding in challenging times 7 January 2025
    Discover how to track and find opportunities when funders close their doors. Learn how to navigate challenging times and uncover possibilities you may not have considered before.
  2. Mission Possible – Aligning with funder guidelines 14 January 2025
    Tired of squeezing your services into narrow funder criteria? This session will teach you how to view your work through different lenses to match funding opportunities effectively.
  3. Vision to Victory – Being application ready 21 January 2025
    Avoid last-minute panic! Learn how to create a plan for upcoming applications and be prepared to tackle deadlines with confidence and efficiency.
  4. The Perfect Pitch – Crafting a standout application 28 January 2025
    From intimidating word counts to vague questions, crafting a funding application can be daunting. This session will help you overcome those challenges and present your work with clarity and confidence.

Why This Matters
The recent funding cuts are a stark reminder of how critical it is to secure the resources needed to sustain vital services. This training series isn’t just a response to the challenges we face—it’s a proactive step toward a stronger, more resilient voluntary sector in Derbyshire.

Save Your Spot
Booking for the Fundraising Masterclass Training & Tea is open now, so be sure to secure your place today. Together, we’ll turn challenges into opportunities and ensure that Derbyshire’s VCSE sector remains to provide hope and support for our communities.

📅 Starts January 2025
📍 Location: Online
💻 Cost: Free for DVA Members

Let’s build the future of Derbyshire’s voluntary sector, one successful application at a time.

Posted in Save Our Sector, TrainingTagged in , , , , , ,

CEO Jacqui Willis warns against funding cuts

Dear Members,

We stand united in our determination to challenge the short-sightedness of the recent cabinet paper and the decision the DCC cabinet is likely to make today.

It is deeply concerning that the views of 91% of respondents, who strongly oppose the recommendation to cut all funding, are being ignored. This decision overlooks the critical role our sector plays in supporting Derbyshire’s most vulnerable communities.

The paper mentions opportunities for collaboration and exploring alternative solutions during the consultation. However, as key infrastructure supporting our sector, we were eager to participate but were told there was no time. The proposed mitigations are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of our sector and the essential role of infrastructure support.

A total funding cut to the Voluntary Sector will be catastrophic and have long-lasting effects. Vulnerable individuals in Derbyshire’s communities, whom we tirelessly support, do not deserve this, especially at a time when our services are more crucial than ever.

The current county council cuts will decimate our communities and irrevocably alter the lives of our most vulnerable. Our sector has always been the safety net for those falling through the cracks of service criteria and health inequalities. What will happen now? How can we move forward in partnership with Derbyshire County Council when our capacity is slashed, or we cease to exist?

All this while Adult Care maintains a large team of assistant directors and is currently recruiting another at over £100k.

We will stand with infrastructure colleagues and others at the cabinet meeting this afternoon. Although we won’t be allowed to comment at the meeting, we will be collectively and formally responding in the days to come.

We will not take this lying down. As the infrastructure supporting the VCSE sector, we are here to be a voice, to protect and advocate for our sector, and to support the creation of partnerships. We will campaign vigorously against these cuts and challenge the decision to ensure that our message is heard loud and clear.

Remember, we are part of the solution, not the problem. Let’s continue to support each other and our communities through these challenging times.

Best regards,

Jacqui

Posted in News, Save Our SectorTagged in , ,

The VCSE Unites at ‘Save Our Sector’ Event

Celebrating Strength and Resilience

In an inspirational display of solidarity, over 100 members of Derbyshire’s Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector came together at the vibrant ‘Save Our Sector’ event along with service users for the support provided by these groups. Hosted by Wynne Garnett, the Programme Lead for the VCSE Alliance, the gathering was a powerful statement to the resilience and dedication of our community in the face of proposed funding cuts from Derbyshire County Council.

This is not panic, this is strength.

Held with the help and support of Chesterfield Football Club Community Trust, and the African & Caribbean Community Association (ACCA), the atmosphere was charged with a sense of purpose and unity. Despite the looming financial uncertainties, the event was an uplifting celebration of the collective power and indomitable spirit of the VCSE sector. It was a day filled with inspiring stories, shared experiences, and a collective commitment to safeguarding the vital services that support Derbyshire’s communities.

The event featured insightful keynote speeches from Lud Ramsey, Vice-Chair of ACCA and Labour Councillor for the Spire Ward; Sue Wheatcroft, DVA Board Member and Founder of the Borderline Personality Support Group; and Karen Lawson, NHS Social Prescriber and Director at Kakou. Each speaker highlighted the indispensable role of VCSE groups in enhancing community health and wellbeing, and the risk taken in cutting funding to these services.

Lud Ramsey’s passionate address underscored the essential nature of VCSE services, reminding us all of the broader implications of the proposed cuts. “The services provided by our VCSE groups are not just essential; they are lifesaving”.

Sue Wheatcroft looked at the transformative power of community support often relied on by those most at need. “This is the true value of community support. Shouldn’t high salaries come second to making sure people have their basic needs met. These groups are a lifeline to our communities and we need to defend them” she remarked.

Karen Lawson spoke about the critical synergy between social prescribing and the VCSE sector, illustrating how integrated services enhance community health outcomes. “The synergy between the NHS and the VCSE is vital. Together, we can provide holistic care that addresses both medical and social needs. Please take a step back and think of the consequences of what you’re doing to the people of Derbyshire. Find a way that does not target those most in need” she emphasised.

Showcasing Impact and Value

A key focus of the event was gathering and presenting both quantitative and qualitative data to underscore the profound impact and value of VCSE groups. Attendees participated in interactive sessions designed to collect compelling evidence of the sector’s contributions to the community’s health and wellbeing. The data collected will be instrumental in advocating for the preservation of discretionary grant funding.

A Call to Action

The event concluded with a resounding call to action, urging attendees and the wider community to rally together, complete the consultation, and advocate for the preservation of discretionary grant funding.

“The biggest reflection today is this is just the beginning. It’s not just about the organisations that are losing funding, where will it land? It will land in our communities”. Jacqui Willis, CEO of DVA.

We have demonstrated that our sector is resilient, passionate, and indispensable. Now, we must take this momentum and channel it into tangible action to safeguard our future.

Posted in News, Save Our SectorTagged in , , ,