VCSE Assembly resources

We hosted a VCSE Assembly on Wednesday 2nd November 2022. Discussions took place on the cost of living crisis which continues to dominate the headlines and we looked at the response to and impact of it locally.

Presentations were delivered from Bromley Well, South East London Community Energy (SELCE) and Transforming Bromley Borough (TBB) Food Partnership.

Download the presentations below:

 

General

Government Cost of living guides and Help for Households campaign

Information and advice from Mencap

Guidance from Citizens Advice

Community Advice from Bromley Council

Resources and support from Bromley Well

London Plus: Support in London during the cost of living crisis

London City Hall resources hub: Help with the cost of living

NCVO: Current events and the impact on charities - Cost of living

Trust for London - London's Cost of Living tracker

British Gas Energy Trust - Independent advice and support - British Gas

 

Warm Spaces

Warm Winter Welcome campaign

As part of the City of London Corporation’s Warm Winter Welcome campaign, 'warm spaces small grants' are available to fund activity and access where people can come together and stay warm. The aim is to create friendly, welcoming, and non-judgmental spaces in which everyone is welcome.

Small Grants (up to £2000) are available to:

  • Registered charities
  • Registered community interest companies
  • Registered charitable incorporated organisations
  • Charitable companies (incorporated as a not-for-profit)
  • Exempt or excepted charities
  • Registered charitable industrial and provident societies or charitable cooperatives (bencom)
  • Constituted voluntary organisations

Applications can be made on a rolling basis and funding is available to new organisations or those that already hold a 'Stronger Communities' grant. 

Individuals wishing to apply for funding will be able to do so through a City of London-based constituted group or organisation, resident association, or a charity. See the FAQ on this page for more information.

This funding is in addition to the existing small grants programme, to apply please complete the 'Small Grant' application form on this page. 

 

  • Organisations can register as a warm space on this national Warm Spaces map. 

Digital Support

Visit Charity Digital's series of blogs on how charities can beat the cost-of-living squeeze. Some of the topics covered:

  • How to support staff through the cost of living crisis
  • How charities can save on energy bills
  • How charities are responding
  • How to reach service users in the cost of living crisis
  • How charities can get through the cost of living crisis (podcast)

 

Charity Excellence Framework is dedicated to helping organisations survive the cost-of-living crisis with a range of useful free tools. Find the crisis funding and help you need with the #SurviveAndThrive programme, a one-stop-shop that enables organisations to find the grant funding, advice, resources, pro bono support, data and free goods and services their charity needs. There are three very simple to use databases:

  • Funding Finder - click through funders, including categories for Crisis Funding, Core Funding and Small Charities & Community Groups.
  • Help Finder - searches 100s of organisations to find advice, pro bono support and free goods and services to save you money.
  • Data Finder - finds data for funding bids, fundraising research, impact reporting, planning and campaigning. 

There’s also a Cost Of Living Crisis Toolbox that includes  guides on how to how to find new sources of funding, reduce your energy costs, save money without cost cutting and a crisis hub, with links to even more support. 

 

Funding and donations

  • NPC has produced a Confronting the Cost of Living Crisis guide to help charities and funders navigate the crisis as they grapple with its consequences at a time when more people will rely on their support.
  • As part of their Cost of Living Crisis campaign, Crowdfunder for charities have over £10m in +extra funding from London Plus partners to donate to projects started by charities to help tackle the current crisis. More information here.
  • In Kind Direct are celebrating 25 years supporting communities. They redistribute consumer products donated by companies, from tech, toilet roll, toothpaste and period products to toys, baby essentials and clothing, to thousands of UK charitable organisations to help communities and save money. Sign up for free today to access products to help you power your community.
 

 

Mental Health