There are a range of organisations providing support on topics that affect the social sector.
These organisations can help with a wide range of activities, from business planning to communications and social impact measurement.
Business planning and support services
Charity Digital – Charity Digital helps charities, social enterprises and non-profits be more digital through educational content, inspiring events and access to the UK's only discounted and donated software program.
The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) – the national charity protecting historic churches at risk. Formed through a partnership between church and state, the CCT operates a regeneration consultancy service that can support local groups to develop new futures for historic churches and other community assets.
Cranfield Trust – a national charity helping to build successful charities by providing free business consultancy, HR advice and training opportunities to not-for-profit organisations.
Fraud Advisory Panel – an independent voice of the counter fraud community. It champions anti-fraud best practice and works to improve fraud awareness, understanding and resilience.
Neighbourly – a giving platform that helps charities and good causes access funds, volunteer time and surplus products from businesses that want to invest in their communities.
Pilotlight – provides free strategic business support to charities and social enterprises tackling social disadvantage in the UK, to help them become more efficient, effective, and sustainable.
Reach Volunteering – a registered charity that connects other charities with the skills they need to keep making a difference. Helping charities to find skills-based volunteers and trustees that can help with anything from finance to marketing, or general governance.
Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise Mark CIC – provides a pathway to recognised standards of good practice for social enterprises of all sizes, via a portfolio of externally assessed accreditations.
Social Enterprise UK - the UK membership body for social enterprise - business with a social or environmental mission. Social Enterprise UK supports business where society profits.
Support & umbrella bodies
ACRE – ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is the national voice for the 38 rural community councils who make up the country’s largest rural network and reach 52,000 grassroots organisations in 11,000 rural communities.
Directory of Social Change – an independent charity that exists to serve the voluntary sector. Through its training courses, events, publications and funding sources, it has made tens of thousands of charities stronger since 1975.
NCVO – NCVO champions the voluntary sector and volunteering. Inspired and empowered by over 15,000 members, it connects, represents and supports voluntary organisations, from community groups to large charities.
Plunkett Foundation – The Plunkett Foundation helps rural communities UK-wide to tackle the issues they face by promoting and supporting community business.
YMCA England & Wales – YMCA focuses on providing services for young people such as accommodation, support and advice, health and wellbeing, and training and education to ensure that young people can belong, contribute and thrive in their communities.
Links to external providers should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement of those providers’ products and/or services.
About Charity Bank
Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank owned by and committed to supporting the social sector. Since 2002, we have used our savers’ money to make more than 1000 loans totalling over £300m to housing, education, social care, community and other social purpose organisations.
Nothing in this article constitutes an invitation to engage in investment activity nor is it advice or a recommendation and professional advice should be taken before any course of action is pursued.