Hello Fundraisers,

Welcome to the October edition of Voluntary Support's Fundraising newsletter!

This month we have a round-up of training opportunities and new funding options:

Fundraising News:

• Giving remains stable, according to 2026 Donor Report
• Free website support
• JustGiving's top tips for event fundraising stewardship
• Extending Christmas giving campaigns
• Nominations for the 2026 Surrey Heath Volunteer Awards are now open!
• We have three new vacancies - come and join our team!

Training & Events: 

• Grants and Trusts Fundraising Applications Training
• Trustee Roles and Responsibilities Training

New Funds: A range of funds with deadlines coming up this autumn.

If you need support with fundraising, please get in touch with Wendy at: wendy@voluntarysupport.org.uk. 

Kind regards,

Wendy McGeachy

Giving remains stable, according to 2026 Donor Report

Enthuse's 2026 Donor Report has found that, despite a tough fundraising environment, giving remains stable. Nearly three quarters of people (73%) donated to a good cause in the past three months, and 74% are planning to give in the next quarter, a pattern that has remained consistent over the last five years. More than eight in ten people (83%) believe charities are more important than ever or becoming increasingly so, and the sector enjoys higher levels of public trust than any other British institution.

These are the seven key takeaways from the report:

1. Giving is stable: 73% of people have donated to a good cause in the past three months and 74% are planning to give in the next quarter.
2. An important role: More than eight in ten (83%) believe charities to either be more important than ever or becoming increasingly important. 
3. The road to regular: Nearly a third (31%) of regular givers have given to a cause before they set up a direct debit or standing order, showing the importance of building long term relationships with supporters.
4. Clarity for overseas: More than one in five (22%) have reservations when giving in support for overseas aid as they’re uncertain how the money will be spent or where it will go. Clear impact messaging is key.
5. Donors dig digital: The majority of donors (45%) prefer to give online. That is a twelve percentage point difference on those who prefer cash (33%) and one that has increased year on year.
6. Leaving a legacy: Fewer than one in ten (7%) of 18-24 year olds have made a firm decision against legacy giving in their will, it’s never too early to speak to young supporters about their intentions. With upcoming changes to inheritance tax means that now could be a good time for charities to discuss legacy giving with supporters.
7. The direct approach: The vast majority of donors (55%) prefer to give directly through a charity’s website - over four times the amount that prefer to give via a consumer giving platform (13%). See more about our free website support below if this is an area you need to focus on.

JustGiving's top tips for event fundraising stewardship

In a recent blogpost by JustGiving, Brian Isaac shared seven ideas to support marathon runners raising funds for charities, in order to maximise their fundraising.

The ideas outlined include:

• Building relationships through regular personal conversations
• Finding ways to celebrate fundraising milestones
• Bringing fundraisers together to build a community around your cause
• Creating a fundraiser buddy system
• Hosting regular fundraiser meetups
• Thanking your fundraisers
• Finding ways to make event day memorable

These ideas, of course, can be applied to a range of different fundraising and volunteer-led events, not just marathon running. Key to it all is relationship-building and ensuring your supporters are benefiting from the experience as much as your organisation.

You can read the full article '7 Event Fundraising Stewardship Ideas to Support Marathon Runners' on  JustGiving's blog.

Get Grants two-day virtual conference 2026

Our Fundraising and Resilience Manager Wendy attended the Get Grants conference on 7^th and 8^th October. This is the third year of the online conference and over 800 people joined.

There were sessions on funding from the Quilter Foundation, Lloyds Bank Foundation, the Clothworkers Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund. Other sessions included ideas for how to get the attention of invite-only funders, Ai in fundraising and a really informative session on corporate fundraising. If you are interested in watching any of these sessions then keep an eye out for the recordings coming soon on their website.

In the meantime, you can watch all the recordings from previous Get Grants FREE Virtual Conferences. 

And if you are really keen you can book on to next year’s conference on the 5^th and 6^th October 2027.  Register here.

Nominations for the 2026 Surrey Heath Volunteer Awards are now open!

Our annual awards celebrating the valuable contribution made by volunteers in Surrey Heath are now open for 2026. This is a great opportunity for you to celebrate and recognise your volunteers. The awards can be motivating for volunteer teams and raise your organisation's profile, as well as celebrating people's contributions.

If you’re a Surrey Heath organisation, please nominate one or more of your volunteers, volunteer teams or businesses for these awards. This year’s awards categories are as follows:

• Unsung Hero Award – Recognising those behind the scenes such as a helpful trustee or someone working hard to support other volunteers and staff.
• Inspirational Volunteer Award – For volunteers who have made a huge difference to your cause and whose passion and dedication inspire others to make a difference.
• New Volunteer Award – For those volunteers who are new to volunteering and have been in their post for at least a year.
• Long-Service Award (for 10+ years of service) – For our long-standing volunteers who have been volunteering for more than 10 years.
• Volunteer Team Award – To recognise a volunteer team’s collaborative efforts and contributions to residents of Surrey Heath.
• Fundraiser of the Year Award – Honouring both individuals and teams for their passionate and/or innovative approaches to fundraising, regardless of the amount raised.
• Engagement in the Community – Recognising businesses that actively support local charities and non-profits, making a positive impact through their corporate social responsibility efforts.

You can nominate a volunteer or organisation for a volunteer award online. The deadline for nominations will be Friday 6 November.

When completing the nomination form, please ensure all contact details are correct.

Once nominations are closed, a judging panel comprising representatives from the local community will decide on the winners for each category. We will host an awards ceremony at Chobham Golf Club on Thursday 3 December,.

If you need help completing the form or would prefer it in Word format please contact us on 01276 402789 or email Mark. And do forward the details of the volunteer awards to anyone in the Borough that you feel may be interested in nominating a volunteer – we want these awards to be as inclusive and wide-ranging as possible.

We have three new vacancies - come and join our team!

We are recruiting to three new roles:

• Lottery Project Lead - £40k FTE, 32 – 36 hours/week, Chertsey/Staines Office

The Lottery Project Lead will take a hands-on role in delivering this new project, working directly with charities, voluntary organisations and community groups to understand their needs and provide practical support to build their resilience and capacity. The postholder will also coordinate the project team and ensure delivery meets National Lottery Community Fund requirements.

Closing date: 23^rd October 2026.

• Out of Crisis Consortium Coordinator, £40k FTE, 32 - 36 hours/week, Staines

The Consortium Coordinator will manage the day-to-day delivery of the Out of Crisis programme across Spelthorne and Surrey Heath. You will bring our 28 partner organisations together to monitor and support their progress and help make sure local residents receive joined-up support from our consortium. This is a coordination role, not a specialist casework role. You will help partners work effectively together so people receive the right support.

Closing date: 16^th October.

• Part-Time Charity Accountant, £9k – £10k (equivalent to £45k-£50k FTE), 1 day/week (flexible), Chertsey Office

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Charity Accountant to take ownership of our finance function and support the organisation’s continued growth and development. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who enjoys working independently and is confident managing all aspects of charity finance in a small but growing organisation.

The Charity Accountant will be responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the charity, ensuring accurate accounting records, timely financial reporting, compliance with relevant regulations and effective management of restricted and unrestricted funds. The successful candidate will work closely with the Board of Trustees and leadership team, providing clear financial information and helping to improve financial systems and processes.

Closing date: 16^th October.

Grants and Trusts Fundraising Applications Training

19 November, 9.30am - 3pm, VSNS Chertsey Office

We are running our popular Grants & Trusts Fundraising Applications Training on Thursday 19 November.

This one-day introductory training session will guide attendees through structuring and writing charity applications for national and local grants and trusts.

During the session, we will cover:

• Researching the need for your project
• Planning
• Measuring impact
• Finding the appropriate funder
• Application structure
• Funding Strategy

If you have any questions about the training, please contact Alison by email:alison@voluntarysupport.org.uk.

Trustee Roles and Responsibilities Training

24 November, 10am - 2pm, Rangeford Villages Homewood Grove, Ottershaw, KT16 0AU

Voluntary Support North Surrey is offering a half‑day course to help trustees and charity leaders strengthen governance, understand legal responsibilities, and improve financial confidence.

Led by charity law expert Helen Harvie, the session covers:

• Trustee duties & recruitment
• Board roles and effective meetings
• Governing documents & Charity Commission requirements
• Financial health, accounts & reporting
• Serious incident reporting & key legal essentials

Perfect for new or experienced trustees, CEOs and senior leaders who want to keep their charity compliant, confident and well‑run.

Green Health & Wellbeing Fund

Green Health & Wellbeing Fund is a new grant-making programme and community of practice network designed to support not for profits who are working with natural green and blue spaces to improve physical, mental and social wellbeing through meaningful engagement with nature, whether individually or as part of a group.

Managed by Community Foundation for Surrey, they are particularly interested in supporting organisations that:

• use green or blue spaces to improve physical, mental and/or social wellbeing;
• respond to an identified need or opportunity in Surrey and demonstrate an understanding of the people and communities involved;
• take reasonable steps to make Green Health activities accessible and inclusive, including physical accessibility, transport, confidence, cultural relevance, perceptions of safety or experiences of discrimination.

This funding will prioritise applications that:

• strengthen, sustain or develop effective existing Green Health provision;
• build organisational capacity and resilience;
• improve organisations’ ability to understand and demonstrate the impact of their work; or
• strengthen the longer-term sustainability of the provision or organisation.

Organisations can apply for a two-year grant of up to £10,000 per year, with a maximum award of £20,000 per organisation. Smaller applications are welcome and will not be disadvantaged. Funding is flexible and can support core costs, existing delivery, expansion of successful provision and organisational development. It does not need to be for a new project. We will prioritise applications that strengthen provision for the future.

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 9 November.

easyfundraising Impact Fund

The easyfundraising Impact Fund is back for a second round, with 15 unrestricted grants of £1,000 available to organisations in their network to apply for. Previous applicants are welcomg to apply again, whether you were successful or not. 

The application is quick and simple, with grants awarded to organisations that best explain how they would use the funding. As the grants are unrestricted, the £1,000 can be spent wherever it's needed most. 

Deadline for applications: 8 November

Creative Approaches to Living Well in Surrey - Free Conference, January 2027

Creative Approaches to Living Well is an interactive, collaborative day bringing together people with first-hand knowledge of Surrey’s health and wellbeing challenges alongside researchers and creative practitioners to explore innovative approaches to addressing them. Whether your work tackles loneliness, supports independent living, improves access to services, reduces inequalities, or helps people feel healthier and more connected, this event is designed for you.

The conference will be facilitated by Laura Evans-Hill of Nifty Fox Creative, in partnership with Surrey County Council and the NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration in Surrey. The conference will bring together charities, community groups, schools, health and care organisations with creative practitioners, artists, designers and storytellers who are using creativity to bring about change. Through creative activities and networking, the day aims to help participants turn shared interests into meaningful partnerships and collaborative projects.

📅 Thursday 28 January 2027 | 9.30am - 4.30pm
📍 Surrey County Council, Reigate
🎟️ Free: refreshments and lunch included

Following the event, collaborative teams will be able to apply for pilot project funding of up to £10,000 to test creative ideas and approaches.

Green Community Grants Programme

The Green Community Grants Programme was established in 2025 by the Wildlife Trusts with funding from the People's Postcode Lottery and Postcode Green Trust. The scheme offers one-year flexible grants of up to £25,000 to organisations whose main aims and objectives fit with one of the following themes: 

• Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency.
• Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them.

The grants can be used for a wider range of sustainable activities, including recycling, litter picking, beach cleans or sustainable transport. Organisations must have an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million in the most recent financial year, and have been operating for a minimum of 12 months.

As funding is expected to be oversubscribed, priority will be given to organisations: 

• with an income of between £10,000 and £250,000.
• that work in communities located in the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation
• whose main activities are focused on supporting marginalised groups. This could include, but is not limited to, disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity, and LGBT+ people.
• whose objects or purpose within its governing document relate to habitat or species restoration/protection.

Groups can apply for no more than 25% of their annual income listed on their most recent set of signed accounts. This funding is designed to offer flexibility and support so groups can strengthen their organisation and deepen their impact.

Deadline for applications: 21 October.

Barchester Healthcare Foundation

The Foundation offers quarterly grants to small community groups and local charities for projects that help reduce isolation and loneliness, promote group activities, and generally improve mobility and quality of life for older people and adults with physical, learning, or mental disabilities. 

Grants of between £100 and £2,600 are available to help small community groups and local charities with the following: 

• activities
• equipment and materials for use by members
• transport costs to enable members to attend
• day trips, outings, and group holidays in the UK.

Priority will be given to innovative projects that help older people and those with a disability to get active, meet people, and reduce isolation. 

Groups with financial reserves of over £200,000 are unlikely to receive support.

Deadline for applications: 31 October. 

National Deaf Children’s Society Community Grants

The National Deaf Children's Society is offering grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to deliver projects and activities that build community for families of deaf children.

In this funding cycle, the Community Grants Programme will focus on projects that support deaf children in the early years (aged 0 to 5) both directly and indirectly. This can include play schemes, programmes of days out for families, skills development and peer-to-peer support for parents or carers, and schemes to train deaf young people as role models for younger children.

In addition, proposed projects should also achieve at least one of the following objectives:

• Deaf children and their families can access relevant support to meet their needs within their communities.
• Families have access to peer support and guidance from others who are currently in, or have previously experienced, a similar situation.
• Families are supported to build confidence and skills to aid their deaf child's development, including providing knowledge and support specific to the child's needs.
• Families have access to deaf mentors/role models and a wider visibility of deaf adults. This can include empowering young deaf people to develop skills and confidence to become deaf role models and volunteers.
• Deaf children and young people have opportunities to make friends with one another, explore their deaf identity, and feel part of a community.
• Deaf children develop their communication skills through regular and consistent language exposure, interaction, and practice.
• Professionals working with deaf children, including in education and care, have the information they need to support deaf children and have high aspirations for them.

Each grant is for 12 months and can be used to cover the running costs of a project, such as venue hire, transport, promotional costs, wages for sessional workers, and equipment.

This is a rolling programme, and applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year. 

Blooming Genius Grants

Genius Within C.I.C. has established Blooming Genius as part of its social-impact work supporting neurodivergent children and young people. The initiative aims to support grassroots organisations and communities working to improve access to information and support around neurodiversity.

Grants are available to deliver activities for neurodivergent children under 18 and their families. The funding aims to help neurodivergent young people thrive in life and education, with a particular focus on communities that may have limited access to information and support around neurodiversity.

There is no fixed maximum award. Previous grants have ranged from a few hundred pounds to around £2,000.

Funding can support a broad range of activities; for example, music sessions, an anti-bullying book and an inclusive boxing club. Grants have also paid for communication aids for non-speaking autistic children.

Applications are accepted twice each year, with awards made in June and December. 

Deadline for applications: 24 October or when 200 applications are received. 

Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme

London Legal Support Trust’s Legal Advice Sustainability Scheme (LASS) has opened applications for its first Main Grants round. The programme will provide up to five eligible organisations with £75,000 of unrestricted funding over five years, alongside tailored organisational support, training and peer-learning opportunities.

This pilot round is only open to smaller free specialist legal advice organisations based in, and delivering the majority of their services in, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight) or Surrey. Organisations based in London are not eligible for this round.

Deadline for applications: 1 November.

WCIT Charity

The WCIT (Worshipful Company of Information Technologists) Charity is offering grants of up to £15,000 for registered charities with an annual income and unrestricted reserves of less than £1million to deliver innovative projects that use technology to support one or more of the following priorities:

• Education.
• Inclusion.
• Technology for charities.
• Public understanding of technology.

Funding is for the development, testing, or implementation of innovative technology-based solutions, rather than the purchase of standard operational tools or business-as-usual activities. Eligible projects include:

• An AI-powered tool to support people with disabilities.
• A digital platform designed to improve educational outcomes.
• A charity pilot using data analytics to improve service delivery.
• Technology that improves digital accessibility and inclusion.
• A project that helps charities test innovative technologies.

Preference will be given to innovative projects involving areas such as AI, data and analytics, robotics, digital skills, and accessibility technologies, and projects that have the potential for lasting impact, wider adoption, and demonstrate value for money and social impact.

Deadline for applications: 3 November 2026 or when 50 applications are received. 

LGBT+ Get Active Grants

The LGBT+ Get Active Fund has opened for applications from community-based LGBT+ sports and physical activity organisations and projects.

A total of £400,000 is available. In 2026, grants range from £5,000 to £25,000 per year for projects running for one or two years. Applicants can seek £5,000 to £25,000 for a one-year project, or £10,000 to £50,000 in total for two-year work.

Support is intended to increase resources for groups that are under-recognised by funding initiatives and to improve access to physical activity for LGBT+ communities. Physical activity is defined as activity that intentionally and explicitly supports increased movement and wellbeing, with examples including hiking, skateboarding, football, ballroom and vogue, gardening, frisbee, dance and circus skills.

Applicants must be UK-based, LGBT+ led non-profit groups or organisations led by and for LGBT+ people. They must regularly deliver sports or physical activities, with delivery in the past three years considered recent, and they must have been running for at least six months. Priority will be given to grassroots organisations supporting underserved intersectional LGBT+ communities, including D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent LGBT+ people, LGBT+ women, LGBT+ people of faith, LGBT+ people of the global majority, older LGBT+ people and trans, non-binary and/or intersex people. Additional priority includes those operating in historically underfunded areas, in rural or remote locations, or where LGBT+ provision is limited.

Eligible costs include project delivery, training for participants, accessibility measures, core costs, collaborative work and coaching qualifications.

Deadline for applications: 4 November.

GBE Community Fund

The £20 million Great British Energy (GBE) Community Fund is offering grants to help community-based organisations develop and build community-owned clean energy projects. A total of £20 million is being made available. Funding is provided in three stages:

• Stage 1 - Feasibility grants of up to £40,000 to test whether the project idea is viable before committing significant time or money.
• Stage 2 - Development grants of up to £100,000 to turn a viable idea into an investment-ready project.
• Stage 3 - Capital grants of up to £3 million, or 50% of total project value, to help a construction-ready project bridge remaining funding gaps.

All grant funding must be claimed by 31 March 2028, unless funding is for a Stage 1 project that has requested payment in advance.

Any project(s) developed through this funding should be at least 50% community-owned.

Deadline for applications: 12 November.