Making a Difference Online: Charity Commission’s Fresh Advice for Charities on Social Media

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The Charity Commission has released new guidance on the use of social media by charitable organisations, emphasisng both its potential benefits and associated risks. The guidance, published on September 18, 2023 via the Charity Commission’s website, underscores that social media can be an effective tool for engaging with audiences and communicating about a charity’s work, but it also poses potential risks that trustees should proactively address.

Below are the summarised points from the article published on September 18.

Key points from the guidance include:

  1. Importance of Social Media Policy: Charities using social media are advised to establish and enforce a social media policy. This policy should not only be in place but also actively followed, helping charities avoid problems and respond swiftly to issues.
  2. Trustee Awareness: The Charity Commission highlights a knowledge gap among trustees regarding the risks of using social media. The guidance aims to bridge this gap by helping trustees understand the potential risks, the application of legal duties, and how to address issues that may arise.
  3. Trustee Responsibilities: While not every charity requires trustees to oversee day-to-day social media activities, trustees are expected to comprehend their legal responsibilities, even when tasks are delegated. The guidance emphasises the need for a policy explaining how social media aligns with the charity’s purpose and includes guidelines for trustees, employees, and volunteers using social media on the charity’s behalf.
  4. Managing Risk: Charities are encouraged to have guidelines for managing the risk that personal content posted by individuals connected to the charity, especially high-profile figures like CEOs, may negatively impact the charity’s reputation. It also affirms the right of trustees, employees, and others to express themselves within legal boundaries.
  5. Resources and Support: The guidance offers an easy-to-use checklist to facilitate informed discussions among trustees and senior employees about the appropriate social media policy. It also directs charities to resources and organisations that can assist in improving social media skills.

The guidance underwent a formal consultation from January to March 2023, receiving 396 responses. While many respondents welcomed the guidance, some sought greater clarity on trustees’ expectations. In response, the Charity Commission made several revisions to clarify regulatory expectations and emphasised the benefits of using social media to boost charities’ confidence in utilising these platforms effectively.

Paul Latham, Director of Communications and Policy at the Charity Commission, stressed the importance of balancing the benefits and risks of social media. He encouraged trustees to carefully consider their goals when using social media and apply the guidance to protect their charities’ interests while ensuring compliance with the law.

The full guidance, along with the consultation response, can be found on the Charity Commission’s gov.uk page, alongside their consultation response.

VCSE Health Alliance – Update Bulletin – October 2023

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October 2023

Help with your workforce

The Health Alliance meeting in September focussed on the workforce. Sharon Allen, CEO of Arthur Rank Hospice and our rep on the ICB People’s Board, co-chaired the meeting and facilitated the involvement of ICB colleagues. Those who came along were able to hear about the ICB commitment to ‘One Workforce’ and discuss how we make this work for our sector. A key to this will be to explore how we collect and share data.

 

We also learnt that VCSE organisations will be able to equally access ICB initiatives that are being put in place to help recruitment and retention – watch this space for more details. We will be taking forward the agreed actions and revisiting them at a future meeting.

 

Question: Can your organisation or group contribute some very simple headline data about your workforce? This will help the ICB understand our sector and see us as integral to health and care provision.

Contact debbie@huntsforum.org.uk

 

Since the meeting, we have been notified of an opportunity for VCSE organisations to participate in a work and health employers conference next spring. The idea is to bring together examples of great practice and discuss the issues employers experience in supporting staff wellbeing. This will contribute to the ICS work, health and wellbeing strategy. To find out more email Nicola Ward: nicola.ward68@nhs.net

 

Smaller organisations and community groups

As we all know our sector is incredibly diverse; in size, communities supported, services provided and geography. This is the richness that makes the sector so very valuable but at the same time, brings a challenge around partnership. How can we meaningfully engage with the broad spectrum that is the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector? If you are a small group, we want to hear your ideas and how we can work better for you.

Contact sandie@huntsforum.org.uk

 

Social prescribing and JOY app improvements

The findings from the social prescribing survey have been combined with feedback from members and written up as a report. This is now being shared with ICB colleagues to identify and progress a number of improvements. The Health and Wellbeing Network will continue its information sessions to help us connect with social prescribers and improve our understanding of the app.

The next Health and Wellbeing Network meeting is on 17th October from 12-1pm on zoom. Megan McGrath will be talking about the JOY app. Join the meeting to find out more about the app and how participating can benefit your organisation. To reserve a place please use the link below (note we have moved to Microsoft Forms).

https://forms.office.com/e/eJdZmdeNDY

 

Project proposals, please!

We all know how frustrating it is to receive notice of funding with short turnaround times. That’s why we have sent around a project proposal form. This will help us compile a bank of ready-to-go projects. Please complete and return with your ideas. We’ll keep this open until the end of November and then take stock of what you have sent us.

 

Health Alliance meetings

Here are the dates of our future meetings, please do put them in your diary. We have tried to get a mix of times, locations and formats to enable as many people as possible to get involved. You’ll see that we are alternating themes with the general Health Alliance business.

 

A number of members have requested a meeting focussing on health inequalities and this has been scheduled for December. If you would like to suggest a theme please contact sandie@huntsforum.org.uk. We are also keen to get members to Co-Chair meetings on their theme of interest.

  • 18th October 9.30-11.30 Health Alliance business     Zoom
  • 6th December 1-3pm Health inequalities               Zoom
  • 17th January 1-3 Health Alliance business     March Library
  • 28th February 9.30-11.30 Theme to confirm               Zoom
  • 17th April 1-3 Health Alliance business    Peterborough
  • 22nd May 10-12 Theme to confirm               St Ives Corn Exchange

More members, please!

And lastly, please pass this newsletter on to your team and other groups and organisations who may not yet be Health Alliance members. Anyone wishing to join should email Debbie Debbie@huntsforum.org.uk.

See here for more information about the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health Alliance. (You’ll see we have updated our webpage please do let us have any feedback)

Safeguarding policy statement

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The member organisations of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health Alliance recognise their responsibilities to keep the people who use their services safe from harm and abuse. We are therefore committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of quality and safety in line with the Care Act 2014.

The Health Alliance will work with its statutory partners and funders to ensure that Health Alliance member organisations have robust and effective safeguarding standards and measures in place. Health Alliance organisations deliver a vast range of voluntary and community services and vary hugely in size and capacity. The measures will therefore be proportionate and clearly address the safeguarding requirements of the services they deliver. The infrastructure organisations and Health Alliance team will assist in developing resources that help the sector navigate and more easily understand these requirements.

Governance Month 2023 – November will see a range of exciting free events

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In the non-profit sector, “governance” encompasses leadership, policy formulation, and strategic vision. This umbrella concept applies to individuals who guide organisations, whether known as trustees, management committees, or directors. Despite the varying titles, their primary duty remains the same.

The way an organisation operates serves as its structural framework. While establishing reasonable procedures, policies, and strategic vision may seem meticulous and time-intensive, it plays a crucial role in aligning everyone involved. Achieving this alignment requires a shared understanding of each individual’s purpose within the organisation and how they contribute to its mission.

Support Cambridgeshire is here to assist you on this journey with our upcoming free events in November. Governance Month is a series of events designed to address these fundamental questions and bridge knowledge gaps.

This month, we are thrilled to feature an engaging event led by Rachel Hales from Get Synergised. She will explore how building relationships with the corporate sector can lead to enduring benefits for your non-profit.

Additionally, Ben Jowitt from Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) will provide insights on managing reserves, including when to utilise or bolster them. This knowledge is invaluable, especially for individuals without a financial background serving on boards. He follows this talk with an ‘Audience with’ event where you can ask questions and discuss the recent CAF UK Giving Report.

Lastly, we’re offering two workshops that delve into the roles and responsibilities of charity trustees. These sessions are open to anyone interested in the topic, whether you’re a current trustee, aspiring to become one, or simply seeking to expand your knowledge. Being a trustee carries legal responsibilities, adding a new layer of accountability. We’ll conduct an in-person interactive workshop led by Hunts Forum on the 30th and two online lunchtime workshops facilitated by CCVS on the 16th and 23rd.

In conjunction with these events, Support Cambridgeshire will actively support and promote the incredible resources and activities of National Trustees’ Week, where several organisations will be running events covering all aspects of Trusteeship.

To discover more and reserve your spot at one of our events, please CLICK HERE

Health Alliance Meeting – 13th September

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This month’s Health Alliance meeting was held at Cambourne Hub and was chaired by Sandie Smith and Sharon Allen.

From the work Sharon has been doing with the People Board a Workforce Development theme had been decided for this meeting and guests from the ICB were invited.

Rebecca Tuten- System Workforce Planner

Ade Tams- Deputy Chief People Officer/ Director of Workforce.

Emily Handley

Sharon gave an introduction on Workforce Development and discussed that data that is in the voluntary sector has not generally been aggregated although the Health Alliance have made a start on this. The NHS already have a good system for collecting their data. Because of the data from the voluntary sector is not included/ considered in planning this is not showing the whole system position.

Rebecca Tuten

The State of the Sector survey that came out recently is a useful first insight into voluntary sector. Is there a way that some of the data that is collected going forward able to match the data criteria that NHS are using? If so what do the voluntary sector feel is a realistic ask? What would be useful to both parties.

The Health Alliance members felt that some basic data would be useful but there needs to be recognition that

  • Not all organisations are commissioned.
  • Commissioners ask for data but where is it used?
  • The State of Sector survey did not get information from all of the voluntary sector and some are not involved in health or care.
  • The organisations need to build trust that the data they are sharing is useful/ needed and working to the benefit of all but particularly the service users.
  • What access to the data can the voluntary sector expect if they are contributing.

It was agreed that Sandie would do some work with Rebecca to see what would be a reasonable ask, how the data can be collected and used. It was agreed that “punchy statements” need to be written as to why organisations would be involved.

 

Ade Tams

Ade talked about the position of the ICS with vacancies. The hospitals use bank staff to fill some of the gaps with a small amount of agency staff- this is one of the lowest rates in England.

In primary care there has been a reduction of GPs by 6% but nursing staff has increased.

All PCNs are being asked how they plan to expand their services.

The ICB needs to understand how to encourage people to use the voluntary sector offer.

A 15 year forecast for workforce has been done but it does not include social care.

 

Emily Handley

Emily explained that work was being done with Anglia Ruskin University to help deliver a health and care workforce and 2 “attraction projects” are going to be delivered.

Just R– Sustainable workforce solutions- is a bolt on recruitment company. Some passive recruitment and expand the campaign to how to attract volunteers and to look at talent pools for organisation.

It was suggested that the new volunteering portal could benefit from this. Sandie will ensure that those developing the portal are aware of this opportunity.

 

Working and breaking barriers- a project based around employment to improve health outcomes. This aims to support people back into work or enable them to remain in work. There are 8 pilot areas.

Health Alliance members discussed higher vacancy rates than health locally, the reduction in volunteers and the changing face of volunteering and that the terms and conditions that NHS offer are difficult to match in the VCSE sector.

Ade talked about a pilot scheme to help with recruitment and retention. This is at phase 1 at present and a briefing is due. Phase 2 to cover shared/rotating roles. The HA will be kept informed. A new worker is about to start so Ade will ensure she is linked in with Sandie.

Ade confirmed that the VCSE sector would be very welcome partners in all of these initiatives.

 

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Ade-Above Difference is a collaboration to discuss and look at discrimination with goal to produce culture change within the system and make it a safer place for all.

Sharon-Skills for Care are developing a social care Race Equality Scheme which maybe more relevant for the VCSE- this opens soon.

Kat (Barnardos) discussed the Maternity Equity Hub and the work that had been done to improve maternity experiences including looking at how staff recruitment took place. This has had some positive impacts and Kat will share a case study with Sharon to take to the People Board.

Impact Report – June to August 2023

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Please find the impact report for the period of 1st June to 31st August 2023 below. This information can be emailed, please contact info@supportcambridgeshire.org.uk 

How the Funding Alert led to a new role supporting children and family’s in Oxmoor

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Huntingdon Community Action Partnership Receives Funding

Through the Support Cambridgeshire Funding alert this community group were made aware of funding that had become available from a national funder in their area.

The deadline for applications was really tight, giving the group less than 2 weeks to apply for the initial Expression of Interest, the group worked with Hunts Forum, whose development worker helped them put together an initial application in the short timeline.

As a result the group received a £10,000 grant to develop a local group supporting health and well-being through arts and crafts whilst also using those skills to influence community activities, for example, creating art in public spaces and family activity trails.

Hunts Forum was able to help the group identify a project that would fit in with existing work and also meet the funding criteria, this involved speaking to group leaders and participants and helping structure the outline of the bid.

However, knowing about the opportunity through the Support Cambridgeshire Funding Alert was key to the success, as most groups do not have the time to research funding and deadlines, this is invaluable to unlocking many opportunities across the county.

New Resources Added to Help You!

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We wanted to draw your attention to the latest additions to the Support Cambridgeshire website.

We’re excited to introduce some significant enhancements to the Support Cambridgeshire website that we believe will benefit all our users significantly.

Out with the old and in with the new! We’ve updated our factsheet pages, removing old templates and outdated documents. Now, you’ll find valuable information, expert tips, and direct links to trusted sources and helpful websites. This makes it easier to find important information without searching through old guides.

We have broken the site into areas where we know you need that support. These include Safeguarding, GDPR, Health and Safety and many more. In those pages, we have looked at the things we think you need to know about and then linked with resources and other information or support sites with more information.

We aim to give groups the information they are looking for quickly and effectively, and if there is anything more you need, feel free to contact us, and we can send it across. This webpage sits alongside the On Demand training portal, which holds videos and information anyone in Cambridgeshire can access.

Experience these exciting changes firsthand by exploring our revamped resources page: https://supportcambridgeshire.org.uk/resources/

Remember, Support Cambridgeshire is here to assist you. Don’t hesitate to contact us directly for any assistance or if you have specific questions.

 

Fenland Community Living Rooms – Want to be part of these new community spaces?

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After being successful with a ‘Know You Neighbourhood‘ funding application, Cambridgeshire ACRE is delighted to be able to support town and parish councils, village hall committees, church communities, local charities and other community groups to establish a network of Community Living Rooms in Fenland this autumn. These must run from publicly accessible community buildings, such as community centres, village halls, churches and their halls, older peoples’ day centres, youth centres and community libraries.

They are very similar to Warm Hubs, but the name ‘Warm Hubs’ has been changed to reflect community feedback and to ensure that the diverse needs of all visitors are considered. Cambridgeshire ACRE believes visitors will largely attend their local Community Living Room for companionship and to make social connections. However, loneliness is a complex issue, and attendees elsewhere have also been found to be experiencing poor health, with many having specific vulnerabilities, frailty, disability or poor mental health.

Cambridgeshire ACRE expects Community Living Rooms to reflect the needs of each community, so some might evolve out of groups that already meet, for example, you may already be holding a community café or coffee morning or breakfast club; some might be arranged around other activities such as a playgroup or older people’s / friendship club and others might be completely new in their set-up as a Community Living Room.

To become established, they need your community to identify a team of a minimum 3 volunteers and a publicly accessible community venue that can offer a warm and safe place where local people can expect a friendly and inclusive welcome.

Cambridgeshire ACRE’s offer to help you get your Community Living Room’s doors open includes:

 

  • A supported volunteering programme that will help you establish and run a Community Living Room that reflects the needs of your own community. Cambs ACRE will check building suitability; provide volunteers with training; give support with safeguarding and health & safety policies; and supply materials to promote your Community Living Room and its value to your community. There will also be monthly networking events so you can share ideas and experiences with others across Fenland.
  • A grant for two years to allow for building rental, heating, refreshments and any additional specialist equipment that might be needed to make your Community Living Room successful.
  • A team of ‘Village Agents’ who will be available at a parish level to provide help, support and solutions for the health and social care needs of those who might visit your Community Living Room.
  • Being part of a UK Government-funded project which will provide learning to others regarding approaches to supporting community loneliness and volunteering across the UK.

Would you like to know more?

Cambridgeshire ACRE invite you to join us for a short online event on Thursday 14 September 2023 at 6pm where they will present more information on Community Living Rooms; the support you will receive from us if you take part; and answer any questions you might have. Please register to attend by clicking on the button below and completing the online form

Register to attend here

 

Expressing an interest in taking part

After the online event, they will invite you to express an interest if you wish to explore this opportunity further. You are welcome to complete an Expression of Interest form now, if you wish – please just click on the button below to access. Cambs ACRE will be in touch to discuss the establishment of a Community Living Room in your community after next Thursday’s event.

Complete Expression of Intrest Form Here

 

Not in Fenland? Cambridgeshire ACRE can also support Community Hubs in East and South Cambs. For more information about this or any of the above please contact Alison Brown alison.brown@cambsacre.org.uk 

Staff Support Hub – September Newsletter 2023

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The latest newsletter from ICS Staff Support is here! Please click on this link to learn more about their newest monthly feature, wellbeing, and more.

To learn more about the Staff Support Hub, check out our page: https://supportcambridgeshire.org.uk/staff-support-hub/

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