Charities in Wales are critical to tackling a breadth of issues across the country. However, it’s hard not to feel that the Welsh Voluntary is the poor relation of the sector in Scotland or Northern Ireland, let alone England. This talk will use nfpSynergy’s extensive data on public and parliamentary attitudes in the devolved nations and argue that the ingredients are all there for the sector to step up a gear and make a real difference.

This talk will introduce participants to behavioural science through the work of the behavioural insights team and provide ideas for potential applications in the third sector.

Join ProMo-Cymru’s lively session as they discuss trends in current and future digital engagement, helping the third sector stay relevant.

Most of us have some idea about engaging on Facebook and Twitter but what about Alexa and Google Home? Discord? Instagram Stories? Logic surveys? What about people who are deleting all social media? Not sure what we just said? Then you definitely need to come along!

ProMo will lead you through the minefield of emerging trends and give you an idea where you can best invest your time to create social impact.

Things go wrong and disputes arise in charities when trustees and senior staff don’t completely understand their respective roles and how these dovetail together. Even if they look to their governing document, this will not necessarily contain the guidance they need.

This session will guide you from the basics of trustee duties and responsibilities through the complexities of trustees and staff working together as they should, to achieve the success of the charity.

Join this interactive workshop based around the principles of peer to peer mentoring support and learn more about the work that Development Trusts Association Wales have done to date in their two lottery funded projects:

Enterprising Solutions: Where they help community organisations set up and run community enterprises

Renew Wales: Where they help communities tackle the causes and propose solutions to climate change

PQASSO is NCVO’s quality standard that helps third sector organisations and social businesses improve and strengthen by identifying what they are doing well and not so well.

This session will explore the key findings from the Big Lottery funded PQASSO for Wales project and look at what the learning means for the future of developing strong third sector organisations in Wales. There’ll also be an opportunity to hear first-hand from organisations that are using PQASSO about how it has helped to develop their organisations.

Join The Open University to celebrate their 50^th birthday and find out about their free courses and resources as well as our formal qualifications from Access to Postgraduate study.

The session will give you an overview of what The Open University in Wales has to offer and explore how you can work in partnership with them to reach communities and learners.

Infoengine seeks to provide information to people about ‘what’s out there’. Come and find out about how infoengine does this. We will demonstrate how to register your service on infoengine and how infoengine can be of use to you, your organisation, service and community. We will also explain how infoengine works with partner sites, Dewis and NHS 111.

Every charity needs sustainable and reliable income to operate. With cuts to government funding, public giving now accounts for 35% of funding for charities in Wales. That’s why good fundraising matters. Fundraisers must follow the rules in the Fundraising Code to maintain trust and support from the public, and make sure fundraising is done in the right way.

If fundraising is done badly, the public can complain to the Fundraising Regulator. In its latest Complaints Report, the Regulator shares the lessons that charities can learn to fundraise better.

In this interactive session, Board member Richard Newton will talk you through some of the most important lessons from the Complaints Report. He’ll also discuss how you can use this information to improve – or start – your own fundraising practice.

In this session, we will use real examples to explore how to take a learning approach when things don’t go according to plan. We’ll first look at how to create the right environment for sharing mistakes, including dealing with ‘shame and blame’, as well as the kinds of questions we can ask to draw out learning. We’ll then look at next steps for exploring this approach with others in the sector, taking a growth mindset approach to consider small changes that can have a lasting impact.

Come along to a brief introduction to the UK Parliament. At an interactive workshop led by our participation team, find out more about the different ways that people and organisations in Wales can engage with the UK Parliament.

The Welsh Government is currently consulting on proposals to set National Milestones for Wales which will set out the expectation of progress, including the scale and pace of change required to achieve the Well-being Goals.  This session is an opportunity to share your views on the proposed criteria for selecting milestones, the subset of National Indicators against which milestones will be developed and whether any amendments are needed to the National Indicators.

Join this informal and engaging session for a discussion on volunteering, impact measurement and employment at Urdd Gobaith Cymru.

What is coaching?

Do you have a challenge, idea or future goal that you would like to explore with someone? It can be work or life focussed.

If so, coaching might be for you?  Coaching puts the coachee in the driving seat. It is an opportunity to bounce off ideas and formulate some actions to move you forward.

What’s on offer?

Coaching taster sessions of 50 minutes each. This will give you an idea of whether coaching is for you.

Who is it for?

Anyone who would like to explore a work or life challenge or goal. Just give it a go.

Who is the coach?

Mandy Williams is an experienced life and executive coaching, former employee of WCVA, now working at Swansea University and as a freelance coach, trainer and facilitator.

https://www.mandywilliamsconsulting.cymru/coaching

This session will look at ways of defining the mission, vision and purpose for your brand and how communicating this to your audience can boost impact.

Digital technology has the power to tackle social and economic challenges and can dramatically improve the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of organisations. But evidence shows that its potential is not being realised, particularly in the charity and social business sectors.

Facilitated by the Wales Co-operative Centre, which is itself on a journey of digital transformation, this session will highlight the ways in which Microsoft and Class Networks can help Third Sector organisations improve efficiency, work collaboratively, manage supporters, increase security, comply with legislation and save costs.

Join the members of Age Alliance Wales to discuss the role of the third sector in supporting health and social care to deliver seamless care. It will consider the benefits and pitfalls, the barriers to fulfilling this role as well as looking at how can the third sector be better enabled to undertake this role?

The world of card payments is ever changing and ever more quickly it seems. Whether it be collecting a card payment via a contactless enabled donation bucket to purchasing those urgently required business items online, cards can be the solution. During this session we talk through the innovative, award winning products and services that Barclaycard can offer from both a card issuing and card acceptance perspective.

This session offers an introduction on how to make your organisation a more inclusive and diverse work place. It will break down the barriers associated with employing disabled people and how as an organisation you can be a pioneer in supporting disabled people to live, learn and work as independently as they choose.

Localgiving helps small charities and community groups explore online fundraising. Are you interested in building sustainable income streams, developing your supporter base and raising unrestricted funding for core costs? Online fundraising is very easy and very cost effective. They support groups from the point of creating a donation page, to running online appeals and encouraging individuals to fundraise for you. Find out more about how they can support you at this session.

Stimulating debate about the micro co-operatives and how they give citizens control over their care services without registering as a domiciliary care agency. The benefits to the citizens and the Personal Assistant workforce need to be understood. Come along to this session to learn how micro co-operative can help you and your community and what’s on offer from the Care to Co-operative service.

Do you use social media in your organisation and want to know more about using the Welsh language? This session by the Welsh Language Commissioner’s ‘Hybu’ team will look at case studies and good practice, as well as practical advice on using Welsh on social media.

Reviewing your charity’s governance can be a daunting task and it is often ignored until a significant oversight occurs. Adopting a proactive rather than a reactive approach to governance review can save costs, time and stress in the long run. With the Charity Commission’s continued focus on regulation and governance, Geldards’ aim is to provide you with a helpful starting point in getting to grips with reviewing your charity’s governance.

Many communities benefit from a range of non-statutory services which are delivered by third sector organisations in Wales. These help to keep our communities resilient and connected. We don’t yet know how and to what extent, the Brexit process will impact on the delivery of these services and the organisations that deliver them (e.g. their reliance on EU workers and financial viability for example). WCVA, in partnership with Welsh Government, has established a project (with funding from the EU Transition Fund) to help us better understand the impacts and to support the sector in Wales to plan for the different eventualities arising from Brexit. Join us to give your perspective and find out more about the project.

WCVA’s Active Inclusion Team

Come along to hear directly from organisations delivering Active Inclusion projects to find out about the support available to help you succeed.

Hear directly from project delivery staff and the WCVA team about the intrinsic benefits that come from a positive relationship between a funder and grant recipient.

You will have a chance to ask questions of both the organisations on the ground and the Active Inclusion team to help you understand how your own organisation could benefit from the fund.

The legal obligations of trustees, which include compliance with law and regulation, are generally as onerous as those of a director of a company. In some cases the nature of the charity will be such that there will be the real possibility of personal liability, for example where there is active fundraising, the organisation of events, counselling, assistance or the provision of information. We will discuss how Charity Trustees Indemnity Insurance provides an indemnity to trustees, directors and officers of an unincorporated charity or service company (such as a trading subsidiary) and the equivalent cover for personal liability of officers and committee members of unincorporated associations.

What is coaching?

Do you have a challenge, idea or future goal that you would like to explore with someone? It can be work or life focussed.

If so, coaching might be for you?  Coaching puts the coachee in the driving seat. It is an opportunity to bounce off ideas and formulate some actions to move you forward.

What’s on offer?

Coaching taster sessions of 50 minutes each. This will give you an idea of whether coaching is for you.

Who is it for?

Anyone who would like to explore a work or life challenge or goal. Just give it a go.

Who is the coach?

Mandy Williams is an experienced life and executive coaching, former employee of WCVA, now working at Swansea University and as a freelance coach, trainer and facilitator.

https://www.mandywilliamsconsulting.cymru/coaching

Zoe Amar, digital expert and chair of The Charity Digital Code of Practice will take you through the key trends charities can expect, how to prepare for them and most importantly how to future proof your organisation in the here and now.

This session will look at the importance of creating and nurturing a cohesive brand visual and tone of voice to help support the aims of your organisation.

It is fashionable to talk about the need for greater kindness in our services, and to call upon people working at the front line to be kinder and show greater empathy. And yet the real blind spot is in the way we organise, procure and support services, behaving as if public scrutiny, regulation and the management of risk are more important than the human connection which is at the heart of all personal and social change. In this talk I will contrast the two languages we use: the rational and the relational, and argue that we will not achieve the change we want while we fail to acknowledge the emotions at the heart of all that we do.

To mark the UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination we’ll hear from Mrs Uzo Iwobi OBE, one of Wales’ most prominent figures on the issue of race equality. In her talk, Uzo will draw on her own experience to highlight how as a sector we can address racism. From board and workforce diversity to the deepening divisions in society, she will raise the key issues around race that many of us shy away from and challenge us to take responsibility for tackling race inequality and racism in Wales.

Reduction in public sector funding and increased competition for grants and donations, coupled with extra demand for services, has led to ever growing pressures on the third sector.  Whilst increasing and diversifying income streams is a priority for all, streamlining systems and enhancing services can deliver efficiencies and savings which allows an organisation to invest savings in the areas that matter most.

This event explores the opportunity to share back office support services, considers the benefits and pitfalls, as well as highlighting solutions and examples of best practice through embracing a shared economy.

*lunch included*

Research shows that in recent times public trust has declined across the board. Trust in politicians, trust in corporate institutions and trust in charities has fallen.  There have been some high-profile governance failures and questionable fundraising practices in a minority of organisations in the charity sector that have been well documented, but what impact have these headlines had on the rest of us? Join this discussion session to explore exactly why trust matters and what we can do to maintain public trust in our own organisations.

The 2019 Leading Wales Awards will seek nominations of individuals in Wales (in all sectors and at all levels of responsibility) whose leadership is courageous, inspirational and transformational. Nominations open on 9th April.

This leadership conversation will explore what leadership that is courageous, inspirational and transformational looks like to us in reality. Is this the kind of leadership that will help us build a bright future and contribute to building the Wales We Want? What do you think?

Contributors to our leadership conversation include Ian Price, Director of CBI Wales and Ruth Marks, CEO of WCVA and it will be facilitated by Barbara Chidgey, Executive Chair of the Leading Wales Awards and a leadership coach / facilitator.

UK’s leading property advice charity the Ethical Property Foundation is delighted to offer a property workshop for non-profit organisations. You will work with real life case studies from community organisations and learn how to understand your asset, how to apply the principles of effective property maintenance, manage all risks involved in managing property and how to identify opportunities to save money and generate income.

Get a slot at the confidential 1:1 advice clinic following the workshop. First come, first serve!

Come and learn more about the role of the Public Sector Ombudsman including how to make a complaint about a public body as well as the information and support the Ombudsman provides to the general public.

This session will provide you with an update on the key case law and legislation from the past 12 months or so, including developments in holiday pay, employment status, working time, discrimination and unfair dismissal. It will also take a look at upcoming changes and developments for 2019

Join WCVA and Cynnal Cymru for an informative workshop and discussion that will help your organisation to:

• understand what is social action and volunteering
• hear about the real business benefits – from a volunteer and employer perspective
• identify opportunities on how to embed social action like volunteering into your business
• identify next steps for your business in creating an action plan

As part of the workshop you will also receive information and resources to help you in developing an action plan for your business.

The workshop is suitable for HR managers, Sustainable Development leads/ managers or anyone responsible for developing a CSR policy within their organisation.

#iwill campaign / WCVA partnership

Cynnal Cymru is working with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action WCVA and the #iwill campaign to encourage businesses in Wales to support youth social action, like volunteering, campaigning or fundraising, a normal part of life for young people aged between 10-20.

A case study of a fundraising campaign by Mudiad Meithrin which raised funds for Cylchoedd Meithrin across Wales whilst setting a new world record. The session will examine the promotional aspects and how they managed to get thousands of people across Wales to support and participate including celebrities and Assembly Members.

What is coaching?

Do you have a challenge, idea or future goal that you would like to explore with someone? It can be work or life focussed.

If so, coaching might be for you?  Coaching puts the coachee in the driving seat. It is an opportunity to bounce off ideas and formulate some actions to move you forward.

What’s on offer?

Coaching taster sessions of 50 minutes each. This will give you an idea of whether coaching is for you.

Who is it for?

Anyone who would like to explore a work or life challenge or goal. Just give it a go.

Who is the coach?

Mandy Williams is an experienced life and executive coaching, former employee of WCVA, now working at Swansea University and as a freelance coach, trainer and facilitator.

https://www.mandywilliamsconsulting.cymru/coaching

Many charities delivering vital services to the most vulnerable people in our society, have experienced a tough environment. In the charity sector, for example, more than a quarter of workers earn less than a real Living Wage. This event with the Living Wage Foundation, Cynnal Cymru and WCVA will be asking how funders and their grantees can work together to tackle low pay in the charity sector and ensure they operate in line with their values and objectives.

All welcome: to share experience, or simply find out more.

This session will help you understand how to maximise your budget through appropriate choice of print or digital outcomes.

Discussion session with Jane Hutt, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Welsh Government, Julia Unwin, Chair of Civil Society Futures The Independent Inquiry, and Peter Davies Chair of WCVA

Chaired by WCVA’s Peter Davies, this session will provide an unique opportunity to hear from two of the most influential figures in shaping civil society in the coming years. Jane Hutt AM, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Welsh Government (with responsibility for the voluntary sector and volunteering) and Julia Unwin (Chair of Civil Society Futures The Independent Inquiry and former Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation) will discuss and explore the environment in which civil society operates, the many pressures and changes it faces, what the future might hold and the role of civil society in shaping it.

This session will cover the issues with public sector procurement and how the reliance on large national providers misses out on the expertise, dedication and quality that smaller (particularly third sector) providers can deliver.

Following the Charity Commission’s updates to the Serious Incident (SI) Reporting guidance, Geldards will take you through the revised regime, focusing on identifying what amounts to a SI and how and when to report this to the Commission. A brief charity law and sector update will follow.

Third sector organisations need to get better at demonstrating the difference they make! This session is an opportunity to hear about the new Inspiring Impact project and find out how to get involved. Come and learn from impact champions in Wales and find out about how to get started on developing a ‘theory of change’ for your organisation.

The event will share mirus’ journey to becoming a more co-productive charity; we’ll share what we’ve tried, what’s worked, what hasn’t and what we’re learning along the way.

We will positively challenge participants to think about co-production in their own organisation.

Come prepared for an interactive session where participants will be supported to share ideas, experience and learning to deliver co-production in practice!

The help provided by spontaneous volunteers can be an important and welcome addition to the overall resources at the disposal of responders, but these volunteers need to be managed and involved effectively and efficiently.  During this session we explain and discuss whether, how, and when spontaneous volunteers can provide emergency relief. How this can be successfully managed and the role of the 3rd sector, Local Authorities, Emergency Services and in particular local CVC’s play.  During the Session we will introduce the recently written ‘Involving Spontaneous Volunteers in Emergencies’ policy document, which will help guide you through the process.

If you’re looking for funding and want to see what’s around, WCVA’s funding team along with Social Investment Cymru will be running a drop-in session for gofod3 guests. Join us to:

• try out the new funding.cymru portal
• discuss opportunities for Social Business Growth Fund or Community Asset Development Fund
• work out if repayable finance might be an option for you
• ask any funding related queries

If your organisation is growing and you need a bigger team, how do you attract the right people for the role? This session will offer insight from the private and third sectors on how you can best promote vacancies to ensure they attract the right candidates. With input from recruit3 this session will cover what has worked for organisations in the past and also what candidates look for when applying for roles.

What is coaching?

Do you have a challenge, idea or future goal that you would like to explore with someone? It can be work or life focussed.

If so, coaching might be for you?  Coaching puts the coachee in the driving seat. It is an opportunity to bounce off ideas and formulate some actions to move you forward.

What’s on offer?

Coaching taster sessions of 50 minutes each. This will give you an idea of whether coaching is for you.

Who is it for?

Anyone who would like to explore a work or life challenge or goal. Just give it a go.

Who is the coach?

Mandy Williams is an experienced life and executive coaching, former employee of WCVA, now working at Swansea University and as a freelance coach, trainer and facilitator.

https://www.mandywilliamsconsulting.cymru/coaching

How to use video strategically to engage your audience

Video is no longer a tick box exercise; it needs to be approached strategically to achieve the best results and integrate with other marketing activity.

This session will look at the questions to ask yourself before producing video content to ensure you engage your audience, derive the most benefit and use video as more than just another tactic.

The UK is currently set to leave the EU at the end of March 2019 however the impact of Brexit will not end after Brexit day. Which uncertainties, challenges and opportunities will persist? What scope will there still be to influence? What will society look like and how can the sector help shape it? Regardless of the outcome organisations will need to learn to operate in an environment heavily impacted by Brexit, so come and hear what our panel has to say.

Fraud Awareness for you, your clients and service users. With the ever increasing number of fraudulent attempts this presentation will look to raise awareness and give advice and best methods of protection. Barclays citizenship agenda is committed to providing 10 million people with the skills they need to move forward and create a thriving economy, by 2022. This session will explain the programmes and initiatives that Barclays has to offer individuals to develop their employability, financial, enterprise and digital skills.

This session will provide you with an overview of the issues that your charity should be considering before it enters into a community asset transfer of property with a local authority.  It will consider what pitfalls there are for the charity to look out for, and what are the key terms that a charity would want to think about before entering into any such agreements.

The Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) is undertaking a five year, multi-disciplinary programme of policy-relevant research looking at civil society in Wales, the UK and internationally.

Come and meet some of their researchers and hear about their work on volunteering, civic participation and social change.

The Charity Commission has said that “safeguarding is a key governance priority” for all charities, not just those that work with groups traditionally considered vulnerable. This event will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the Charity Commission and find out more about what charities need to do to ensure they have robust safeguarding arrangements in place, as well as the support that’s available in Wales.

In this session we will look at the key components of a winning funding application and consider ways of improving the quality and appeal of your applications.  The session will consider the most common mistakes made when writing an application and explore ways to ensure your application is clear and compelling.