2023 Photo Competition. The people’s choice winner is…

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Following the announcement last month of the judge’s choice winner, we’re now delighted to announce that the winner of the people’s choice in the CCVS 2023 photo competition is Sew Positive.

The photo titled ‘Lampshades’ – see photo above – was taken by Melissa Santiago-Val. Congratulations to Melissa, and to Sew Positive who have won £150.

Sew Positive’s mission is to provide opportunities for vulnerable people to nurture their mental health through free sewing workshops and courses, helping people to feel part of a community and reducing the feeling of social exclusion.

The story behind the photo:
Lampshades. Sew Positive launch Term 2 ‘Cultivate’ programme funded by Cambridgeshire County Council via Cambridgeshire Community Foundation. Participants showing off their fabulous lampshades made from upcycled and donated fabrics. This course is a Social Prescribing programme aimed at people over 65 who are at risk of social care need, using creative sewing, upcycling and crafts to address social isolation.

The people’s choice runner up is…

Murrow Street Pride Group

The photo above, titled ‘Enhancing the Village Together’ taken by Brian Bilverstone, wins the runner up prize of £75. Congratulations to Brian and to Murrow Street Pride. 

The story behind the photo: 

Volunteers from Murrow Street Pride Group working together to maintain the planters in Murrow.  
Murrow Street Pride Volunteer Group is voluntary and a not for profit organisation. To fulfil one of its aims to carry out environmental enhancements within the Murrow area, frequent litter picks take place. These help to draw the community together in a positive way, encouraging all ages and abilities to participate. In addition volunteers also plant up and maintain the floral displays throughout the village. 

The image has captured volunteers maintaining the floral displays after rain had promoted weed growth. The photo reveals the care and dedication given across the generations to make the displays look their best for not only residents but for visitors to the village to enjoy. 

Residents love to see the village well cared for, which promotes wellbeing and improves the lives of those who enjoy spending quiet time walking amongst the planters or sitting on the bench to admire the displays. 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the competition. All the organisations are winners in our eyes, for the fantastic work you all do to make our communities the best that they can be. 
All photos entered into the competition may be used in our future media and communications, including our new website, so keep an eye out for those!

Volunteering during the cost of living crisis: Is it worth it?   

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By CCVS Volunteer, Amy. December 2023

Hello! It’s Amy here and I’d like to talk to you again about the benefits of volunteering and why it’s worthwhile to volunteer. 

Lots of us might be thinking that it’s not affordable, especially in the current climate and that you can’t be giving your time for free. You might be afraid of spending more because of having to pay for fuel or buses to get to your volunteering location and so on. We all need money, right?   

Nothing is cheap these days and the price of living has caused problems for lots of people so I can see why many of us might not consider volunteering as a sustainable option these days.  

BUT… There’s lots of good things about volunteering too. Volunteering somewhere that’s not at home will reduce the amount of energy that you use (so that you save money on bills). Doing voluntary work enhances your employability (which gives you more chances to get better paid jobs).   

Expenses can usually be paid back (for travel and things that need to be paid for while you’re volunteering). If your shift is longer than 4 hours, then you may be provided with food (depending on where you volunteer and what their policies are). If you choose to volunteer in a charity shop, then you might get first choice of the clothes and other things that they sell and a staff discount. The NHS and CPFT (Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust) give you NHS staff discounts (which you can use in all sorts of places), like restaurants and shops. Some places may give time credits (https://wearetempo.org/) which entitle you to discounts at cinemas and gyms, and much more.   

There’s also lots of personal benefits to volunteering. I know from my own experience that doing voluntary work gives me something useful and productive to do. Gives me a sense of achievement and increases my confidence. I also know from things that I’ve heard, that some people just like to be thanked (or want to give something back to the community) and volunteering makes them feel better in themselves.      

Most importantly, volunteers are really the engines that are helping those struggling financially all over the country. They are the ones helping to keep warm hubs open, distributing parcels at the food banks, cooking community meals and looking after community fridges, working in charity shops and making sure that people can find affordable items they need. They also give advice in places like the Citizen Advice Bureau or money advisers services which guide and support so many struggling not only to deal with their finances, but also to understand the financial support and benefits they are entitled to.  

They are the ones making a real difference in people’s lives and being a guiding light during this difficult period.     

I’m not saying all this to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. It’s purely your decision and depends on what’s right for you.  

However, it’s worth being aware of what your options are, and that volunteering is just as valuable as paid work, if not more, and how important what volunteers do for others is right now. 

Remember we are all going through this and we need to stick together! 

Insights from the Charity Digital Online Fundraising Conference October 2023 

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by Chris Trevorrow, Senior Development Officer CCVS 

The Charity Digital Online Fundraising Conference in October 2023 brought together industry leaders, experts, and charity fundraisers to explore trends and ideas in digital fundraising.  The sessions included looking at a range of topics from essential digital tools, to harnessing the power of storytelling. 

The New Generous Generation: Engaging Gen Z with Ashley Fontaine 

According to recent research Generation Z is the age group most likely to donate to charity.1 Ashley highlighted the unique characteristics of Gen Z and their preferences in giving.  Generation Z comprises people born between 1996 and 2010. This generation’s identity has been shaped by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape, and COVID-19. Social fundraising, powered through social connections, was a key focus of Ashley’s talk. The session explored platforms such as TikTok and highlighted the importance of building emotional connections to attract and retain Gen Z donors.   

Ashley recommended creating an audience profile to help identify key patterns of behaviour.  Gen Z giving trends include: 

  • Flexible giving 
  • Gripping storytelling 
  • Mobile friendly donations 
  • Charity authenticity 
  • Social giving 
  • Charity cause research 

40% of GenZ donors learn about new causes from social media.  The top 3 platforms are: 

  • You Tube 
  • Instagram 
  • TikTok 

A TikTok example is the British Red Cross who utilised the donation sticker on TikTok.  They raised £90k in 12 months and kept things current, for example by linking in with the new Barbie film and the trend for thrifting. 

A story telling example was Mind’s 2022 #SpeakToUs campaign where a relatable character candidly shared their mental health journey.  It was intended as an awareness campaign that resulted in donations. 

Ashley also highlighted that Gen Z is likely to want to have a relationship with the cause they donate to, they respond to well managed stewardship and shared stories around impact. 

Funding for Resilience: Evidencing the Need for Funding 

Sara Main, Charities Aid Foundation Programme Manager, discussed the concept of resilience funding and shared insights on CAF’s shared resilience framework delivered as part of their now closed Keystone fund. The session provided guidance on how organisations can demonstrate resilience and attract funding from unrestricted/resilience funders.  CAF’s 6 characteristics that organisations should build on are: 

  • Having a clearly articulated mission 
  • External awareness i.e. undertaking a PESTEL analysis 
  • Effective leadership 
  • Well networked 
  • Financially and operationally fit 
  • Demonstrating impact 

CAF have closed their Keystone fund for now but signpost to other resilience funders –  Lloyds Bank Foundation, Children in Need and Esme Fairbairn Foundation 

Maximizing the Donation Funnel: Insights from Fresh Egg 

A presentation from Jake Lambert from Fresh Egg, a donation platform.  He highlighted five things you can do to maximise donations: 

  • Talk to your users – understand their needs don’t just rely on analytics it doesn’t tell you why they do things. Segment those who currently donate/used to donate/don’t donate to you but may donate elsewhere – Consider user testing e.g. usertesting.com or ask people to engage with you and run your own tester sessions. 
  • Build and maintain an emotional connection – maintain this throughout the donor’s journey, keep them engaged particularly when they reach a hurdle – such as filling in a donor form.  Use strong consistent imagery and phrases.  Remember a key reason people give is because it makes them feel good – reinforce this at every stage. 
  • Test your default levels – Fresh Egg experimented and found that when using suggested donation figures it can be effective to set an ‘anchor’ figure at the high end – this encourages people to be more generous. 
  • Nudge to regular giving show one off donors what they could help you achieve if they donated regularly, but still be suitably appreciative of one-off donations 
  • Show your impact for example – £10 could answer 2 calls to our advice line for isolated older people needing support. 

The importance of talking to users, building emotional connections, and reducing hurdles in the donation process were key takeaways. The session emphasized the significance of maintaining a consistent and engaging narrative throughout the donor journey. https://www.freshegg.co.uk/resources/charity-online-donation-optimisation-guide/  

Investing for Tomorrow: A Case Study by Sansar’s Founder, Julia Krepska 

Sansar works to prevent child exploitation in Nepal.  Julia, the founder, shared a compelling case study https://youtu.be/Ak4GR9qGi-Y. The charity utilises documentaries created by independent journalists highlighting the charity’s activities and demonstrating its impact.  

By working with reputable journalists the work filmed is externally verified and this has brought the charity  to the attention of new donors.  This has included grant foundations who have been so impressed by the charity’s work that they are willing to adjust their own priorities to find ways to support the cause. The charity researched funders carefully to ensure a good fit in terms of values and priorities and sent short bold emails incorporating strong images and links to the films.   

The case study highlighted the significance of leveraging different media channels and maintaining transparency. For more guidance on using, You Tube see https://charitydigital.org.uk/topics/social-media-for-charities-101-youtube-8921 

Other resources recommended by Julia were: 

  • AskCharity digital service – helps charities and journalists to work together 
  • Dot Star Media – an online press cutting service, will let you know what is being said about you 
  • Factal – a risk intelligence and breaking news platform which carried Sansar’s films and brought them to donor attention 
  • HelpFilm creates films for charities 
  • Google News 
  • Pressat  press release distribution service 

Digital Advertising Channels: Insights from Matt Collins of Platypus 

This session considered digital advertising channels including : 

Matt commented on the increased use of Facebook and Instagram for building awareness of brands rather than for immediate asks.  He also highlighted the importance of reaching different audiences through diverse advertising strategies. 

The Charities Commission have recently published new guidance for charities on social media, which recommends charities using social media have a social media policy in place 

Useful digital tools to consider 

Charity Digital Exchange (https://www.charitydigitalexchange.org/), can facilitate the audit of digital tools. The NCVO (https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ ) also provided valuable guidance on choosing new software or digital tools. 

The conferences panel of experts recommended looking at the following sites and tools.  Please not these have not been independently verified by CCVS: 

They are charity and allow fundraisers to have a single page where they can split funds.  It allows fundraisers to interact with donors.  Building AI assistance to write updates and stories. 

As part of our Support Cambridgeshire project, we run a fundraisers network open to anyone in the voluntary sector involved in fundraising.  We have a free to access fundraising portal and we also offer training and support so please feel free to get in touch with us on enquiries@cambridgecvs.org

Give A Winter Hand campaign – local winter appeals and support

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CCVS Communications Officer, Lorna Gough 21.11.23 – updated 08.01.24

One person passing a wrapped gift, a basket hamper, and a coin to another, who has hearts floating round her head in gratitude. Give a Winter hand.

CCVS are sharing details of local winter campaigns and appeals, as well as offers of services and events which are brought to our attention.

Our aim is to spread the word and extend the reach on behalf of organisations, for an even bigger benefit to the community.  

Share these details with your networks to reach even more people.

1. Cambridge Sustainable Food is raising funds to make sure that no-one in our city goes hungry this winter. With so many people struggling to make ends meet the food they supply to community food hubs around the city makes a real difference.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-cambridge-families-with-vegetables

2. North Cambridge Soup Kitchen

The Karim Foundation, supported by Al-Amin Stores, are running a soup kitchen, open to all, on the 3rd Sunday of every month at The Meadows Community Centre, 299 Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JL from 11.30am – 1.30pm.
They will be serving free hot soup with bread, providing a safe and friendly space for anyone in need of a meal, friendly company, reassurance and support.

3. Wintercomfort for the Homeless

Over the past 12 months, Wintercomfort for the Homeless has provided life-changing services for more than 680 people experiencing or at risk of #homelessness in Cambridge. 

They need to raise funds to ensure that they can meet the growing demand. Please donate to support their work https://wintercomfort.org.uk/make-a-donation/

As we prepare for the cold days ahead, Wintercomfort would like to offer people a warm drink or soup to take with them when they leave their day service. If you are able to purchase a reusable flask, please visit their Wishlist: https://amzn.to/47kZN0M

4. Cambridge City Council Warm and Welcoming Spaces

Cambridge City Council open their community centres as warm and welcoming spaces every winter. You can use the centres’ communal spaces to work, enjoy time with friends, or stay warm. Details: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/warm-and-welcoming-spaces

5. Wisbech Rotary Club Silver Monday events

Every month Wisbech Rotary Club run a Silver Monday event at the Luxe Cinema on Alexandra Road, Wisbech, PE13 1HQ From 9.30 – 12.30. Mature guests can come and watch a film, have tea and coffee all for £3, to tackle social isolation and loneliness. Entry is by ticket – advance booking essential by calling Val on 01945 860596

Winter dates as follows:

Mon 15 Jan 2024

Mon 19 Feb 2024

6. Cambridge Central Library – warm hub offer

Cambridge Central Library has an active warm hub offer. They will provide hot drinks and biscuits twice a day (10am-12noon and 3-5pm Mon-Sat, and 3-4pm on Sundays) on the third floor of Central Library in Lion Yard.

This has the joint purposes of helping people tackle the living cost crisis as well as loneliness. Hence, they want to welcome trusted partners who want to engage with people or offer a beneficial service to them in those hours.
If your organisation is interested in joining them, please book the time slots in the Doodle poll and wait for the library team to confirm your booking: https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/e922oD3a
For more information, please email: citylibrarieswarmhub@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

7. Cambridgeshire Community Foundation – surviving winter appeal

As the cost-of-living crisis continues and many energy support schemes offered last winter will no longer be offered this year, prices will be equally, if not more, challenging than last year. 

Support is needed more than ever, with those who had previously been ‘just about managing’ now being pushed to the brink. Cambridge Aid is currently helping 25% more people this year, compared to 2022, and Cambridge City Foodbank is experiencing a 40% increase in need for fuel vouchers compared to the same period last year.

How does the Surviving Winter Appeal help?

The funds raised by the Surviving Winter Appeal are being distributed by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation’s nominated charitable partner organisations.

Households who need help to stay warm and have access to energy throughout the winter can apply to these partner organisations, which use the funds raised to make payments or purchases relating to energy and heating, such as topping up pre-payment meters. Without the support, some people face no warmth in their radiators to keep the house warm and no heat on the hob to cook a meal.

How you can help

If you are in a position to help, please donate to the Surviving Winter Appeal to help local families and individuals facing a winter in fuel poverty. If you are receiving support that you do not need, such as a Winter Fuel Payment which is non-means-tested, we encourage you to please donate the equivalent or part equivalent to help those who will struggle to afford a warm home. Full details and how to donate: https://www.cambscf.org.uk/survivingwinter