Scale Accelerator is a fully funded 6-month Accelerator Programme for UK based charities and social enterprises who are ambitious about impact.
The programme aims to helps organisations to maximise their impact on people’s lives by offering £30,000 worth of consultancy from a dedicated team of experts.
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, organisations get access to a dedicated team of expert consultants and join a small group of other organisations on a similar journey.
Pilotlight transforms the lives of disadvantaged people in the UK by offering charities and social enterprises access to the strategic business support they need to become more efficient, effective and sustainable.
The programmes can vary from a long-term project looking holistically at your organisation, to a short-term engagement focussed on a specific need. They are all project managed by experienced Pilotlight Project Managers who drive for the best outcomes for both their Charity Partners and their Pilotlighters.
The support is free of charge, and they expect their partner organisations to commit a certain amount of time to working with them. In general, this means at least a day a month for the length of the engagement.
On 22nd July Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Grants will be reopening again for applications, with a budget of £59.8 million available until April 2021.
They will be making improvements to make the fund more responsive to the needs of smaller independent organisations and individual practitioners during Covid-19.
Guidance for the programme will be updated on the website by mid-July.
The National Business Response Network is free to access online – businesses can log any offers and charitable based / community organisations can also log any requests for support.
Please note, unfortunately they cannot accept any requests for funding or PPE
The National Business Response Network was launched in April by Business in the Community, (opens in a new tab) a charity, and part of The Prince’s Responsible Business Network. The network focuses its activity on four key areas helping communities navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic:
Food: Ensuring people have continued access to food
Technology: Support to enable children to continue learning, and older people to stay connected to families
Community support: Support to vulnerable groups and older people to enable continued access to food, healthcare, social interaction and other essentials
Small businesses: Creating resources with advice and practical tools specifically for small businesses; providing business continuity and wellbeing support through mentoring for small businesses
To date, food has been by far the most matched request with offers of support from businesses.
Examples of matches made during April and May:
an airline catering company who have donated over 100,000 meals, many delivered by airport staff volunteers, to communities in Greater Manchester.
a donation of 55,000 cakes to small community organisations across seven UK regions
delivery of 100 laptops to the Reach Academy and LEAP Federation, two community organisations in London which split the laptops between 6 primary schools.
40 large freezers donated to foodbanks across the country, including £50 in vouchers to each food bank to start filling the freezers.
donation of essential stationery to schools and communities across the UK.
Friends Against Scams have published a series of images and messages that can be used by partners working in health, social care and community services to promote the Call Blocker scheme for vulnerable people. Please see download below.
The Stay Alive app is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
In addition to the resources, the app includes a safety plan, customisable reasons for living, and a LifeBox. Here you can store photos and memories that are important to you.
Members of your organisation may be interested in this information.
Baby summer safety
How to keep baby safe when the weather gets hot
The weather is getting warmer, which can make following safer sleep advice more complicated. It is harder to keep baby cool and holidays and travel can disrupt routines. We have put together some tips on baby summer safety so you can enjoy the summer and keep baby safe when the weather gets hot.
Baby summer safety tips
Travelling by car
Car seats are essential for safety when travelling but babies should not sleep in a car seat for long periods as many aren’t flat, which can mean babies are slumped over. We recommend on longer journeys that you take regular breaks where baby is removed from the car seat and if possible have an adult sit with the baby in the back of the car, or use a mirror so you are able so you are able to keep an eye on them. If a baby changes its position and slumps forward, then parents should immediately stop and take the baby out of the car seat. Babies should not sleep in car seats when they are not travelling.
Following a safer sleep routine on holiday
To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) babies should be slept on their back on a firm, flat, mattress for every sleep day and night. It is important that this routine is followed on holiday. If your baby is sleeping in a travel cot the mattresses are often thinner and feel harder but don’t be tempted to place folded blankets or a quilt under the baby to make them ‘more comfortable’. Ensure that the travel cot isn’t against a radiator, in direct sunlight, and is out of reach of blind cords and hazards.
Keeping baby cool when out and about
Babies’ prams and buggies should not be covered with blankets, cloths or any cover that prevents the air circulating. Covering a pram or buggy with a blanket could lead to overheating, which increases the chance of SIDS. Using a cover also creates a barrier between parent and baby, which is slightly risky as parents won’t be able to see if their baby is having difficulties or monitor their temperature easily. We recommend attaching a clip-on sunshade or parasol to a pram or buggy and checking if baby is getting too hot by feeling their tummy or the back of their neck. Keep babies out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
Making sure baby has enough fluids
When the weather is hot it is important to make sure that your baby has plenty of fluids. If bottle fed, babies under six months should be given cooled boiled water or for babies over six months just water from the tap. Fully breastfed babies don’t need any extra water until they start eating solid food.
Room temperature
Babies that get too hot have a greater chance of SIDS. We recommend keeping the room where your baby sleeps at a fairly cool temperature of 16-20°. This can be more difficult in summer months or when away somewhere warm. If the room where the baby sleeps is difficult to cool use lighter bedding and clothing and open the bedroom door and a window, if it is safe to do so. Baby sleep bags will have guidance on what tog to use for each season. You might also like to use a fan to cool the room, but don’t aim it directly on the baby. A thermometer can help you to make sure the room is at the right temperature.
Co-sleeping more safely
If you or your partner are having an alcoholic drink, smoking or taking medication that could make you drowsy on holiday (or at home) co-sleeping with your baby can be very dangerous and increases the risk of SIDS. In these circumstances your baby should be slept in a cot or Moses basket in the same room as you.
Charities have been allocated more than £3m in loans so far from a government-backed scheme to ease financial pressure caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Eight charities have applied successfully for loan finance from the Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) since it opened a month ago, according to data from the Social Investment Business (SIB).
This highly subsidised online skills and development programme is designed for people whose work has been affected by COVID-19 and need tailored support so they can hit the ground running as they take their roles forward.
If you have been furloughed, have had to work reduced hours, have taken on more responsibility or are expecting to face challenging decisions, this programme will prepare you to lead beyond lockdown with confidence, skill, and a network of peers to support you along the way.
Taking place exclusively online, the course will include:
Discover, a four-week online leadership development journey to help you identify your leadership strengths and areas for improvement.
Action Learning Sets (ALS), conducted in a group of peers and facilitated by ALS specialists to help you address complex, real-life issues while working collaboratively with other leaders.
Professional Coaching sessions with coaches highly experienced in social leadership, as well as peer coaching opportunities.
Clore Social Fellowship. On programme completion, participants will become Clore Social Fellows and willjoin a wider network of social leaders where they can connect and support one another through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
£95 Early Bird Deadline: Monday 13 July 2020, 11:59pm
£125 Final application deadline: Monday 20 July 2020, 11:59pm
