Information and training sessions for the voluntary and community sector

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Sign up for our bitesize information sessions for the voluntary and community sector.

Social Value and the VCS in Local Government Procurement

  • Date: Wednesday 26 November 2025
  • Time: 10.30 to 11.30am
  • Location: VCS Hub, Wandsworth Town Hall

This session will explore the legislative picture around social value and the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in public sector procurement. We will update on our Responsible Procurement Strategy 2025 – 2030 and share details of current social value we receive.

Register for Social Value and the VCS in Local Government Procurement.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Workshop

  • Date: Thursday 4 December 2025
  • Time: 1.30 to 3.30pm
  • Location: Online - MS Teams Webinar with Kiran Rehal

The purpose of this workshop is to build an understanding of the importance of safeguarding and DBS checks.

If you request DBS checks for those working or volunteering in your organisation, this workshop will be useful for you.

Register for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Workshop.

Good Governance in the Charity Board Room

  • Dates: Wednesday 10 December 2025 and Thursday 12 February 2026
  • Time: 10am to 1pm
  • Location: Online - MS Teams with Howard Exton-Smith

Developing a truly effective board takes planning, time and focus. It’s a continual journey, rather than a one-off event. This half-day workshop is a must for those wishing to build an effective board or those helping their board with succession planning and governance strengthening. 

We have two dates available for this session, please register online:  

Fundraising: What Trustees Need to Know

  • Date: Tuesday 16 December 2025
  • Time: 4 to 5.30pm
  • Location: Online - Zoom with Leah Selinger

Trustees are increasingly required to play an active role in ensuring their charity’s fundraising activities are conducted appropriately, ethically and in line with the guidance available. But more than just ‘ticking the boxes’ – trustees have a duty to understand their charity’s income mix and how it will sustain their provision beyond this financial year.

This session will provide participants with the knowledge and tools to support and enable their organisation to fundraise effectively and sustainably and take an active role in supporting their organisation to do so. We will consider different types of income generation, and what might be right for individual organisations based on their resources, and their requirements.

Register for Fundraising: What Trustees Need to Know.

Trustee Induction and an Introduction to Charity Governance

  • Date: Wednesday 7 January 2026 and Thursday 26 February 2026 
  • Time: 3.30 to 6.30pm
  • Location: Online - MS Teams with Howard Exton-Smith

As a Trustee, an appreciation of your legal duties and responsibilities, including an understanding of financial management, public benefit, accountability, and best interests is essential in carrying out your role and exercising “good” organisational governance. This interactive training course will provide you with increased knowledge and confidence, and a greater ability to review and assess information, improving your ability to monitor activities and resources, articulate impact and make better decisions.

We have two dates available for this session, please register online:

Start-Up Funding for Charities and Social Enterprises

  • Date: Thursday 8 January 2026
  • Time: 11am to 12.30pm
  • Location: Online - Zoom with Leah Selinger

If you’re in the early stages of starting up your organisation and are looking for funds to help you grow, develop or even get off the ground, this course will help point you in the right direction.

With tons of information about the different types of income available, you will learn which would be most appropriate for your charity or social enterprise – and how to identify opportunities that help you deliver your social purpose. The course comes with a comprehensive handbook with an extensive list of places to identify funds to help you at the start of your journey.

At the end of the session attendees will be able to:

  • Understand the different income streams available their start up organisation
  • Know where and how to identify potential funding opportunities
  • Be confident in knowing when (and when not) to apply for funds.

Register for Start-Up Funding for Charities and Social Enterprises.

Principles of Risk Management

  • Date: Thursday 29 January 2026 
  • Time: 12 to 1pm
  • Location: with Howard Exton-Smith

This one-hour webinar will help you better understand holistic risk management, so you can improve your decision making and resilience, and develop your confidence to shift from reacting to risk to welcoming the opportunity to explore the strategic opportunities.

Register for Principles of Risk Management

More training

More training opportunities that we offer:

Contact

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future training or information sessions, email us at voluntarysectorteam@wandsworth.gov.uk.

Up to Support for the voluntary and community sector

Updated: 14/11/2025