The 2012 Sustainable Funding Project (Norfolk) events booking form is now available at: www.voluntarynorfolk.org.uk/events

The Sustainable Funding Project (Norfolk) helps organisations to find new ways of raising money and to ensure resources are used effectively.

Through events and information you can: 

• Explore ways to make the most of fundraising approaches such as payroll giving and donations
• Assess opportunities for earning money, whether from trading or contracts
• Examine options for collaborative working with other voluntary or statutory organisations or with businesses
• Consider the most effective financial structures to reduce risk and tax liability, and still make the most of assets 

The Sustainable Funding Project (Norfolk) is a partnership between Voluntary Norfolk, Norfolk Rural Community Council, West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and is funded by the Big Lottery. 

If you would like more information about the support available contact:

Voluntary Norfolk

SFP@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk - Tel: 01603 883830/883844

Norfolk Rural Community Council

SFP@norfolkrcc.org.uk - Tel: 01362 698216

West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action

SFP@westnorfolkvca.org - Tel: 01553 760568 

NCVO has a number of Tools and Publications to aid you with Sustainable Funding.

You can find them online at:  www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/funding-finance/sustainable-funding/publications

The Sustainable Funding Guide is is a useful reminder of the issues that need to be considered when forming a sustainable funding strategy.

It has been produced by the Sustainable Funding Project (Norfolk) but is being used by groups across the UK to help with their sustainability planning.

Here is a quote from the Kincardine and Deeside Befriending group based in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire: 

“I just read the Sustainable Funding Guide. It is great and we would like to print a few copies for our trustees.”

The Sustainable Funding Guide is available free as a PDF download.

Groups can get a printed copy direct by contacting:

SFP@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk  

SFP@norfolkrcc.org.uk

or SFP@westnorfolkvca.org

NAVCA and NCVO are working in partnership to bring infrastructure organisations a series of master classes designed to provide the skills, knowledge and inspiration they need to refresh their funding model and access new sources of income.

Voluntary Norfolk has been recognised as one of the most entrepreneurial infrastructure organisations in the country and because of this its CEO, Brian Horner, was invited to be one of the speakers at this first event entitled "Becoming More Entrepreneurial" on Thursday 8 December 2011.

At the master class Brian outlined how Voluntary Norfolk has been developing its income diversification plans over a number of years given the inevitability of public sector funding cuts. The aim has been to ensure the charity remains sustainable through a diverse funding mix of grants, service level agreements and trading.

The speed of change recently – public sector funding cuts, different funding models such as payment by results, the increased focus on personalisation, localism without the resources, public service reform – with which many voluntary groups were familiar, were bringing added challenges to the sector in being able to secure sufficient funding to deliver their services.

Brian Horner pointed out that in developing their plans Voluntary Norfolk benefitted from having trustees and senior managers that accepted the need to diversify and understood the risks of change balanced against the risks of not taking action.

The steps taken by Voluntary Norfolk to diversify income included:

• Purchasing the business of an established local HR and training company
• Adapting and developing the business which was acquired to create a distinctive offer to the sector which built upon the strengths of Voluntary Norfolk.
• Launching Charity BackRoom – a single point of access for back office services.

Lessons learnt:

• Do not underestimate the time, energy and resources required to invest in a new trading venture.
• Be clear about the services and products that you are going to deliver. Are you confident about their quality and that there will be a market for them?
• Develop the right partnerships for you – don’t accept the offer if it isn’t one that adds value to what you do. Trust and shared values are important in any partnership relationship.
• Before you start the journey be clear about why you want to do this before considering that what and the how.

The Sustainable Funding Project (Norfolk) have produced a check-list of things to consider if you are thinking of buying or leasing a building for your organisation to operate in. 

The check-list is available as a PDF.