Advice and support

NCVO has many specialist teams who provide information, advice and support to others working in, or with, the voluntary sector. These teams produce publications, briefing papers and guidance notes; run training, conferences and seminars; and offer a range of networks and practitioner forums.

• Advice, support and consultancy
• Campaigning
• Climate change
• Collaborative working
• Compact Advocacy
• Discounted services
• European and international
• Facilities management
• Governance and leadership
• Information and communication technology (ICT)
• Insurance for the Voluntary Sector
• Marketing, fundraising, communications
• Parliamentary
• People, HR and Employment
• Policy
• Public Service Delivery Network
• Publishing
• Research
• Strategy and impact
• Sustainable Funding
• Third Sector Foresight

Advice and support for organisations

• NCVO's helpdesk provides information and support for NCVO Members, as well as an order line for NCVO publications. Freephone: 0800 2 798 798 / Minicom: 0800 01 88 111. The helpdesk is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
• The NCVO Consultancy service provides direct support to help organisations develop practical ideas for real, lasting change.
• If you work or volunteer for a small organisation, group, infrastructure or umbrella organisation we also have specific and relevant information for you, on a range of key areas.
• NCVO in partnership with RICS have launched Charity Property Help, a service through which Chartered Surveyors provide free advice to voluntary organisations and charities on all property related issues free of charge.
• NCVO ‘Free Legal Information Service’ in partnership with LawWorks. Initial electronic advice (quick query surgery) available for all members, it enables you to submit by email a quick, straightforward query about the law that applies to specific situations

Campaigning

NCVO campaigns to influence and change policy and practice across key issues of concern for the whole sector.

Our Campaigning Effectiveness brings together experience and expertise and drives excellence in campaigning and policy work across civil society by providing support, knowledge, tools and resources. Find out more about Campaigning Effectiveness

Climate change

Climate change will have major implications for many voluntary and community organisations. Warmer and more extreme weather, combined with a range of knock-on social and economic effects, will have an impact on your beneficiaries or cause, as well as your operations. To explore what our changing climate will mean for your organisation and how you could respond, take a look at our climate change guidance.

Collaborative working

Collaborative working within the voluntary and community sector - also known as joint or partnership working - covers a spectrum of ways that two or more organisations can work together. The Collaborative Working Team provides information and advice to help voluntary and community organisations make informed decisions about whether and how to work collaboratively and to maximise the benefits in any partnership agreement.

Compact Advocacy

The scheme provides practical support and wider campaigning to the sector in cases where the Government has breached the Compact. The Compact aims to improve the relationship between the two sectors for mutual advantage.

Discounted services

In order to save money for NCVO members, NCVO's Business Development Team uses the bulk purchasing power of its 7,500 members to negotiate discounts and preferential packages on a wide range of products and services such as training, computer software, hardware, insurance and office services. Take advantage of our discounted services.

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European and international

NCVO’s European and International Office campaigns at European Union level on behalf of the English Voluntary and Community Sector.

Facilities management

Do you have concerns about how you manage your premises? The facilities management special interest group is about how you manage buildings occupied by your organisation. It covers everything from planning a move to negotiating a lease, from finding the best deal on insurance, to monitoring cleaning contracts, from designing adequate security measures, to workplace health and safety. The objectives of the group is to share good practice and resources. If you are interested please email Tracy Kiernan or Annette McGill.

Governance and leadership

NCVO's Governance and Leadership work supports civil society organisations and their leaders with a range of services including: leadership services, Trusteebank, Leadership and Governance National Support Service, publications and resources. Learn more about governance and leadership.

Information and communication technology (ICT)

These ICT resources will keep you up to date on the latest news and events showing how technology can help you to be more effective and efficient.

Insurance for the voluntary sector

CaSE Insurance is a social enterprise that has been established to provide tailored insurance packages exclusively for charities and social enterprises. NCVO, along with CAF, are partners in CaSE Insurance and the aim of CaSE Insurance is to reduce premiums and support the sector. Find out how to get a tailored insurance package with CaSE insurance.

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Marketing, fundraising and communications

For anyone involved or interested in marketing, fundraising and communications we run a packed programme of training and annual conferences including popular Data Protection Training; Marketing Training and Fundraising Training. Find out more about how the network can support you in your role by joining the marketing and fundraising group.

Parliamentary

NCVO's Parliamentary Office:

• Develops NCVO’s work in Westminster and Whitehall.
• Develops effective working relationships with members of both Houses of Parliament and other national policy makers.
• Maintains overview of all parliamentary developments, evaluates legislations affecting the voluntary and community sector.
• Campaigns and lobbies for legislative and policy and practice changes.

People, HR and Employment

NCVO's Workforce Development team helps voluntary organisations attract, develop and keep the staff, trustees and volunteers they need. We provide advice and support around HR and Employment Practice, learning and skills and promote the sector as a career.

Policy

The policy team develops NCVO’s position on current policy issues. Seeking to improve the operating environment of the voluntary and community sector, the team works with members and responds to policy initiatives from external bodies. The team also provides briefing and advice to members by hosting regular events and a range of networks for people with specific policy interests. Find out more about NCVO policy work.

Public Service Delivery Network

NCVO's Public Service Delivery Network uniquely brings together voluntary and community organisations and statutory sector bodies to develop tools and spaces for the improvement of procurement and commissioning relationships between the two sectors. Find out more about NCVO's Public Service Devlivery Network.

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Publishing

The NCVO Publishers forum is a support network for voluntary sector publishers. It covers traditional print and design as well as electronic publishing and websites.

Research

NCVO's research aims to support the development of effective policy and practice in the voluntary and community sector. We work closely with practitioners, academics and decision-makers in order to focus on generic issues of strategic importance. Find out more about NCVO research work.

Strategy and Impact

The Strategy and Impact team helps organisations to know, grow and show the difference they make.

Sustainable Funding

Funding and finance remains the single biggest concern facing voluntary and community organisations. NCVO’s Sustainable Funding Project encourages and enables organisations to explore and exploit a full range of funding and financing options to develop a sustainable funding mix.

Third Sector Foresight

Third Sector Foresight helps voluntary organisations plan effectively for the future, with a particular emphasis on providing information about trends affecting the voluntary and community sector.

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