Small Charity Week Spotlight: Share and Repair

Small Charity Week is a nationwide celebration of the remarkable impact small charities have in communities across the U.K. These organisations may be small in size, but their contribution is powerful as they transform lives, address local needs, and foster resilience. The campaign shines a spotlight on their work, amplifies their voices, and connects them with the support they need to thrive. Because when small charities are strong, so are the communities they serve.

Financial resilience is a fitting theme for this year, reflecting the needs and realities of small charities today. To mark the occasion, we’re proud to share stories from our members who are receiving support through Social Economy West. Their experiences highlight how this initiative is helping them work differently, become more sustainable, and increase their impact. By sharing these journeys, we aim to celebrate their achievements, elevate their voices, and inspire continued recognition for the vital role small charities play across the region.

Kicking off Small Charity Week, we are pleased to introduce Share and Repair!

Can you tell us a little bit about your small charity?

Share and Repair is a small, but fast-growing charity in Bath and North East Somerset. Our aim is to help local people and communities reduce carbon, waste and landfill to improve the environment we live in and save money. 

We create opportunities to reduce, repair, reuse and learn.

We are a catalyst for change through practical action and education, to deliver this we run 5 projects using 3 full-time equivalent staff and over 250 volunteers.

What do you think are the main challenges you are facing as a small charities?

Securing grants and donations has become increasingly challenging in today’s climate. With a noticeable decline in long-term funding opportunities, many charities find themselves in a constant cycle of chasing short-term grants which are now fewer and more competitive than ever. This uncertainty undermines financial sustainability and poses a significant barrier to building true resilience within the sector.

How has being part of the Social Economy West Project impacted you?

Being part of Social Economy West is fantastic. It’s incredibly helpful to have a fresh pair of eyes to shape our strategy and strengthen engagement with both our internal and external communities. Being matched with our mentor, Amy Sawbridge - Sawbridge Consulting, has been incredibly valuable. She brings a wealth of knowledge and is currently collaborating with us to design workshops aligned with our new strategy and to explore fresh opportunities for growth.

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Check out the Share and Repair website here to learn more about what they do!

Share and Repair is currently receiving support through our Social Economy project. 

They have been matched with one of our brilliant mentors to work on their strategy that aims to engage better and be more creative to achieve financial sustainability.

Social Economy West is a West of England Mayoral Combined Authority initiative, led by Business West and delivered locally by 3SG in the Bath and North East Somerset area. This programme builds on our ongoing work with the School for Social Entrepreneurs and the Bath Social Impact Network, continuing our commitment to strengthening the region’s social economy.

The aim of the project is to support third sector organisations, social enterprises, and co-operatives to become more financially sustainable and resilient in today’s challenging economic landscape. We do this via 5 key support activities:

• 1-1 Consultancy

• Pro-bono Mentoring

• Workshops

• Local and regional peer networks

• Accelerator Programme

Through Social Economy West, we’re offering access to tailored support, practical resources, and expert guidance to help organisations:

• Identify and explore opportunities for sustainable impact

• Navigate increasing demand for services

• Build financial resilience and embed environmental sustainability

• Strengthen risk management practices

• Diversify income streams and reduce reliance on short-term funding

  
  

If you’re a charity, community group, social enterprise, or co-operative working in Bath and North East Somerset, we encourage you to apply.

Apply now by completing the application form here: https://www.businesswest.co.uk/grow/social-economy-west

If you have any questions or would like to talk about the programme in more detail, please get in touch with our Project Manager - Alfiya Khan at 3SG: alfiya@3sg.org.uk.

Find out more about Small Charity Week here: https://www.smallcharityweek.com/

Small Charity Week defines a small charity as a voluntary organisation with a social or charitable purpose with an annual income of less than £1 million. This includes registered charities, community groups, community interest companies (CICs) and other structures.

If your small charity would like to become a 3SG member, you can find more information here. Alternatively, please get in touch and we'd be happy to have a chat - contact@3sg.org.uk