Be Well Week is a University of Bath Wellbeing week running on the 17th of March.  It’s a week dedicated to wellbeing to help students build healthy habits and find out about existing support and activities.  The week is made up of workshops, events, activities and fairs to give student the opportunity to explore wellbeing on campus and in Bath.   The University of Bath is on the look out for local partners who may want to support the week.  If you would be interested to take part through an event or setting up a stand on campus please contact r.heyes@bath.ac.uk .  There is limited space so may not be able to accommodate everyone.   At Bath they follow the 6 ways to Be Well (based on the 5 ways to wellbeing) so they will be organising their activities and events around the following themes:   Be Active Take Notice Be Healthy Connect Give Keep Learning

Bath-based coach, Claire Crawford, Phd Psych, Msc, Bsc, is offering free leadership coaching for 5 coachees. Claire is training for an ILM 7 (executive level coaching), is accredited by ILM, ICF and EMCC, and has completed 60 classroom training hours. The engagement would be for 6 x 90 minute online sessions, usually conducted once-per-month for 6 months, although this can be flexible. Who is this for? Anyone who wants help with their personal or professional development and are working, or have worked at a ‘senior’ level. [This is defined by the ILM as: ‘Experience of working in a senior or complex role with responsibility for the management of people, resources, strategy or operations’]. Owners of small businesses may also be eligible. Only 6 places available. Why is it free? Claire is offering this on a pro-bono basis as part of her qualification to be an executive coach. What is the commitment? After a call to get to find out more, meet each other, ask more questions & decide if this may be useful, you will agree to attend 6 sessions in return for a testimonial of your experience. What can it help with? Anything! You are encouraged to bring your whole self to this unique, non judgemental space where you can pause and reflect on your life in a deeper way than we are usually able to. You can bring personal or professional aspects of life, goals or challenges - it's all welcome. How does it work? Claire believes that everyone is whole and complete as they are by nature of being human. However, due to various experiences and beliefs many of us have ‘blockers’ to reaching our full potential, or to be satisfied with life no matter what the circumstances. Claire will help you bring awareness to your inner life, which determines your outer life. Sessions are 1:1 on zoom and are held in the strictest confidence. How can I find out more? Contact clairejocrawford@gmail.com or find Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-crawford-a7920b61/

Funding platform easyfundraising has 250 free fundraising toolkits to give away to help organisations in our area raise money easily online. The packs contain shareable content to help you get your supporters raising money for you online, including social media posts, newsletter contents, poster, flyers and videos. Through easyfundraising, 8,000 online retailers will donate money to your organisation when your supporters shop with them. Retailers include Tesco, trainline, eBay, Argos, Just Eat, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Asda, Booking.com and 8,000 others. All you need to do is use the free packs to tell your supporters about it! To get your complimentary pack, register your organisation with easyfundraising. When prompted, choose the option to schedule a call with a member of the team, who will then arrange for your free toolkit and explain how easyfundraising works. There are 250 packs available – don’t miss out, claim yours today here: https://bit.ly/3o8dm23

Charity Digital has launched a new resource hub, in response to the enormous resilience demonstrated by charities in recent years, and their desire to ensure charities are not pushed beyond their limits. The Reimagining Services campaign and hub explores how charities can "maximise their impact, adapt to challenges, and embrace innovation to thrive in 2025 and beyond." The campaign will provide charities with essential tools and insights to: Do more with less  – Practical tips to improve efficiency.  Inspire change  – Empower service users and make a difference.  Use digital tools  – Unlock technology to enhance services.  The Hub has lots of sector knowledge-sharing and digital tips and tricks. Check out the Reimagining Services Hub here. Charity Digital is also preparing to host an online ' Reimagining Service Delivery Summit ' on  12th June 2025, to explore this further. You can register your interest in attending here.

One of the projects that the Peasedown Community Trust organises every year is the huge Party in the Park Festival with 2,500 attendees each June. It's a huge event that's now in its 16th year. As well as 7-and-a-half hours of live music and entertainment, there are also over 50 stalls and attractions - mostly all local organisations showcasing what they do. This year, the Peasedown Community Trust is offering an opportunity for 3SG members to come along and run a stall at a reduced rate. Party in the Park is a great chance for any of the 250 members of the network to meet thousands of people in just one afternoon! Peasedown Party in the Park 2025 will be on Saturday 14th June, 11.30am - 7pm on Beacon Field, Peasedown . Full details are on the festival's website ( www.peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk ) and Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/peasedownpartyinthepark ). All 3SG members are offered a reduced stall hire rate of just £25 for the day (reduced from £35). To claim this offer and book your stall, just email   info@peasedownpartyinthepark.org.uk and quote '3SG'.

Round 2 of our Bath Spa Works: Internships is now open! Whether you’re looking to grow your organisation or if you have a project that you need support on, by taking part in Bath Spa Works: Internships, you have an opportunity to advertise an exclusive internship and recruit a Bath Spa University student for a period of 120 hours (equivalent to three weeks). From working with micro businesses and SMEs, to supporting the growth of charities, social enterprise, or a CIC, these internships not only support local businesses but also offer students the chance to develop their key skills, experience and employability. Funding   This year Bath Spa University is offering part - funded internships where you will have an opportunity to select one of their students for:   120 hours - funding contribution of £1,000 You will then be required to make up the remaining amount to ensure the student is paid the national minimum wage. The student will need to be added to your payroll and paid directly.    Employability Award (limited)   This year, Bath Spa University is also able to offer a number of Employability Awards for 120 hours internships where the organisation meets the eligibility criteria. This eligibility criteria has been developed to support local small business and charities to access Bath Spa University's student talent where ordinarily, they may be unable to resource or fund this.     Although these internships are not required to be paid at national minimum wage, Bath Spa University is able to offer the successful student an Employability Award of £1,250  to go towards their work with you. This Award will be paid directly to the student by the university.    Eligibility will be captured and reviewed upon the submission of your proposal form. The outcome will be communicated to you via email by the Scheme Coordinator or an Employer Relations Advisor.     Interested? Here’s how to get involved:    Step 1:  Complete this  Employer Proposal form (click here for link)  with an outline of your internship details. You must submit a proposal form  otherwise you will not be eligible to receive the funding as part of Bath Spa Works: Internships.  IMPORTANT: You must submit an Employer Proposal form  to be eligible to receive the funding as part of Bath Spa Works: Internships.   Step 2: Your form will be submitted to the Placements Team to review and approve if deemed appropriate (so please be as clear as possible in your description of the role). It can take up to 5-10 working days for forms to be reviewed.    Step 3:  Once your Proposal Form has been reviewed by the Placements Team, Bath Spa University will be in touch with the outcome and next steps.  If/when your proposal has been approved, you will receive confirmation  from the Placements Team. This confirmation will be sent via email.    Step 4: Your opportunity will go live! This step is completed by the Placements Team, but if approved, you will receive further details on what the next steps are.     NB: Bath Spa University has limited funding so won't be able to accept all proposals. Decisions will be based on the quality of the opportunity for students and the organisation's need.     This second intake  of proposals will be open from   8th January 2024 - 17th March 2024.   However, proposal closure will be subject to change (early or extended closure) as determined by funding available. Funding is offered on a first come first serve basis and will be available until exhausted.   Please take the time to read over the Bath Spa Works Internships: Employer Handbook here , and for any internships that involve remote working, Bath Spa University also encourages you to take the time to read over this "Guide to working from home for students" from ACAS.

Below is a selection of current funding opportunities available to charitable organisations across B&NES. The 12 opportunities below are listed in order of closing date, and separated into two sections; Local and National. Local Opportunities Great Western Railway Customer and Community Improvement Fund 🪙 Up to £50,000 This fund is for rail related projects that will be delivered and completed between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Bids must be related to the railway and proposal which don’t relate in some way to customers (or potential customers), stations, railway property, rail services, rail education or careers in rail will not be considered. Open to most non profits, including CICs. Deadline: Friday 31st January at 23:59 - Find Out More Charities can also apply to hold a charity collection at one of GWR's stations. https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/what-you-can-expect/community/community-and-charity-support?dm_i=6MG6,149GZ,51NQPF,5A4AV,1 Bath Women's Fund 2025 🪙 £15,000 main grant and two smaller grants of £3,000, to be awarded in June 2025. The theme for this year is:  Improving the health and wellbeing of women and/or girls - especially those most affected by health inequality. Eligible organisations will have a charitable purpose and a track record of working in Bath and the surrounding area (specifically Bath & North East Somerset) with local knowledge and connections. This means you will be either a registered Charity, Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) or a Community Interest Company (CIC). Deadline: Tuesday 18th February - Find Out More The Denman Charitable Trust Small Grants 🪙 Around £2,000 This funding is for small local charities in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire for a diverse range of charitable causes, albeit with an emphasis on supporting charities working in the areas of health and disability. Deadline: Unspecified. Trustees meet quarterly to decide on applications - Find Out More Quartet Community Foundation Express Grants Programme 🪙 Up to £5,000 The aim of this Express Grant Programme is to support local grassroot groups and small to medium sized organisations working with communities* experiencing inequalities and disadvantage. A grant can be towards any reasonable costs for your group/organisation or project, including core costs. Priority is given to those with income under £1 million. Deadline: Open all year - Find Out More The Roger and Sarah Bancroft Clark Charitable Trust 🪙 Usually for under £1,500 A limited number of small grants are available to registered charities.  Charities working in Somerset are favoured, although this is not exclusive, and those working in the fields of Quaker causes, heritage, social relief, and/or educational establishments for post graduate education. The Trust does not have a website and applications may be made at any time in writing. Deadline: Open all year - Find Out More National Opportunities Lloyds Bank Foundation England and Wales - Specialist Programme 🪙 A three-year unrestricted grant of £75,000 This funding is for small, local, specialist charities or CIOs supporting people facing complex issues on addiction, asylum seekers and refugees, care leavers, domestic abuse, homelessness, offending, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking and modern slavery. To be eligible, your organisation's annual income must be between £25k - £500k. This year, there will be 83 grants to make. Deadline: 5pm on Thursday 23rd January - Find Out More Paul Hamlyn Foundation Arts Fund 🪙 £90,000 - £300,000 The Paul Hamlyn Foundation wants to support organisations who are working at the intersection of art and social change. The Arts Fund supports the long-term development and transformation of these organisations as a route towards social justice and sustainability. Support is offered for core costs as well as programme which are central to your organisation's mission. Eligible organisations will have an annual turnover over £60k. Deadline: 12 noon on Friday 31st January - Find Out More Ford Britain Trust - Large Grant Applications 🪙 Up to £3,000 This funding is for charities and non-profit organisations (excluding CICs) with projects that focus on education, environment, children, the disabled, youth activities and projects that provide clear benefits to the local communities. Grant applications will be considered for projects being undertaken/expenditure being made in all UK postcodes however locations near Ford Motor Company Limited / FCE Bank plc UK operations are given a higher weighting (B&NES is therefore considered but not prioritised). Deadline: Friday 31st January - Find Out More Comic Relief - Every Step of the Way 🪙 Up to £200,000 To support UK organisations (income £250k to £10 million pa) that work to empower young people at immediate risk of, or experiencing homelessness to access the right support at the right time. Core funding for organisations which do both of the following: Specialise in holistic support to young people aged 16-25. And meaningfully involve young people with lived experience of homelessness, or who have been at risk of homelessness. Deadline: Wednesday 7th May - Find Out More Movement for Good Awards 2025 🪙 Six £1,000 draws Annual awards from The Benefact Group, giving over £1 million annually. Any UK registered charity or non-profit can nominate themselves, with the first winners to be announced on January 31st. There will be four special draws with 10 awards of £5,000 in each. These are open for nominations over 7 days only. The first £5,000 special draw will be for Animals & Wildlife - nominations open from 17 - 23 Feb. The others will be Health & Wellbeing 28 Apr to 4 May, Children & Young People 16 - 22 Jun and Arts & Culture 13 to 19 Oct.  Deadline: Various - Find Out More Vinehill Trust 🪙 One-off grants of £10,000-£100,000 (with occasional offers of up to £100,000 per annum for a maximum of three years). This funding is for charitable, education and ecclesiastical organisations that focus on music, heritage or health. Funding is for specific initiatives and projects rather than unrestricted funding. Occasionally, emergency funding is considered. Deadline: Unspecified - Find Out More Energy Resilience Fund 🪙 £25k - £250k (40% grant) The Energy Resilience Fund provides a blended funding package of loan (60%) and grant (40%) to bolster the energy resilience of eligible charities and social enterprises in England. Eligible organisations will have been operating for a minimum of 2 years and have a minimum turnover of £100k, and be looking to install energy saving measures/generation technology, or purchase energy efficient/environmentally friendly equipment. Deadline: Unspecified - Find Out More More funding opportunities can be found via the BaNES Funding Finder - Click Here 3SG member organisations also benefit from free access to our Funds Online  account, allowing you to search a library of over 8,000 funders giving a combined total of £8 billion. If you're a member,  head to the Resources page here to find out more.  You can find out more about 3SG membership here , or get in touch via contact@3sg.org.uk

The Bath Women's Fund 2025 grant making programme is now open for Expressions of Interest. The theme for this year is:  Improving the health and wellbeing of women and/or girls - especially those most affected by health inequality. Three grants available: £15,000 main grant and two smaller grants of £3,000 which we will be awarding in June 2025. If you are an organisation that supports women and girls in Bath and the surrounding area and think your work fits with the theme, then please read the guidance for applicants on  https://lnkd.in/d-vVBKh . If you would then like to apply and meet all the criteria, please submit your Expression of Interest form by 5pm on Tuesday 18th February. Find out more: https://www.bathwomensfund.org.uk/grants

As we start 2025, what will the new year bring you . What changes (if any), do you want in your life? A new career maybe. How about an opportunity to work for yourself and make a meaningful difference to people in your community. Community Catalysts is supporting thousands of people across the UK who made that decision to run their own community enterprise, supporting vulnerable adults to live independently in their own homes. This could be providing personal care, support round the house with basic cooking or cleaning, helping with letter writing or doing online shopping. Collecting prescriptions or taking people to hospital appointments or out on social visit to shops or for a coffee and chat. The list is endless. Community Catalysts are looking for more community minded people who have skills, time, an idea and desire to improve the quality of lives for older people. Is that person you? Community Catalysts has been commissioned by BANES Council to support local residents who want to set up their own care or help at home service, or community project which will improve quality of life for the people of the county. 30 new enterprises have been launched over the last 18 months supporting people across BANES. Working in partnership with Cool Ventures (https://coolventures.co.uk/), Community Catalysts are running a free event on Wednesday 22nd January 2025 in Bath for anyone interested in launching their own care or help at home business. Why not sign up today to make sure your 2025 will be a very special year. https://coolventures.co.uk/eventbrite-event/how-to-create-income-by-helping-others-bnes/ For more information about our free event or what help Community Catalysts BANES can provide, please call Michael Auton on 07443 191851 or email Michael.auton@communitycatalysts.co.uk .

Do you work with or support those who may struggle to pay their energy bills? Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) is an independent energy advice and advocacy service delivered by The Wise Group. HEAT provides 1-1 mentoring support and advocacy to vulnerable households in England and Wales.  Our team of Energy Mentors provide a holistic, independent, tailored advice to fuel-poor households experiencing energy crises. They provide ongoing support throughout the process, helping customers understand their options and make informed decisions. This includes: •           Tackling energy emergencies. •           Managing fuel debt and related issues. •           Advocate on your customer’s behalf. •           Accessing energy grants. •           Optimising energy usage and efficiencies.  The support that they provide will help your clients long term.   Referral Link: Octopus Referral Form

The ICB is currently looking at hypertension (high blood pressure) as part of its preventative focus. It has asked the BSW VCSE Alliance (which 3SG sits on), to ask members if they have any regular or one-off events coming up that they would be happy to host free blood pressure checks or vaccinations for those currently eligible (guidelines below). We are still waiting to hear, but there may be some funding to help support costs or if your organisation wants to host an event or series of events. This initiative can be mobilised from January 2025. Please email an expression of interest with venue, dates and times and what you might need to: becky@3sg.org.uk Covid :  COVID-19 vaccination: autumn programme resources - GOV.UK A dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be offered this autumn to: people aged 65 years and over residents in care homes for older people anyone aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group   Flu :  Flu vaccines for the 2024 to 2025 season - GOV.UK Eligible groups for the 2024 to 2025 season: aged 2 and 3 years on 31 August 2024 eligible school aged children (Reception to Year 11) those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups pregnant women all those aged 65 years and over those in long-stay residential care homes carers, those in receipt of carer’s allowance or main carer of an older or disabled person household contacts of immunocompromised individuals frontline health and social care staff There may be some funds available for organisational costs for hall hire or staff time if needed.

3SG is encouraging everyone to #GiveLocally this winter with a campaign to highlight giving to local organisations at this challenging time for so many.   On Giving Tuesday (3rd December), 3SG launched the Festive Giving Directory , which will continue to grow, showcasing a range of local organisations and opportunities to support people, places and animals in our local communities. View the Directory here!   Giving locally makes even more of an impact by strengthening our communities, having a clear visible impact through local organisations that have an in-depth understanding of strengths and challenges in our communities, and be flexible and responsive to meet local needs. A small gift can have a big impact and make much more of a difference to a smaller organisation. There can also be meaningful volunteering opportunities and occasions to buy gifts, cards and Christmas Trees from local organisations to support their work.   Representatives from local organisations gathered together for the 3SG Fundraising and Comms Network meeting on December 4th to launch the campaign, bringing together some larger local charities, such as RUHX and Dorothy House Hospice Care, with much smaller groups such as All Cycle Bath & West, Grow Batheaston, and The Bird of Prey Project, and many in between, representing a wide range of charitable work across Bath and North East Somerset.   Local companies, groups and individuals are invited to read through the Festive Giving Directory , find out about more about local organisations and many different ways to support them, and share online when you #GiveLocally to encourage others to get involved.

The Ageing Well B&NES 2024 Community Survey Report has now been published! It can be viewed here or download ed . This report reflects the collective effort of our partners, organisations, community groups, and dedicated individuals in reaching older adults across Bath & North East Somerset. Thanks to collective support, we received 1,384 responses  through online, postal, and in-person engagement, providing invaluable insights for building a more age-friendly community. Your support and expertise have been integral, and we're excited to share our next steps: B&NES Older People’s Voice  launches on 30th January 2024  (details and tickets coming soon)—a multi-part forum empowering older adults to shape the policies and services that affect them. The B&NES Age-Friendly Businesses  I nitiative , including our “ New Year, New Loo ” campaign, which will support local businesses in becoming more age aware, and aim to improve toilet accessibility and facilities around our county. The State of Ageing Report  (2025), combining these survey insights with your case studies, data, and examples to identify priorities, inform decisions, and highlight impactful work across the district. As we begin drafting the State of Ageing Report, we will need your input. Specifically, we’re looking for relevant ideas, data, or case studies you can share with us after reading the Ageing Well B&NES 2024 Community Survey Report . If you know of work or initiatives that we should include in our State of Ageing Report or just know about more generally, please do get in touch via ageingwell@ageukbanes.co.uk

3SG's Social Prescribing Project Manager, David Jenkins, has been sitting on the West of England Impact Alliance since joining 3SG in March 2024. On Tuesday 3rd December, a Launch event for the initiative took place at the Bristol Beacon, attended by David, and 3SG Director, Becky Brooks. An alliance of leading organisations has launched an ambitious charitable programme to “make loneliness a stranger.” The Impact Alliance is a pioneering initiative bringing together more than 50 diverse organisations to tackle the pressing issue of loneliness and social isolation in the West of England. By fostering collaboration, sharing expertise and pooling resources, the Impact Alliance aims to deliver significant and sustainable change through funds awarded in Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. A launch event for the Impact Alliance was held at the Bristol Beacon on 3 December, where a panel of experts in the fields of business, education, housing, older people and care were interviewed on stage by Jonathan Dimbleby. The panel included Kay Libby CEO for Age UK Bristol, Julie Barnett Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Bath, Carol Watson Service Director for Commissioning Housing and Partnership at South Gloucestershire Council, Jessica Vallentine Director of Responsible Business for Business West, Kate Jopling policy and strategy consultant and Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust, David Williams. Kay Libby said: “The Impact Alliance wants to create a West of England where loneliness is a stranger, and where all individuals feel connected, valued, and supported. By embracing these principles and working together, the Impact Alliance is poised to make a lasting difference in the lives of people across the region. “Through co-production with local organisations, we will tackle loneliness and social isolation with an in-depth understanding of the issues at the heart of the problem, providing strategic funding and supporting project delivery through established and new partners.” Kate Jopling said: “While many of us will experience loneliness at some point in our lives, most of us will move past it fairly quickly. But when loneliness becomes a daily experience, it starts to grind us down with devastating impacts on both our mental and physical health. “The longer we feel lonely, the harder it is to reconnect - and when our communities are affected by loneliness we all miss out on people's contributions and bear the costs of the resulting ill-health. That means there's not only a moral imperative to address it, but also societal and economic benefits to doing so. “So it's genuinely exciting to see such a broad range of partners coming together to work on this issue across local communities. The solutions to loneliness are as diverse as people are - because it's a totally individual experience - so no one organisation has all the answers, but together we can make a real difference" Strong evidence shows that loneliness has a range of negative effects on individuals, including poorer health, increased risk of premature mortality, the onset of depression and other common mental health problems, as well as poor psychological well-being. According to a white paper issued by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness:  Over 9 million adults are often or always lonely. (British Red Cross and Co-op)  For 3.6 million people aged 65 television is the main form of company. (Age UK)  More than 1 in 3 people aged 75 and over say that feelings of loneliness are out of their control. (Independent Age)  43% of 17 – 25-year-olds using Action for Children services experienced problems with loneliness. (Action for Children)  Weak social connection is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. (Holt Lunstad)  Loneliness costs UK employers £2.5 billion per year. (Co-op)  Disconnected communities could be costing the UK economy £32 billion every year. (Big Lunch) David Williams said: “The challenge of making meaningful change within our communities is highly complex and cannot be achieved by a single funder, organisation or sector, and there is a rich history within our region of collaboration between local funders.” “Through the Impact Alliance, we are taking a collaborative approach to tackle deep-rooted issues, developing effective and measurable solutions that leave a greater impact and legacy. This way, we can tackle the causes rather than our individual grants acting as a sticking plaster for societal issues, such as loneliness.” At the beginning of last year, the St Monica Trust invited a range of people and organisations to a series of ‘think tank’ meetings to explore new ways of working, which lead to the creation of the Impact Alliance. The Trust has also committed £500,000 per year to the programme, with the goal of raising a minimum of £1.5 million annually through contributions from partner organisations. Nathan Evans, Director of Partnerships and Development at Shaw Foundation who have committed £100,000 in funding to the Impact Alliance, said: “We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the formation of the Impact Alliance and all our partner organisations and delivery partners who came out in support of tonight’s event. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive and there is a clear appetite for enabling long- term change through greater collaboration and focused funding. Together we can indeed make loneliness a stranger.” The Impact Alliance would like to hear from potential funders, including grant givers, charitable trusts, corporate givers, foundations and philanthropists, as well as delivery partners, universities, researchers and policy makers. For more information go to www.impact- alliance.co.uk or email hello@impact-alliance.co.uk.

In partnership with Bath Fundraiser's Group, we are delighted to launch a pilot campaign to encourage local giving this winter! As part of our festive #GiveLocally  campaign, a Festive Giving Directory has been created featuring local charitable organisations and their Christmas campaigns. The aim is to make it easier for local people to give to local organisations, who support our communities at the grassroot level and who really make a difference to local people. We're encouraging everyone in Bath & North East Somerset who may be thinking of donating to a good cause this Christmas season, to consider our local organisations and browse the Festive Giving Directory. Click here to view the Directory!

Back by popular demand, easyfundraising’s Advent Calendar returns to bring some festive cheer. Open the Advent windows from 1st – 24th December for daily chances to win up to £200 for your organisation, charity, or CIC. Plus every window opened is also an automatic entry to win £1000 on Christmas Day!  Three steps to a festive season yule won’t forget:  1. Sign your organisation up to easyfundraising to enjoy 24 days of advent fun: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/3sg/ 2. Share your ‘Refer a Friend’ link with your community to ask them to support you.  3. From 1st December, encourage everyone to open the advent windows!  Did you know easyfundraising isn’t just for Christmas? It’s a year-round fundraising solution for your organisation. Through easyfundraising, 8000 retailers including eBay, John Lewis, Tesco, M&S, Trainline and many more will donate money to your organisation when your supporters shop with them. Find out more: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/3sg/

The National Lottery Community Fund recently announced their vision for funding in England to align with their 2030 strategy. The announcement included their plans to change their criteria for the Reaching Communities Programme, as well as 3 England-wide partnership opportunities. A summary of the changes can be found here: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/our-vision-for-funding-in-england Updated guidance on current Reaching Communities applications: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/reaching-communities-england Community Power partnership information including webinar sign up for November 28th: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/community-power You Decide partnership information including webinar sign up for November 27th: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/you-decide Grant Holder Support partnership information including webinar sign up for November 27th: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/grant-holder-support

This year at 3SG, we are delighted to celebrate Global Social Enterprise Day . You might wonder what defines a social enterprise – and the answer lies in this year’s theme, “People and Planet First.” A social enterprise is an organisation dedicated to making a difference by prioritising people and the planet above all else. Each year, on the third Thursday in November, Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) honour these incredible agents of change who address some of the most pressing challenges, from reducing inequalities to building sustainable communities. This year’s celebration is particularly significant as we complete the first year of our Social Economy West project. Designed to support local third sector organisations in becoming more financially and environmentally sustainable, the project has enabled us to achieve some remarkable outcomes. We are proud to have worked alongside various local organisations to create spaces and support structures where they can bring forward their next growth ideas. This work is made possible by our delivering partners at Business West, VOSCUR and CVS South Gloucestershire and our local allies - Cool Ventures and Bath Spa University, through the Bath Social Impact Network. I had a pleasure to be in conversation with Matt Smail, Director of the Urban Garden at their beautiful premises (surrounded by plants) whilst ‘I want to break free’ by Queen was playing in the background. So here is a snippet of my conversation with him on Urban Garden’s journey and how putting people first has led to their current success. The Urban Garden – Recent comments from the Britain in Bloom judges– “an inspirational business and a blueprint for other former council nurseries to reuse in this way” What is the story behind The Urban Garden and when was it established? Originally established as Grow Yourself CIC in 2015, the social enterprise aimed to provide work placements in gardening and landscaping, successfully helping people transition into employment until 2020. When COVID-19 struck, Grow Yourself faced a pause, just as an opportunity arose to take over a project initially managed by the Genesis Trust. Despite delays due to the pandemic, the garden Centre project ultimately came to fruition. Today, under the Urban Gardeners project, the enterprise has come full circle—once again offering gardening services, training, and work placements for community members, just as they did in their early days. It’s a rewarding continuation of their mission, blending skills development with hands-on horticulture. What motivates you to run the Urban Garden? A bit about me: what truly motivates me is seeing people transform for the better, especially when they’re working with plants. Watching individuals progress—whether it’s gaining the confidence to step into the garden centre or even securing a job—is incredibly rewarding. Some arrive unsure, even hesitant to step into the centre itself, but through training they find their footing and confidence. At the heart of our mission is this belief: we use the power of plants to help people grow. Do you collaborate with other organisations and authorities in BANES? We work closely with the council, maintaining a strong partnership that allows us to grow about 50% of the plants we sell. Through a cooperative agreement, we provide horticultural therapy and training in exchange for a rent-free space, which has been instrumental in our growth. We also collaborate with Grow for Life, another Bath-based charity which runs a Tuesday morning session, supporting us with plant cultivation. It’s a meaningful partnership that enriches our mission. What makes the Urban Garden so resilient in the current times? At the end of the day, it’s all about the people. Seeing participants progress in training, exploring new ideas, and diversifying our income keeps us moving forward. Personally I love the freedom to switch tasks—like blowing leaves (!) —and not always having to be confined to an office. Meeting a variety of people and building relationships is rewarding, and putting customers first with a genuine, friendly approach makes a real difference: being kind isn’t just good for business; it’s good for the soul! People recognise our mission, and that understanding not only supports our community but also strengthens our sales and sustainability. What is next for the Urban Garden and what tips would you like to share for someone looking to establish a CIC or a social enterprise? Our focus now is growing our new garden services project - The Urban Gardeners – which has seen measurable success in its first 3 months and has helped to support 3 trainees in building their skills and knowledge of gardening. Given our recent contributions to Bath’s Britain in Bloom success, I’m optimistic for continued support. A council contract renewal for another 5 years would enable us to confidently invest in upgrades, such as the kitchen and the shed behind the till. Starting the café kiosk was a great decision. While it pays for itself, it also brings in extra trade. People who might not have visited before are drawn in by the coffee, and they tend to stay longer, which boosts overall traffic. The spin-off benefits are noticeable, even if the kiosk’s direct revenue isn't huge. Demand for our volunteering sessions continues to remain high and last week we had 15 volunteers with around 40 volunteers actively volunteering with us. Matt’s advice for growing social enterprises – “The most important thing is having the right people. Don’t rush into hiring just anyone—finding people with the right skills and a shared vision is essential. It’s also about building a team you genuinely get along with. When everyone shares the same goals and enjoys the work, it makes all the difference.” The Urban Garden are receiving support through our Social Economy West Project and are realising the benefits of having a fresh pair of eyes on their future ideas and how to encourage relationships with other local organisations doing similar work. To know more about the project please visit this page here or contact our Project Manager – Alfiya Khan on alfiya@3sg.org.uk Photos from The Urban Garden in Bath. Find out more : https://www.theurbangarden.org.uk/

At this challenging time for fundraising, particularly for smaller and local charitable organisations, 3SG and Bath Fundraiser's Group is launching a pilot campaign to encourage local giving this winter. Each year, research indicates that more people tend to give at Christmas (e.g. www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/over-40-percent-of-people-more-likely-to-donate-at-christmas-survey-finds.html ) but with strong marketing campaigns from larger and national charities, it can be hard for our local charitable organisations to cut through. With the continuing decline in the number of givers across the UK, this is also an opportunity to inspire more charitable giving and promote the extraordinary impact this has in our local communities. As part of our festive #GiveLocally campaign, a Festive Giving Directory will be made available on the 3SG website and promoted to encourage local people to give to local organisations. We are inviting local organisations (Charities, CICs, community groups etc) to submit their Christmas Campaigns to the Directory here. More details can be found at the bottom of this article. You can also use #GiveLocally and the logo to take part. Reasons why giving locally makes even more of an impact at this challenging time for so many: Strengthening our communities Local charities and groups are at the heart of our communities so by supporting reliable and trusted local organisations, you are investing directly in our local communities with insight, understanding and knowledge on how best to help people and places in need. Local organisations are accountable to their communities. Visible impact By giving locally, you can directly see the impact first hand in our local communities and the tangible difference that the support kindly provided by you, and many others, achieves. Being able to see the change and where the money is going locally not only reinforces the impact of your giving but also encourages others to support locally too. Sense of belonging By supporting local organisations, you are part of a local community that cares for each another and strengthens our neighbourhoods and resilience. Empathy with local communities means you can offer meaningful support and get involved in issues that are personally relevant to you. Giving locally builds your connections and interactions with your local communities - your neighbours will benefit. Flexibility and adaptability Local organisations have an in-depth understanding of the challenges that our communities face and with local support, can be flexible and responsive to adapt their approach to build on strengths and opportunities to meet local needs at the right time. You can support and get involved in ‘problem solving’ that feels tangible. Efficiency Local organisations are often coping on tighter budgets and are highly skilled at ensuring they can be more effective, impactful, and run with lower overhead costs compared to larger, national organisations. A small gift can have a big impact, and make much more of a difference to a smaller organisation, and often you will feel valued and recognised more. Volunteering Local organisations achieve so much more through the involvement of volunteers, and can involve young people and provide learning opportunities to help the next generation understand compassion and the impact of volunteering and giving. You can give your time, energy, skills and knowledge as a volunteer, and/or support local organisations to empower more volunteers to support our local communities and achieve positive change, raise awareness and advocate for change. Boosting our local economy Local giving also helps to stimulate the financial health of our communities and build a sustainable local economy. The organisations you support employ local people, buy and use local resources, own or rent spaces in local communities, and support local people at times of crisis or when they need support with their health, wellbeing, skills and development, confidence, to find shelter, safety and/or recover from trauma, and to tackle food, fuel and other forms of poverty and disadvantage. If we've missed anything, please post in our LinkedIn Group here  or email  isobel@nspimpact.org.uk . Festive Giving Directory Please submit information about your organisation's festive appeals, activities, wish lists, volunteering opportunities etc. to include in the  Festive Giving Directory here . You will then be sent a draft of the page for your organisation including those links to check and edit. The directory will go live on the 3SG website later in November. Festive Fundraising Events Please add any festive events taking place across Bath and North East Somerset to the 3SG online calendar  by filling in the form . You can also subscribe so that the information will feed into your own calendar and keep you updated.

3SG are delighted to be supporting the delivery of the #ChristmasCompassion  card project for the fourth year in a row, in partnership with Connect Bath (formerly Bath Open Christmas). More than 30 schools across B&NES supported the #ChristmasCompassion   Christmas Card project over the last four years, creating some 7,000 individual cards which were sent to care homes, hospitals, individuals and charities, such as Bath Mind and the RUH, in order to bring some festive cheer to those in need. Originally created to help tackle loneliness during the ‘Covid Christmas’, the project is continuing to send smiles to the faces of those who may find the Christmas period particularly challenging. Receiving a thoughtful, hand-designed card from a local school child is a small gesture of kindness, compassion and inclusion, which can really make a difference to those who may otherwise feel isolated at Christmas. Several participating organisations shared their joy and gratitude on behalf of the cards beneficiaries last year: “The cards were such a delight- they really did lift people's spirits reading the heartwarming, kind and sometimes hilarious messages each child had written. We were all saying, when planning who to deliver them to how much we wish they were written to us!" “My clients loved their cards and read out each one to each other. Fantastic project. Thank You.” “The Christmas cards were ALL very well received. The cards brought lots of smiles and the patients particularly loved the jokes. There were a lot of comments about the effort, love and care that had gone into making  the cards and it was really appreciated. A few patients welled-up that children would be thinking of them in hospital. I loved taking the cards round and spreading joy around the hospital. Thank you for organising a really kind gesture for lots of our patients!” Connect Bath and 3SG are eternally grateful for the school children's participation, and the winning 8 designs from the last 3 years are all available to view, and even send via e-card, on the Connect Bath website here. This years' blank cards are already with many local schools, who are busy working their magic on them ahead of collections by Thursday 5th December. We will then be delivering the cards on the week commencing Monday 9th December, with the invaluable help of volunteers, to all those who have requested them in B&NES. To get involved - whether by requesting cards for your organisation , or for an individual , friend or neighbour - please click here  to fill out the relevant form. Alternatively, if you'd be keen to help deliver the cards to their recipients, we'd appreciate your support any time that suits you between Monday 9th and Friday 13th December. Please let us know by emailing contact@3sg.org.uk.