Engage Renfrewshire - supporting community organisations

Engage Renfrewshire supports community organisations to build capacity and be safe, by providing information, advice and training, covering everything from governance and constitutions, to funding and Boards.

We can help you achieve the change you would like to see in your local community.

We can support you with

• Establishing a new group
• Assistance/support to draft a governing document/constitution
• Working as a committee
• Policies and procedures (insurance, health and safety, relevant legal obligations)
• Becoming a Scottish Registered Charity, Community Interest Company (CIC) or other format
• Applying for voluntary and statutory funding
• Developing sustainability for your group - including forward planning and SWOT analysis 
• Developing your group’s capacity and resources
• Organisation Health Check - Getting into the habit of regularly reviewing the health of your organisation will help you to spot problem areas quickly, identify strengths and weaknesses, and encourage you to develop, implement and embed a continuous review process.
• Other advice and support

We offer a menu of free training courses to give you the skills you need to operate more effectively and strengthen your service delivery. These include:

• Governance/Committee skills
• Roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors/Trustees
• Bookkeeping and Financial Systems
• How to write a good funding application
• Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Other training available is promoted on our calendar here

We help you identify the right funding by providing:

• An annual Engage Funding Fair, providing the opportunity to chat to funding officers from a variety of local and national funders. For example The National Lottery, Renfrewshire Council, Glasgow Flightpath Fund and others
• 1-2-1 funding spotlight sessions, showcasing a funder and offering the chance to discuss funding ideas directly with them. Previous sessions have included The National Lottery Community Fund, Robertson Trust and BBC Children In Need
• Funding search sessions with our new online search tool Grants Online.
• Discussing your organisational needs on an informal basis whenever required
• Partnership working with Renfrewshire Council’s Economic Development Team, to provide joined up support and advice.

Quick Links to additional information on fundraising & applying for funding

Getting Started with Grants and Trusts

Fundraising Essentials 

• What is fundraising,
• Developing a fundraising strategy
• Building a case for support
• Fundraising in practice & reviewing your performance
• Steps to excellent fundraising.

Toolbox

Please see a variety of resources to help you in our Toolkits and Guides

Other Resources

Crowdfunder UK

• 45 minute presentation on how to set up a crowdfunding page
• Links to Free Resources

Measuring Impact

How to show your funders that you are doing a great job 

• Evaluation Support Scotland – a wealth of materials and examples available from their website including videos on outcomes
• Inspiring Impact – Examples of gathering and reporting impact during a time of crisis, as well as practical information

Net Zero

Renfrewshire Council has made an ambitious commitment for Renfrewshire to become net-zero by 2030 – keep up to date with developments here

More information and resources

• Net Zero Nation
• How to start your organisation's journey to net zero (scvo.scot)
• Carbon Footprint calculator
• Sustainable Supply Chains

Information on setting up and running an organisation:

Setting up groups, training and funding Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

Setting up a charity OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator)

Local information across Renfrewshire Renfrewshire Council 

Working with local people in their own neighbourhoods to bring people together, empower residents and develop a community voice CEIS

Accelerate - Receive around 6 days of support specific to your needs

• Download the Accelerate Leaflet >
• For a full description of services click the link; https://communityenterprise.co.uk/what-we-do/accelerate

For further information contact info@engagerenfrewshire.com or 0141 887 7707 and subscribe for our free weekly e-alert with funding links, training dates and other information.

We offer a range of support/guidance including: 

• Assistance/support to draft a governing document/constitution
• Legal structures so that you may make an informed choice of your preferred structure i.e. SCIO, registered charity, C.I.C.
• Policies and procedures (insurance, health and safety, relevant legal obligations, such as the promotion of equality and diversity and the protection of vulnerable groups)
• Annual reporting requirements to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and Companies House
• Becoming a charity
• Working as a committee
• Assistance with planning for the future
• Access to development resources
• Individual advice on development issues
• Employing staff (employment law, terms and conditions, recruitment)
• Planning and Review including forward planning and SWOT analysis 
• Monitoring & Evaluation guidance - Carrying out monitoring and evaluation using 'How Good is Your Third Sector Organisation?'
• Survey design assistance - Analysis and distribution of information - Bespoke to suit your needsSome useful links:
  • http://www.evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/