Cost-of-Living help for you

In June, 84% of you told us through our impact survey, the need for your services has increased as the challenge of affording life’s everyday essentials gets harder for so many of the people you support.  Over a half of you are experiencing increases in utility and travel costs, and over a quarter do not have enough public donations of products to keep up with demand.

“Our charity and some of our members are struggling to pay increased utility bills, this is impacted severely on our mental health worrying that we will close. Our members are now having to choose between keeping their children fit or paying for food or heat.” NBC Gymnastics

We are working more closely than ever with corporate partners to increase donations of essential supplies to help you on the frontline grow, or simply sustain, your vital support services, and to keep the charges for products to a fraction of retail prices.

To add to our usual funding signposts we have spoken with our friends across the sector to pull together this summary of tools and resources for community and charitable organisations.

1. Directory of Social Change (DSC)

The DSC’s cost of living hub incudes funding guides, insightful commentary, articles and links.

The next in its series of Insights Talk on Tuesday 27 September 4.30-6pm, provides a space to come together with other sector colleagues and look at four areas to surviving this crisis – your board of trustees, leadership team and staff, finance and funders. Register for FREE here.

Don’t forget that as part of In Kind Direct’s community you are eligible for 20% off DSC training courses, conferences, Funds Online and publications*. Publications such as Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need 2022/23 and Guide to Major Trusts 2023/24. Your unique In Kind Direct discount code, which you’ll be prompted for during DSC’s online checkout process, can be found by logging in to your account, in the left hand panel.

*This offer is not applicable to DSC in-house services or research projects, any existing course bookings and any existing subscriptions to Funds Online.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
We are saddened to share that the Directory of Social Change (DSC) is closing after more than 50 years of supporting charities and community organisations.
As a result, the DSC discount code will no longer be available.
We would like to thank DSC for their dedication to supporting the voluntary sector and for the positive impact they have made over the past five decades.
If you have any questions regarding DSC or its closure, please contact cs@dsc.org.uk

2. NCVO and SCVO

This blog from Sarah Vibert, CEO (and fun fact .. former Head of Charity Partnerships at In Kind Direct) sets out the main ways NCVO is supporting member organisations.

This page on the SCVO website summarises the practical support available for SCVO members in Scotland.

3. Locality

Locality is the membership network supporting local community organisations throughout England. It has compiled a set of resources to help member organisations with rising costs. These include help with financial planning and risk management, energy, community land and building management/concerns, a checklist for employers to help support staff through the crisis, and additional support for organisations that grow, provide or distribute food.

Details of its membership packages if you are not a member already can be found here.

4. ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations)

ACEVO’s cost of living crisis hub brings together signposts, tools and guides – some only accessible to members who include leaders of community based groups, medium-sized organisations, through to national and international not-for-profits.

Details of its membership categories and benefits are here.