Support for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations

A network of Councils for Voluntary Service support voluntary and community groups in Surrey, with a wide range of services including advice training and information on areas like human resources and finance.

Other organisations in Surrey who can provide support are listed below.

Councils for Voluntary Service

Surrey's Councils for Voluntary Service (CVSs) take the lead in providing infrastructure support to the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector. There are currently six CVS's across Surrey (CVS).

Volunteer centres

If you are a local group or organisation you can register with your local Volunteer Centre, where you can benefit from:

Opportunities, information, advice and support for volunteers
Help finding volunteers
Involvement in campaigns for volunteering

Whether you are a volunteer or a voluntary organisation there are also lots of resources on the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) that can help answer some of your questions.

For details of Volunteer Centres in Surrey visit our 'Talk to someone about volunteering' page.

Surrey's Asset Network

If you're providing help or support services for Surrey residents, come and be part of a network. By registering on Surrey's Asset Network, you'll have the opportunity to connect with other Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise organisations. By connecting you'll be able to benefit from such things as shared learning and more joined up ways of working by seeing opportunities for working together. You can also select to be kept informed of activities led by Surrey County Council – this could be opportunities to co-design together to be a part of shaping service delivery to residents, make your voice heard or find out about funding. If you have any questions, please contact nicola.boreham@surreycc.gov.uk

To be a part of the Asset Network register here Common outcomes - how are you helping Surrey residents?

Lasting Impact Development Workshops

Surrey's Asset Network is proud to launch it's first series of development workshops led by leading social value experts Always Possible, designed to support Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) in working more collaboratively and innovatively.

Lasting Impact is delivered by always possible on behalf of the Communities and Prevention team at Surrey County Council. Working in partnership with this award winning economic and social innovation agency, we have put together an exciting programme of workshops, resources and webinars with leading industry experts.

The latest programme of three free workshops aim to help Surrey's VCSEs to develop models to respond to the county's priorities for future funding and commissioning.

There are three free Lasting Impact online zoom workshops available on 7 April, 10 April and 29 April.

The Workshops

Plan: The fundamentals of running a successful social enterprise

Date: Monday 7 April 9.30am to 12.30am on Zoom.

A practical and supportive space to explore the essentials successful social enterprises, using the Social Business Model Canvas (SBMC) to clarify how you operate and make you more fundable.

For organisations adapting to changes in local funding and service provision, as well as professionals looking to apply business planning principles.

Adapt: Building a brilliant culture to manage change

Date: Thursday 10 April 9.30am to 12.30am on Zoom.

Explore the principles of effective organisational change, helping leaders create an adaptable culture while maintaining strategic focus. Designed for senior managers and VCSE leaders, it covers decision-making in uncertainty, leadership dynamics, and the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a strategic tool in the sector.

Sustain: Prioritising, planning and collaboration for maximum social value

Date:Thursday 29 April 9.30am to 12.30am on Zoom.

Master the art and science of prioritising, collaboration, and creating social value with Toby Buckle, a leadership coach with experience at Save the Children, the National Health Service NHS, and Kew Gardens. Learn the latest techniques in management, leadership and decision making and how to apply them within the Social Value Act framework.

How to streamline your work, focus on your strengths and match them with commissioning priorities to unlock funding and partnership opportunities. Develop a deeper understanding of different perspectives and how to build purpose-driven teams that can deliver great services and develop strong, lasting collaborations.

Surrey Charities Forum

The Surrey Charities Forum meets online every month to bring the county's third sector together with partners and other relevant organisations.

There are currently over 150 members, representing charities large and small across Surrey. Dates of their meetings can be found on their 'Facilitating and networking' page, if you wish to join.

Community Foundation Surrey

The Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) is an independent charitable foundation that brings together people and organisations who wish to give to the community with voluntary organisations providing positive solutions to the many challenges within our communities.

Themes including mental ill-health, sport, young people, the environment, arts, disadvantaged individuals looking for help into training and employment and much more.

CFS support hundreds of community groups across Surrey every year with funding from their donors. They are part of a national network of 47 Community Foundations.

Surrey Community Action

The Surrey Community Action organisation works with a wide range of statutory and voluntary organisations. They provide advice and support to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector as well as running projects within communities across Surrey.

Community grants and funding

Surrey has a variety of funds and funding advice accessible by Surrey communities, provided by different organisations. There are also community funding streams available that cover all of England that can be used in Surrey.

Social Value Marketplace

The Social Value Marketplace tool can help make connections between organisations, who are waiting to offer all sorts of help, and individuals. Whether that's meeting spaces, skills and knowledge sharing, equipment or volunteers to help with gardening, painting or decorating.

Surrey County Council

You can contact us for more information on support available within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector.

Louis Perry, Policy, Planning and Performance Manager, Public Health and Communities – louis.perry@surreycc.gov.uk
Councillor Denise Turner-Stewart, Cabinet Member for Communities and Community Safety – denise.turnerstewart@surreycc.gov.uk

For more information, contact Surrey County Council.

Community Link officers

Surrey County Council Community Link officers are here to help build closer relationships with residents and community organisations. Here to listen to you, work alongside you and the great local community organisations in your area to facilitate conversations and make connections to Make It Happen.

Find out who the Community Link Officer is in your area visit the 'Your Local Area' pages. You can also follow them on Facebook.

You can get in contact with Community Link Officers via email: surreycommunities@surreycc.gov.uk

Workshops, webinars and training resources

If you're an organisation working within the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector in Surrey, no matter what size or how long you've been operating, there is Lasting Impact training and resources available for you.

Lasting Impact is delivered by the company Always Possible on behalf of the Communities and Prevention team at Surrey County Council. Working in partnership with this award winning economic and social innovation agency, we have put together an exciting programme of workshops, resources and webinars with leading industry experts. The programme has been co-designed with input from Voluntary Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Surrey to shape a programme of activities that best suits your sector's needs. The programme has been designed to support Surrey's VCSE sector to be resilient and sustainable, and to keep delivering excellence for residents long into the future.

The Lasting Impact programme of events are free of charge and caters to all organisations irrespective of size or maturity. If you'd like to sign up to be a part of the Lasting Impact Programme register your interest here Lasting Impact registration form

Don't miss out on the next webinar.

Webinar title: How to foster productive teams

Overview: Techniques for managing dynamic stakeholder relationships.

Date: Thursday 21 November 12pm to 1.30pm

More programme information can be found at Lasting Impact: Sustainable Business Modelling for Surrey Community Organisations - always possible

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