This page lists a range of free or low-cost resources that offer support and guidance for charities and not-for-profit organisations. The page is regularly updated - please contact us at enquiries@peopleshealthtrust.org.uk if you have any suggestions for themes and areas of interest you think would be helpful.
Communications and marketing
See our guide here for advice, tools and resources to support low cost or free marketing and communications.
Governance, Staff & Volunteers
Governance building blocks guide - a Bates Wells guide on governance for charities
Companies House – a range of government guidance including how to set up a company, becoming a company director and annual filings
Charities Commission (England and Wales) – guidance to help set up and run a charity, such as charity rules and advice on managing finances
Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) – Scotland specific advice, guidance and information on becoming and managing a charity
Association of Chairs - a range of tips, guides and briefings aimed at supporting Chairs in their roles. Membership is required to access some resources.
Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) – a membership organisation supporting leaders of charities and social enterprises in England and Wales. Resources can be accessed after paying for a membership.
Locality – a national membership network supporting community organisations, offering training, support, networking opportunities and more. Membership is required to access some resources.
London Community Foundation – comprehensive resource pack with links to topics such as setting up a community organisation, working with volunteers and writing financial procedures
NCVO - information on employment law and human resources, including guidance and templates for procedures and policies
Reach Volunteering – guides for organisations and volunteers, including how to recruit skilled volunteers and Trustees
Resource Centre – resources on topics such as managing staff and volunteers, policies and procedures, and getting help with running a group
Safeguarding
Charity Commission - strategy for safeguarding:
NCVO – safeguarding information and resources, including what safeguarding is and examples of best practice
NSPCC – information on safeguarding children and child protection
SCVO – a collection of guidance, focussing on the role of Trustees in safeguarding and how to develop a strong safeguarding culture in your organisation
Unlock - an independent national charity that provides a voice and support for people who are facing stigma and obstacles because of their criminal record
WCVA – promote and develop good practice in safeguarding across the voluntary sector in Wales, and provide advice on safeguarding and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
Mental health support
Mental Health First Aid England – a social enterprise offering Mental Health First Aid training to workplaces and individuals
Mental Health Foundation – resources on looking after your mental health and getting help
Mental Health UK – advice, information and support services for individuals
Mental Health Wales – links and information for mental health professionals, clinicians, and individuals living with mental illness, families and carers
Mind – advice, support and campaigning to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem
Papyrus UK – suicide prevention for young people, including a support and advice line and training for individuals and groups
Rethink Mental Illness – mental health training courses, and support services for individuals
Samaritans – support for individuals, and provide online and face-to-face training for employers
Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) – advice and guidance, including self-help and supporting others
See Me - resources for mental health campaigning and peer support work
Scottish Recovery Network – an organisation promoting and supporting mental health recovery, including resources for developing peer support services
Young Minds - mental health support for young people, and advice/training for organisations working with young people
Zero Suicide Alliance – suicide prevention training and awareness
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) – Work with employers and employees to improve workplace relationships
Resource Centre – a charity serving voluntary and community groups in the Brighton and Hove area by providing a range of services and resources
Business Disability Forum – Works to remove barriers in business structures and government that prevent disabled people from contributing to enhance the social and economic health of their society
Inc Arts Unlock - an anti-racism toolkit that gives arts organisations practical steps to take anti-racist action
Stonewall – Provide support for the LGBTQ+ community
Finance and budgeting
NCVO – Offer toolkits templates for managing finances
Sayer Vincent – Resources from an audit and advisory firm working exclusively with charities and social purpose organisations
Small Charity Finance - offer a range of practical, easy to use resources that are appropriate for small charities
Charity Finance Group - is a charity that inspires a financially confident, dynamic and trustworthy charity sector by championing best practice, nurturing leadership and influencing policy makers
Fundraising and other funders
Crowdfunder - a different way to raise money for good ideas by turning to the people around you and in your community to support your venture
Edge Fund - is a grant making body that supports efforts to achieve social, economic and environmental justice and to end imbalances in wealth and power – and give those we aim to help a say in where the money goes
Black Fundraisers UK (BF-UK) - is a Special Interest Group of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF that connect, support and champion fundraisers from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) Communities across the whole of the UK
Directory of Social Change (subscription service) – provide practical information on fundraising, marketing, management and legal issues for charities
UK Community Foundations – a national network of community foundations, bringing together people and organisations that want to improve their communities
Funding Wales - lists funding opportunities in Wales
Funding Scotland - lists funding opportunities in Scotland
YouthLink Scotland - providing information to support Youth work in Scotland
Grants Online – provide information on potential funding opportunities
The Foundation for Social Improvement- offer a subsidised extensive training programme to support small charities
Monitoring and evaluation
NCVO - offer free tools and guidance on evaluation, learning and impact measurement
The Resource Centre - provides free resources to help charities and community groups to evaluate their impact
One Westminster - has a range of tools and guides to help with monitoring and evaluation
New Philanthropy Capital - provide some free guides to impact measurement
Campaigning and influencing
Media Trust - run a UK-wide digital skills training programme delivered through local masterclasses, mentoring and online learning
Sheila McKechnie Foundation training – offer training courses are designed to give people the knowledge, skills and confidence to effect change as well as build stronger teams and organisations
NCVO - provides some guidance around campaigning and influencing for charities and community groups
Scope - have put together a guide to help plan and run a campaign
Digital inclusion
Good Things Foundation – providing access to digital resources to improve digital inclusion
Learn My Way - digital skills courses from Good Things Foundation
Make It Click - digital skills resources from Good Things Foundation
Charity Digital – partner with leading technology providers to deliver the UK’s only software donation platform, Charity Digital Exchange to improve digital awareness and access, connect charities to the digital expertise and talent they need
Renewed - provide premium quality Dell, HP, Lenovo and Apple repurposed IT hardware to the education sector, as well as commercial and charitable sectors
Supporting Communities - an independent charitable organisation that champions tenant and community participation by developing groups, supporting active citizenship and building cohesive communities
Vital Tech - a guide through the world of assistive tech for blind and partially sighted people in the UK
AbilityNet - supports anyone living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education
Building reserves
The Charity Commission has produced a guide to developing a reserves policy for your organisation. OSCR also has a reserves factsheet for Scottish Charities.
NCVO has some guidance on developing a reserves policy.
SCVO has also produced some guidance, as well as a template policy. (Note: you must be a member of SCVO to access the template policy. Membership is free for Scottish organisations with income of less than £100k)
Godfrey Wilson provides finance and accountancy support to small to medium charities and social enterprises. They have produced a guide to charity reserves.
Bond has published a report into how international development organisations can build resilience through reserves, which contains relevant lessons for all charities.
The Charity Excellence Framework has published a list of some funders and foundations who offer funding for core costs or unrestricted grants.
The Community Transport Association and the Welsh Government have published their top tips for increasing unrestricted income.
