The finalists for Bath Life Awards 2024 have now been announced, and we are so proud to congratulate some of our wonderful members who have made it to the prestigious final on February 29th. We're delighted that 21 of our member organisations are in with a chance of winning across 8 categories. Local businesses and charities were able to nominate themselves for free in any of the 21 categories to be in with a chance of receiving well-deserved publicity and recognition. For 3SG members, the Charity and Civic categories offered specific opportunities, but charities and third sector organisations were also able to nominate themselves in categories that relate to their work (such as Health & Wellbeing), until nominations closed last week (January 15th). The finalists in the Charity category are... Bath Cats and Dog's Home* Bath City Farm* Bath Rugby Foundation* Ben Saunders Foundation* The Carers' Centre* Julian House* RUHX* SWALLOW* VOICES* We Get It* Wiltshire Air Ambulance The finalists in the Civic category are... Bath and North East Somerset Registration Service Bath College The Bath Safe Bus - provided by Bath BID Bath Women's Fund* Community Matters* The Crescent Club Digital Wonderlab Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain The Paragon School Radio Bath CIO* Wiltshire Digital Drive 3SG Member organisations have also made it to the Bath Life Awards final in alternative categories: Arts & Creative Bath Festivals* Bath Philharmonia* Komedia Bath* Voices for Life* Event Bath Carnival* We Get It* Health & Wellbeing Peggy Dodd Centre* Leisure & Tourism Komedia Bath* People Services Young Carers Development Trust* Sustainability Share and Repair* *3SG Member Organisations Congratulations to all finalists and thank you for all of the amazing work you do! The Bath Life Awards Final will take place at The Pavilion, Bath, on Thursday 29th February. Find out more here.

3SG welcomes new employee, Toni! We're really excited to announce a new addition to our team - Toni - who joins us as 3SG's second Project Manager. As the 3SG membership continues to grow, with over 229 local organisations now part of the network, we are excited to be starting a new chapter as a team whilst continuing to offer support in a range of ways. Toni’s official first day was Monday, so our Operations and Content Coordinator, Emma, took the opportunity to ask a few questions to find out more about Toni and her motivations behind joining 3SG. You can read the full Q&A below: What are you most looking forward to doing as part of your role? Having worked in the third sector for a few years I am super excited to join 3SG. I love meeting new people, supporting others, learning new things and building community relationships. Very much looking forward to working with all of our members and building new relationships. Tell us a little bit about yourself (Where you live or are from, studies, Hobbies etc) I grew up in North Devon and moved to Bath for University and never left! I studied Digital Design and Photography at Bath Spa University and l still very much love creating now. I create artwork and design, I make jewellery and resin work and have recently taken up crochet. This is how I like to unwind. I have 2 boys, 8 and 11 years old, they are amazing and I am so happy I can show them all of the wonderful work being done in the charity sector by being so involved myself. They absolutely love to help too which is great. I love the beach and being my the sea, this is my happy place! I have heaps of photos of the beach, beautiful skies, sunsets and my cats! I have two cats, both indoors but I do walk one of them on a lead which she loves but I do get some strange looks.. I do aerial sling which is really fun and about the only exercise I get other than walking! What interested you about working for 3SG? Have you had any previous involvement/experience with third sector organisations? I worked for Share and Repair as the Community Projects Lead for just under 18 months, this is a fantastic charity with so many incredible volunteers. This was a great job where I made so many wonderful connections and worked alongside some fabulous charities and organisations. I also work for Reminiscence Learning as a Tutor, I run workshops in Primary Schools teaching children about Dementia. Then linking them up with the local care homes to promote intergenerational work and build community relationships. I've volunteered for 3SG for over 3 years (in various capacities), I have been the Christmas Card Coordinator for Connect Bath and 3SGs Christmas Compassion project for the last 4 years, and I volunteer for Shout as a crisis support worker. Tell Us a Fun Fact About Yourself? I used to run a pub and I lived in Australia for a year. Two fun facts! What food could you not live without? I have a sweet tooth so I'd have to say chocolate.. or cake.. ! Toni is keen to get out and about and meet many of our wonderful members; if you'd like to invite Toni to visit your organisation, please get in touch at toni@3sg.org.uk or call 01225 683087.

The University of Bath are inviting three local organisations to benefit from a fully paid student or to do a work project within the organisation. The scheme is led by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, who see the importance in providing real world opportunities to students and have partnered up with the Santander Employability Scheme. During Summer 2023, three projects took place with one local SME and two local charities. Two of these projects were focused on the charities addressing their organisations response to their carbon emissions. Students were supported by the University of Bath’s Climate Action Team to look at the organisations carbon emissions and providing recommendations to reduce these in the different Scopes. The third project worked with an SME on customer and product research, attending on site events and meeting members of the public to provide detailed feedback for their product moving forward. All three organisations and students reported positive feedback on their experience, and The University of Bath would like to host three more organisations this year to work with their students. “The entire process, from initial planning to the final stages, was smooth. The University's role in facilitating this internship was clear and effective, leaving no room for confusion or improvement from our perspective.” Simon Allen, AGE UK BANES, CEO. The work project can be completed virtually or in person. The project will take place over the summer of 2024 and students can work up to 108 hours over the project (maximum of 35 hours per week). The University of Bath are keen to hear from organisations that are interested in the projects format. This may be a different subject from climate action, but they would still like to hear from you and how their students could support one of your organisation’s projects. Benefits to your organisation: ·       An opportunity to address a challenge/issue which they are facing ·       A cost-effective way of gaining free additional resource and insight ·       Exposure to future graduate recruits ·       Enthusiastic students eager to deliver high quality work ·       CPD opportunities for existing team members Students would apply for the work project and would be expected to provide a summary of their experience to the University and Santander at the end of their work project. The projects can be based around your organisational need, as can be seen from last year's examples, these can be different projects. If you would be interested in support around climate focused work then we can approach our climate action team for support. If your organisation would be interested in hosting an Employability Project for one of our students during summer 2024 then please reach out to Katie Gilham – Student Success Officer klg48@bath.ac.uk or Annika Theilgaard – Student Engagement Manager act36@bath.ac.uk

In a significant collaborative effort, an alliance of determined charities and organisations have come together to kickstart a groundbreaking programme, to make Bath and North East Somerset an Age Friendly Community. Fuelled by funding from St John’s Foundation and Age UK Bath and North East Somerset, this transformative two-year initiative will drive change in the Bath and North East Somerset region to improve the lives of older people. The programme will revive a local Ageing Well Forum, that hasn’t existed for over a decade, encouraging older people to speak out about the issues that are important to them and their communities. The feedback will inform a wider Ageing Well Steering Group made up of local government, businesses, health and care services and charities. This will ensure older people's needs and views are listened to when decisions are made. As well as an Ageing Well Forum and steering group, the programme will also collaborate with the existing Ageing Well Network, facilitated by Bath and North East Somerset’s Third Sector Group (3SG). The network has so far welcomed 100 participants from 35 organisations supporting older adults. Simon Allen CEO Age UK Bath & North East Somerset said: "As we navigate the journey of ageing everyone's experiences matter. I believe in giving value and a listening ear to each person, especially when decisions that affect us are being made. I'm excited that we'll soon have a new Ageing Well Forum, the first in over ten years! This forum will help us all pay attention to what matters most to older people and in turn, take collective action. Together we can make Bath and North East Somerset a great place to grow old!” David Hobdey, CEO at St Johns Foundation said: “For the first time in history, adults aged 60 and over are now the fastest-growing group in our population. This has shifted the needs of our society, and individual’s lifestyle expectations. We are thrilled to be part of such an exciting project and are confident that the secured funding will lay the foundation for a great start to the Ageing Well Programme. We look forward to seeing the impact this has on the community.” Director of 3SG, Becky Brooks said: "This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration, and we are so grateful to have so many like-minded organisations coming together with us. An Age Friendly Community means older people are not left behind or forgotten and people can stay living in their homes, be part of activities they enjoy and contribute to their communities for as long as possible. These collective efforts are not just for now, they are paving the way for us all on our journey into later life.” Councillor Alison Born, Bath & North East Somerset Council cabinet member for Adult Services said: “An Age-friendly Community is a place that supports people to age well and live a good later life-somewhere where people can live in their own homes, stay active and contribute to their communities for as long as possible. So I am delighted that Bath and North East Somerset is now joining this growing movement, and to see so many local organisations committed to making our area a better place to age in. It’s important that all council services-  whether that’s our parks, our libraries, or our local transport schemes - help shape more Age-friendly communities.” As well as the various groups being put in place, next steps for the project include training Community Researchers and creating a ‘State of Ageing’ report which will be fed back to the Network, Local Authority and other decision-makers for discussion and action. The programme will provide an opportunity for many groups to work together to make the area a World Health Organisation recognised Age-Friendly Community. For more information about the Ageing Well Network please visit: https://www.3sg.org.uk/ageingwellnetwork 3SG is an independent membership network supporting the charity, social enterprise, faith and voluntary sector operating in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES). The aim of our Bath based charity is to raise the profile of our members and partner companies they work within, provide 1-1 support and give them a chance to influence local strategic decision making. https://www.3sg.org.uk/ Age UK Bath & North East Somerset supports people to age well. We work to enable people to live with confidence, be heard, be celebrated and have access to the right support so they can live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. www.ageukbanes.co.uk St Johns Foundation is one of the UK’s oldest and most respected charities, we provide almshouse accommodation and help people in need throughout the Bath and North East Somerset area. Supporting children from birth to 12 years old, older people aged over 55, and people who have come to a point of crisis in their lives. https://stjohnsbath.org.uk/

Since 2014, the B&NES Local Authority has a duty to signpost adults needing support or care, to the advice and information they require. Live Well B&NES was created in response to this, and involves a collaboration between three pre-existing resources prior to Live Well B&NES creation in 2021. Live Well B&NES is therefore the Council’s central information and signposting point for adults needing care or support. It also comprises of the SEND Local Offer and Universal family information. Live Well B&NES is aimed at three groups: - SEND (Rainbow Resource) is aimed at families with a child or young person with a disability or special education need. - Children & Families offers families with young children information about parenting support, registered childcare, activities, clubs and groups. - Adults requiring care and support to live independently (and their carers/families) are supported. Information from pre-birth to old age is provided through Live Well B&NES. The Live Well B&NES website receives around 20,000 visitors a month, and many 3SG members are listed on the website. It is free and easy to register your organisation on Live Well B&NES. Featuring as a listed service provider offers great exposure for your organisation, as well as a chance to promote your activities, events and projects. Live Well B&NES is also a useful tool for organisations and groups to support the people with whom they are working. So if you work with or support families, young people, SEND families and parent carers or adults needing care or support, you’ll find lots of information on Live Well B&NES. Live Well B&NES is not a static, unchanging web resource; it aims to continue developing and growing, based on user feedback. There is a wealth of information, support and resources available via the Live Well B&NES programme, and we encourage all Third Sector groups, and the communities and individuals they work with, to find out more. Be sure to follow the Live Well B&NES Facebook page to keep up-to-date. Visit the Live Well B&NES website here. If you’d like more information about LiveWell B&NES, email Melanie_Hodgson@bathnes.gov.uk

The B&NES Strategic Evidence Base is an evolving document with updates made on an ongoing basis. As such, B&NES Council are pleased to advise that the SEB has now been republished. A summary of the key findings is detailed below, and the republished full report can be found here: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/strategic-evidence/document-library/strategic-evidence-base-summary-and-full-report These documents are designed to be used to support decision making and strategic planning across the area, and may be of great use to those making funding applications. This information can be used to support and strengthen applications. This useful resource provides detailed insight into areas such as population, health, inequality, growth, emissions and housing The key themes updated as part of this republication are: Economy (building on the content published in July) Mortality Housing – in particular Homelessness Environmental Protection There is also a feedback form where you can provide comments on the SEB: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/seb-feedback Strategic Evidence Base Key Findings: November 2023 Economic Growth/Productivity Economic growth in B&NES has not kept pace with England and West of England (11% vs 50%/55% respectively since 1998). Growth in B&NES is the lowest of all the local authorities in the West of England as well as amongst our statistical neighbours. Economic growth since the global financial crisis (2008/9) has been particularly poor with B&NES not recovering as well as England or the West of England. The B&NES economy is dominated by the service sector (accounting for 83% of GVA), as is the case nationally. Education and Health account for almost a third of the local service sector economy. These two sectors make up a higher proportion of the local economy compared to England. Economic growth in B&NES since 1998 has been below national in all sectors except three: Accommodation & food services, Education and Other service sectors. The strongest economic growth in B&NES has been in the Information & Communication sector. However, this is markedly lower than national and West of England growth (255% vs 748%/899%). Productivity in B&NES is lower than England and the West of England with the gap widening over the past decade and growth stagnating in B&NES in recent years. Business Demography/Skills Business survival rates (1/3/5 year) have historically been higher in B&NES than England and the West of England and this trend has continued. Statistics for 2019 indicate that businesses in B&NES would appear to have less skill-shortages and skills gaps compared to businesses nationally and in the West of England. Mortality Historically, age-standardised mortality rates in England have been dropping, but the rate of improvement had been slowing. Mortality rates increased due to the pandemic and although they have since reduced, they are still above pre-pandemic levels. 2021 data shows that most mortality rates in B&NES (including premature and preventable) are statistically significantly lower than the rate for England. The stillbirth rate for B&NES is roughly half that of England (2.3 and 3.9 per 1,000 births over the period 2020-2022). More recently the improvements seen in England and B&NES have stalled and England appears likely to miss its target of halving the stillbirth rate by 2025. Premature deaths accounted for 25% of all deaths in B&NES between 2019 and 2021. In England, improvements in premature mortality rates are slowing the most in deprived areas. Cancer and diseases of the circulatory system are the main causes of premature death. The risk factors of these are smoking and obesity, the rates of which are higher in more deprived areas. Between 2018 and 2020 avoidable deaths accounted for 17% of all deaths in B&NES. The avoidable mortality rate in England was declining but has now increased due to Covid being classified as an avoidable death. In 2020, avoidable deaths in England were 50% higher for males compared to females, and the increase in avoidable mortality rate was greatest for those living in the most deprived areas. Deaths due to Covid-19 and drugs and alcohol were notably higher in the most deprived areas. Suicides in B&NES stopped increasing and levelled off in the early 2010s. It is now similar to the England rate. The male suicide rate is three times higher than the female rate and suicides are most common in the 50-54 age band in B&NES. The drug-poisoning mortality rate for B&NES is above the rate for England. It has been increasing since 2012, but early indications show the rate is now starting to drop again. In both B&NES and England & Wales, the mortality rate for drug poisoning in males is twice as high as the female rate. Environmental Protection: Air quality monitoring across B&NES has identified an overall reduction in air pollution between 2014-2022. The 2022 monitoring data shows that nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) pollution in B&NES is almost always within the acceptable levels set out by National Government, and that levels have changed very little since 2021. Average 2022 annual NO 2 concentrations within the Bath Clean Air Zone (CAZ) were 26% lower than in 2019. The percentage of chargeable non-compliant vehicles entering the zone each week reduced from 6% in the launch week (15 March 2021) to an average of 1% by the end of 2022. Housing (Homelessness): There has been a 9% increase (510 households) in the number of houses on the waiting list for Social Housing (year to 31st March 2023), an increase from 5,482 to 5,992. The rate of initial homelessness assessments in B&NES has seen an overall downwards trend since 2018/19. The rate in B&NES has been consistently lower than national, and this gap has widened over the last 5 years. Whilst B&NES has seen lower than national rates for those assessed as at risk of homelessness and already homeless over the last 5 years, we have seen a notable increase in 2022/23. The top reason for households at risk of homelessness (Prevention duties) in B&NES was end of private rented tenancy – assured shorthold. This trend can also be seen at a regional and national level. As of March 2023 (published data), there were 58 households in B&NES in temporary accommodation, up from 39 in March 2022. More recent local data indicates a further notable increase in this figure, a trend also observed nationally. Fuel Poverty: The proportion of households in Fuel Poverty has increased from 11% (9,179 households) in 2020 to 12% (9,990 households) in 2021 and is expected to rise further given the current cost of living crisis. In 2021, over a third (36%) of LSOAs in B&NES had fuel poverty levels of 13% or above (the national average).

This week the Chancellor presented the 2023 Autumn Statement, setting out spending and tax decisions, alongside economic forecasts. Much of the Autumn Statement will be of interest and acutely relevant to Third Sector organisations. Whilst the 2% cut in National Insurance Contributions will grab most headlines, the main story is to be found in the details of future spending calculations that will result in potential cuts of £19.1Bn to public services by 2027-28. The increase in the Living Wage without uplifts to local authority contracts will also place pressure on many Third Sector organisations. See headlines below from NAVCA*: Class 1 employee National Insurance Contributions reduced from 12% to 10% from 6 January 2024. From 1 April 2024 national living wage will increase by 9.8% to £11.44, with the age threshold reduced to 21 years old. Working age benefits for 2024-25 will be increased by the September CPI inflation figure of 6.7%. Pension triple lock remains, so that pensions will rise in line with average earnings growth of 8.5%. Local housing allowance will be increased to the 30th percentile of local market rates. It is expected to give 1.6 million households an average of £800 extra support in 2024-25. An effective cut of £19.1Bn to public services by 2027-28. Beyond the headlines... There have been no changes to the budgets of government departments or increased funding for the delivery of public services [with a few exceptions]. To create space for the reduction in national insurance contributions, Departmental Expenditure Limits have been increased by only £5Bn per year beyond 2024-25. This will result in an overall £19.1Bn reduction in the real value of departmental spending by 2027-28. This limited increase is unrealistic and sets a significant fiscal trap for the next Parliament. The implications of this, particularly if defence spending increases to 2.5% of GDP, is that there would be real terms cuts of 2.3% across the board, with spending of unprotected departments [i.e. not health and education] needing to fall by 4.1%, which is simply unworkable. There is no increase for local government and no reform of the local government funding formula. Inflation will remain higher for longer than predicted in March 2023, reducing to 4.8% by end of 2023, and not reaching the 2% target until second quarter of 2025. Tax allowances, the point at which people start paying tax, will remain frozen, meaning almost another 4 million people will be paying tax in 2028-29, raising an extra £44.6Bn. The potential growth rate of the economy has been revised down by the Office of Budget Responsibility to 1.6% [from 1.8% in March 2023]. The Office of Budget Responsibility estimates that real household disposable income per person is forecast to be 3.5% lower in 2024-25 than its pre-pandemic level. Further reading: Policy papers on the Autumn Statement 2023 can be viewed here. The economic and fiscal outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility can be viewed here. Pro Bono Economics have published a comprehensive analysis of the Autumn Statement focusing on the outlook for charities: Click here to read. Civil Society have collected responses from leading charity sector infrastructure bodies in their latest article: Click here to read charity responses to the Statement. Read sector responses to the statement from charities such as Christian Aid, Homeless Link, Action for Children and Oxfam. NCVO have also considered the impact of the Statement on charities here. The Director of Policy and Research at the Directory of Social Change has summarised 'the good, the bad and the ugly' of 2023's Autumn Statement: Click here to read. Headlines from NAVCA (The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action)

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 three years, creating some 5,000 individual cards which were sent to care homes, hospitals, individuals and charities such as Julian House and Women's Refuge, 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 forgotten or isolated at Christmas. A recipient of one of 2022's Christmas Compassion Cards shared her joy at receiving the card during her stay at the RUH: "A huge thank you for the Christmas card I received during my stay at the RUH. I didn’t know such a scheme existed and it really made my day to have such a thoughtful gift. These little things really do make a difference." Connect Bath and 3SG are eternally grateful for the school children's participation, and last year, children behind the 8 winning designs received an artistic good bag, kindly donated by the Art Cohort. You can check out the previous winning designs here. This years' blank cards are already with many local schools, who are busy working their magic on them ahead of collections by Thursday 7th December. We will then be delivering the cards on the week commencing Monday 11th December, with the invaluable help of volunteers, to all those who have requested them in B&NES. Last year we were very grateful for the support of Care Home Volunteers with deliveries to local care homes. 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 11th and Friday 15th December. Please let us know by emailing contact@3sg.org.uk. Two wonderful volunteers, Pete and Ruth, volunteered to help deliver cards to individuals last Christmas, and shared their experience with us: "We have delivered all our cards - one lady was particularly happy to receive hers. With a broad smile she told us it was her first Christmas card of the year :))” Together, we can help spread some Christmas magic and channel the spirit of the festive season - giving!

An exciting initiative is now up and running across Bath & North East Somerset which will support local people to set up their own business offering creative and flexible care and support to their older and disabled neighbours. The scheme will help locals with all they need to set up as self-employed or as a small community enterprise, offering help at home or activities and support in the community. Enterprising locals have already come forward with lots of creative ideas for new support options – from falls prevention advice to help at home with personal care, cooking, gardening, DIY, prescription deliveries to trips out in the community. The project is being run by social enterprise Community Catalysts and funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council. Michael Auton who is leading the project at Community Catalysts BANES said, “For over twelve years Community Catalysts has supported lots of people across the UK to get set up offering creative and flexible care and support options. Now we are looking for passionate people in B&NES who want to help their community, work flexibly, choose their own hours, set a fair rate of pay and run a quality service. You don’t need to have a professional background in care or know how to run a business– but you do need to know what good care looks like.” Community Catalysts is hosting a special event at Fairfield House, 2 Kelston Road (Via Partis Way), Bath BA1 3QJ on Friday 8th December between 6pm and 7.30pm. This free event, supported by BEMSCA (Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizen’s Association), provides opportunity to meet Michael and learn how Community Catalysts can help make your business dream a reality. For more information about setting up your own business or to reserve your place for this event at Fairfield House, contact Michael Auton, BANES Community Catalyst on 07443 191851 or email michael.auton@communitycatalysts.co.uk. You can also follow the project on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CommCatsBANES For general enquiries, you can leave your details here: https://bit.ly/CommCatsBanes

Trustees' Week is an annual celebration of trusteeship. During this week, 6 - 10th November 2023, we take time to champion and thank our trustees for all their amazing contributions, as well as promoting the support and resources available to help prospective, new and longstanding trustees in their development. This year's theme is ‘Many voices. Working Together. With Purpose', which aims to shine a light on the variety of unique perspectives that Trustees bring to their boards, the strength of diversity, and the ways Trustees make our charities more sustainable. Over the course of the week, there are lots of free webinars, training and events happening to mark the annual celebration. Take advantage of all that's on offer by signing up to some of the below: 3SG Trustees' Week: Open Conversation assessing Challenges and Opportunities Tuesday 7th November, 11:00 - 11:45am Festival of Trusteeship Getting on Board have organised a week-long programme of insightful online events which they say will "help you consider, become and be brilliant and effective trustees." The weekly pass to access all 20 events is only £25, or you can register for sessions individually. The four themes of these sessions are: Thought Leadership; Aspiring Trustees; Good Governance; and Trustee Recruitment. NCVO Webinars NCVO are hosting a series of four lunchtime events looking at how trustees can use positive environmental, social and governance action (ESG) to lead their charities into the future. These include: - How decision makers can lead on climate action Monday 6th November, 12 - 1pm - Why diverse boards make more impactful decisions Wednesday 8th November, 12 - 1pm - Volunteers leading volunteers Thursday 9th November, 12 - 1pm - What do trustees across the country feel about leading climate action? Friday 10th November, 12 - 1pm Third Sector Lab - Digital Trustees Matchmaking Event x Trustee Week Monday 6th November, 10:00 - 11:30am Wales Council for Voluntary Action - Trustees' Week Seminar: Managing internal trustee differences positively Tuesday 7th November, 11:00 - 12:00 - Trustees' Week Webinar: Charity governance round-up Thursday 9th November, 2:00 - 3:00pm Young Trustees Movement - Young Trustees Movement Champion Training Tuesday 7th November, 12:00 - 1:00pm Burton Sweet - Trustees' Week Reception Wednesday 8th November, 5:00 - 6:30pm at St George’s Bristol – Glass Studio Related events and opportunities taking place outside of Trustees' Week: - Cranfield Trust: Charity Contact Days - Free telephone appointments available between November 13th - 17th, offering access to expert help, advice and guidance on a range of topics. - The Directory of Social Change: Duties of a Trustee - Online course, Tuesday 14th November* - The Directory of Social Change: Talking Trustee-ing, Thursday 7th December - Cause4: Emerging Chairs Programme Wednesday 29th November* - Stone King Charity Training: The essential trustee and governance in practice Thursday 16th November - Getting on Board: What is a trustee and how do I become one? Wednesday 6th December - 3SG's Leaders' Network - Subscribe to updates on our Leaders' Network, which meets regularly and is designed for those in leadership roles in the local Third Sector, including trustees. *Fee applies Blogs, articles and resources: - Meet the Digital Trustees (Third Sector Lab) - Official Trustees' Week supporter resources - Governance Round-up: October 2023 (NCVO) - Charity Commission's Support for Charity Trustees: '5-minute guides' - Charity Commission's Charity Trustee Quiz - Charity Commissions Charity Trustee Research 2022 - Trustees' Week - your quick guide to charity trustee duties (Anderson Strathern) - Creative Ways to Celebrate Volunteer Board Trustees and Increase Engagement (Board Effect) - How do I become a trustee? (Charity Digital) - Addressing self doubt as a young trustee (Young Trustees Movement) - Why trustee diversity is important (NCVO) - Why become a trustee? (ICAEW) - The legal duties of trustees (NCVO) - The Trustee Recruitment Cycle (Reach Volunteering) - Supporting a Board of Trustees (Power2) - What Makes a Good Trustee - Practical Advice (Charity Excellence Framework) - Resources for Aspiring Trustees (Getting on Board) - Who has the time to be a trustee? (Peridot) - Useful resources for trustees (Reach Volunteering) - Trustees' Stories (Trustees' Week) - How to create a positive and engaged trustee board (Directory of Social Change) - Charity governance resources (Directory of Social Change) - Trustee Training Videos (Evelyn Partners) - Trustees' Policy Checklist (Directory of Social Change) At 3SG, we know that recruiting trustees can be challenging, so we also host a dedicated Trustee section of our Third Sector jobs page on our website. 3SG member organisations can advertise here for just £20, which includes promotion across our social media and newsletters too. Non-members can advertise for £60. Click here to upload your Trustee vacancy, or email contact@3sg.org.uk If there's anything you'd like to see us offer regarding support for Trustees and Trusteeship, please don't hesitate to get in touch via contact@3sg.org.uk

We can't celebrate *Trustees' Week 2023 without a spotlight or two on our own Trustee board here at 3SG. And what an amazing board they are! All our Trustees are part of at least one of our member organisations at 3SG, and so are able to represent the views of the local Third Sector, whilst providing great insight and sitting on many strategic boards and networks. We are very lucky to have them! In aid of Trustees' Week, Emma (Operations and Content Coordinator at 3SG) chatted to three of our Trustees to find out a bit more about their experiences as a 3SG Trustee, including their motivations, and advice for those considering trusteeship. Thank you to Kate Morton, CEO of Bath Mind and Chair of Trustees at 3SG; Jenny Perez, Trustee at Somer Valley Tennis, and 3SG; and Claire Bloor, CEO of SARSAS, and 3SG Trustee. Kate, Jenny and Claire have all been Trustee's of 3SG for over two years. Q&A with Kate, Jenny and Claire What motivated you to become a 3SG trustee? KM: I'm passionate about improving the voice for third sector organisations and ensuring we are at forefront of planning and delivery of community services JP: I really like what 3SG do and being a Trustee you feel like you can be part of helping multiple organisations as 3SG is in contact with so many great third sector groups in BANES CB: Being part of a wide network membership body that has such a positive impact on the local BANES community. What is it like to be a trustee? KM: Great community of likeminded individuals with same passion and drive to improve experiences for people we work with, busy but rewarding JP: It's rewarding and it's fun, we have a great group of Trustees and it's always great to be part of the meetings and we have great socials too ! CB: Interesting and engaging. Does being a trustee add to your own personal and professional development? If so, how? KM: Yes, it enhances and strengthens our position JP: Absolutely, by being a Trustee I learn a lot about the local landscape and hear about initiatives I wouldn't ordinarily come into contact with. I also learn from my fellow Trustees and he fantastic 3SG team. CB: Yes. Governance is such an important aspect of running a charity and it is very interesting to be on the trustee side. It helps me develop as a leader. What is your favourite thing about being a trustee? KM: Connectivity JP: I feel we are really united as a Board of Trustees and I feel that everybody has a voice - which is super important. CB: I love to hear about the collaborative work that is supported through 3SG and the inspirational work of our member organisations. What do you think are the biggest challenges acting trustees and how can we support you/them? KM: Time /capacity creating potential conflict with roles JP: The current climate is challenging, cost of living and the fall out from Covid - as Trustees we have to make the best decisions with the information we have as we can't predict the future. 3SG can help arm us with that information and also share case studies of other local charities as well as offer support. CB: Trying to remain sustainable in the current economic climate and supporting/ retaining staff and volunteers. I think 3SG support member trustees through offering funding information and demonstrating the impact of members work What advice would you give someone considering becoming a trustee? KM: Ask trustees for advice, you are not alone, the group are amazing! It is a marathon and not a sprint! JP: Definitely consider it, every charity is different and you need to ensure the fit is right for you - you learn a lot, and it feels really good supporting a local organisation which has such great outcomes. CB: Do it! It is incredibly rewarding and a brilliant learning experience. You get to work with a great team of fellow trustees and staff within the social enterprise or charity you are working alongside. Do you have a standout moment during your time as a 3SG trustee? KM: Loved the trustee awayday such great energy, recruiting Becky and the Xmas party! JP: Ha ! That is a tricky one to answer - I think watching great key members of 3SG leave and then utterly brilliant people come in and take the organisation on, using their strengths has been wonderful to see - I think the Trustees have been supportive and this has helped make 3SG even stronger. Thank you to Kate, Jenny and Claire for taking the time to chat and share their experiences. You can find out more about all of our Trustees here. *Trustees make significant contributions to the charities they support, but their work often happens behind closed doors. Trustees' Week is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the wonderful variety of individuals who make up our Trustee boards, and thank them for their dedication and guidance. You can read more about Trustees' Week 2023 and find out how to get involved here.

Pro Bono OR enables third sector organisations to benefit from Operational Research (OR) and reach their full potential. As organisations face increasing pressure to reduce costs whilst improving efficiency and effectiveness, OR can play a key part in helping them survive and thrive. OR is a broad discipline which uses rigorous analytical methods to help to increase efficiency and reduce costs, to plan strategy or to assess impact. Pro Bono OR introduces third sector managers to OR experts from industry and academia, who volunteer their time to help; whether the need is for more effective decisions, better strategy, slicker systems, measuring performance or indeed anything that will improve effectiveness, insight and foresight. We work with all types of third sector organisations ranging from large national organisations down to small community groups and social enterprises. For some examples, view our Pro Bono OR case studies. More information, including how to contact us, can be found here.

The Bath and North East Somerset annual Third Sector Survey has been released today, and Third Sector* organisations that work or are based in B&NES are being urged to complete it here to enable 3SG to plan its support and advocacy service for the year ahead. The survey is conducted by 3SG, an independent charity with three employees and a membership network of over 220 charities, social enterprises and community groups in the area. As the infrastructure organisation for B&NES, 3SG offers 1:1 support, training, events and networking opportunities for its members. Every local organisation is encouraged to respond to the short survey, even if they are not a 3SG member by 5pm on Friday, 10th November 2023. The B&NES Third Sector Survey has been carried out every year since 2020, with survey findings of significant importance to inform 3SG’s priorities in supporting the local Third Sector in the year ahead. This research will also be used to advocate for the sector by demonstrating to decision-makers and funders the challenges the local Third Sector is currently facing, and the support needed to continue this vital work. The data from the survey will be analysed by 3SG in partnership with Statisticians for Society, and the findings will be shared in January 2024. To be notified of the findings, please subscribe here to the 3SG weekly newsletter. Please complete the short survey here and encourage other organisations to complete it also (please only one member of the team per charity). For further information or support to complete the survey, please email: contact@3sg.org.uk *The 3rd sector includes registered charities, associations, cooperatives, self-help groups, churches, community groups and social enterprises.

Below is a selection of current funding opportunities available to charitable organisations across BaNES. The 18 opportunities below are listed in order of closing date, and separated into two sections; Local and National. Local Opportunities The Willson Grant - The Active Way 🪙 Up to, and between, £1,000 - £7,000 This new £115,000 fund is opening on September 18th to support individuals, community groups and organisations to provide free active travel, creative, sustainable and cultural projects in the Somer Valley. Deadline: 12pm on Monday 16th October 2023 - Find Out More Community Fund - Wessex Water Foundation via Quartet Community Foundation 🪙Up to £4,000 Funding charitable and community-based activities or projects that meet a local need in the West of England, and seek to improve the lives of local people who are most in need of support. These activities or projects should be informed by the people or community they serve and have considerable reach. Deadline: 11am on Monday 23rd October 2023 - Find Out More National Opportunities Supporting Rural Communities - The Royal Countryside Fund 🪙Up to £25,000 over two years This flagship grant programme of the Royal Countryside Fund supports organisations addressing the challenges faced by those who live and work in rural areas. Organisations be properly constituted, not-for-profit, and must have an income under £500,000 to be eligible. Deadline: Midday on Friday 20th October 2023 - Find Out More Time After Time Fund 🪙 £25,000 - £100,000 Hubbub and Virgin Media O2 have launched a £500,000 fund to support digital inclusion and tackle e-waste. They are looking to fund 6 - 8 projects that can help close the growing digital divide. Applications are welcome from registered charities, CIC's, social enterprises, and can be partnership applications too. Deadline: Submit expressions of interest by Friday 20th October. The deadline for the full application is Friday 15th December - Find Out More 1949 Fund - The Triangle Trust 🪙 Up to £80,000 over 2 years This funding is open to registered charities, not-for-profit organisations and Community Interest Companies working with young people aged 11-25 years old with a high risk of offending for the first time. Projects should use a Sport-4-Development approach - the use of sport and physical activity to reduce reoffending rates. Deadline: Sunday 29th October 2023 - Find Out More Magic Little Grants - LocalGiving 🪙 £500 Small grants of £500 are available via a simple, 20-minute application, for grassroots organisations either in their first year of operation, or with an annual income under £250K. The funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core ongoing costs of work in one of the chosen themes. Deadline: Tuesday 31st October - Find Out More The James Fund - The Primary Club 🪙Grants of up to £25,000 (but likely to average £4,000) Available for U.K. clubs and organisations to provide sporting and/or recreational activities for people who are blind or visually impaired/partially sighted. Deadline: Tuesday 31st October - Find Out More The Naturesave Trust 🪙Between £500 and £5,000 Available to UK community organisations who are working to raise awareness about the environmental impact of the clothing industry. Deadline: Tuesday 31st October - Find Out More Physical Activity Grants - Parkinson's U.K. 🪙Between £500 and £3,000 Available to activity providers helping people with Parkinson's to stay active. This could be to help the provision of new opportunities, or increased participation in existing opportunities. The project must last for a minimum of 3 months Deadline: Tuesday 31st October - Find Out More Children and Young People's Resettlement Fund 🪙Between £10,000 - £300,000 This fund aims to support young people in England on pathways from Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan, by funding projects that make progress in addressing their specific needs and having a positive impact on their lives. Deadline: 11:59pm on Wednesday 1st November - Find Out More British Science Week Grants 🪙Up to £1,000 Grants available to community-based groups and organisations to run their own science activities during British Science Week, (Friday 8 March - Sunday 17 March 2024). Eligible organisations should work directly with audiences that are traditionally underrepresented and not engaged in science activity. Deadline: Monday 6th November - Find Out More Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories - Heritage England 🪙 Up to £25,000 Available to community and/or heritage organisations and individuals in England for projects that recognise and celebrate working class history. All organisations and individuals are eligible to apply including community interest groups, charities and local authorities. Heritage England are particularly interested in funding community-led projects. Deadline: 11:59PM on Tuesday 7th November - Find Out More Christmas Connections - The McCarthy & Stone Foundation 🪙Up to £1,000 Available to registered charities, community groups and Community Interest Companies with an annual income of less than £250,000 to provide activities for people aged 65 and over during the festive season 2023. Deadline: Unspecified, but advised before mid-November - Find Out More Million Hours - The National Lottery Community Fund 🪙 £30,000 - £100,000 This funding is for organisations supporting young people in areas where they may be at risk of anti-social behaviour. If successful, funding must be spent by March 2026. The only area of Bath and North East Somerset eligible for this funding is Kingsmead Ward in Bath. Deadline: Midday on Friday 24th November 2023 - Find Out More Dying Matters Community Grants - Hospice UK 🪙Between £5,000 and £8,000 Available to members of Hospice UK working in partnership with grassroots community organisations and individuals in the creative sector to deliver arts and cultural projects that have the ability to unlock conversations about dying, death and grief in new and creative ways. Deadline: 5pm on Friday 24th November 2023 - Find Out More Digital Infrastructure Development Fund - Clothworkers Foundation 🪙 Small grants up to £15,000, and large grants over £15,000 This new fund from the Clothworkers Foundation is currently accepting applications for funding one-off costs for some types of digital software and products. In doing so, the Foundation hopes to support organisations to work more sustainably, increase engagement, and better support staff and volunteers to work efficiently. Open to U.K. registered charities and non-profits whose work fits within one or more of the Clothworker Foundation's programme areas - more information here. Deadline: Unknown - Find Out More about the Digital Infrastructure Development Fund here, or go straight to the Clothworkers Foundation 'What we Fund' page. Social Impact Investment Fund - Big Issue 🪙Up to £4,000,000 Fixed rate loans of £1M - £4M are available to charities and other non-profit organisations, in the care, housing and social infrastructure sectors. Loans can be used for the expansion of services, property refurbishment and acquisition, purchase of capital equipment, or more. Deadline: Rolling - Find Out More The Ashley Family Foundation 🪙Generally between £500 and £10,000 This fund supports a broad range of arts, community and social welfare projects in England and Wales. Applications from organisations with an annual income under £2 million, who are seeking to fund rural projects, are favoured. Registered charities and CIC's are eligible, however applications from unregistered organisations supported by a registered charity or company are also considered. Deadline: Friday 22nd December - Find Out More More funding opportunities can be found via the BaNES Funding Journal - 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

For the past 6 months, Komedia Bath have been kindly donating tickets to their Saturday-night, Krater Comedy Club, for use by 3SG members. This has enabled over 20 charitable organisations to treat their staff, volunteers and beneficiaries to a fun-filled evening of well-deserved entertainment "It was such a treat to be able to visit Komedia and be part of an evening out, It really made my week! The generosity meant a huge amount to me, it may not seem like much but to go out for the night is a real treat for me….Thank you" - Emma from YMCA Brunel Group The free tickets also allowed YMCA Brunel Group to treat a group of their service users to a "great night out", an experience that they would not normally have the opportunity to enjoy, which was appreciated. Alan has also made use of Komedia's kind offer for his volunteers. Alan commended the evening, sharing the following: "I have to say I laughed so much I cried, Sally Ann Hayward was on the line up and she is hilarious". On behalf of our members and the local Third Sector as a whole, we thank Komedia Bath, for their generosity and support. If you work or volunteer for a 3SG member organisation, and would like to request Krater Comedy Club tickets, please email contact@3sg.org.uk for more information.

This free 90-minute workshop for practitioners working with families offers a new inclusive family approach to learning about money. The approach supports children aged 3-7 with a focus on diverse needs, including autism spectrum disorders and social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. No specialist knowledge is needed to attend any workshop running up to December 2023 The training is funded by the Money and Pensions Service and delivered by Campaign for Learning. By attending you will: Learn how to deliver an inclusive, differentiated and accessible financial education programme through rich learning experiences using Makaton, sensory icons, storytelling, songs, games and family activities Receive all the resources and tools you need to deliver the activities including facilitator’s guide, multimedia content, session plans and certificates Find out more and book your funded place: https://www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/Web/CFL/Events/Inclusive_FinEd.aspx 100% of practitioners would recommend this training to a colleague.

Video is one of the most powerful ways of communicating your charitable message and building an audience, yet it can be hard for small charities to find the funds to invest in these skills. This is where VennardVideo can help. If you’ve ever filmed some video on your phone and been frustrated that it doesn’t look good, or posted a video and wondered why it only got a tiny amount of views while others seem to get thousands, then you’ll want to hear more about this fantastic, one-time offer exclusive to BaNES-based registered charities. VennardVideo will be holding their flagship ‘Complete video for business’ course for one week in November and is offering 3SG members the chance to attend at a whopping 90% discount. Suzanne Vennard, founder of VennardVideo says “Confident video-making and audience-building skills are something that charities desperately need. We don’t want cost to be a barrier to having these game-changing skills, so we’ve pledged to make a few spots available on our course to charities who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend.” The course will not only equip your charity with a set of skills that could really make a meaningful difference to your work, but completion of the course will also provide the participant with 42 CPD points. This is the highest CPD accredited video training in the UK. The course runs for one full week from Mon 27th Nov to Fri 1st Dec incl, at the Apex Conference Centre in Bath. It is an intensive five day course, and applicants must be available to attend the whole duration. No special equipment is needed - just a smartphone or basic camera, and a laptop to take notes and edit on (with free editing software). The full cost of the course to corporate clients is £2,750+vat. The 90% discount on offer price is just £275+vat. It's no secret that compelling video marketing can have a powerful impact on everything; fundraising, brand awareness, and engagement. With Christmas on the horizon, this could be a great time to take advantage and upskill your communications. Find out more about VennardVideo here. If you’d like to be considered for one of the discount places, contact them here, telling them why having this extraordinary skillset could make a difference to your charity.

It’s a tough time for charities right now. In these uncertain times, it’s never been more important to help trustees run their charities with confidence. Research shows that many trustees could benefit from refreshing their knowledge. But trustees are often busy volunteers with little time to spend training or brushing up on their role and responsibilities. That’s why we’re supporting the Charity Commission to encourage trustees to take their trustee quiz and read their ‘five-minute guides’. Whether you’re a new or more experienced trustee, no matter how big or small your charity, the Charity Commission have a range of guidance and support available to help. You may already be familiar with the guides. They explain the basics trustees need in an easy-to-read format. They cover: • Managing finances • Staying focussed on your charity’s purpose • Making good decisions • Managing conflicts of interest • Safeguarding your beneficiaries and your staff • What information the Charity Commission needs from trustees and how the Charity Commission can help them. Find out more here. If you'd like to find further training, support and events specifically for trustees, or prospective trustees, Getting on Board are pleased to be hosting the Festival of Trusteeship to mark Trustee Week, 6 - 10th November. Find out more here.

Local projects cutting carbon or tackling fuel poverty while improving our local environment can now apply to the Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) Fund grant programme. This popular grant programme is back for a tenth year, thanks to funding from BWCE as part of the work it does in supporting local communities. Applications for grants of up to £5,000 are invited before the 3 November 2023 deadline. Award-winning BWCE was set up in 2010 to own and develop renewable energy projects and has since become one of the largest community-owned energy companies in the UK. As a Community Benefit Society it gives surplus income to the BWCE Fund, which has asked Quartet Community Foundation to administer the BWCE Fund grant funding programme, giving grants to community groups and local environmental organisations. Earlier this year 11 projects in or near B&NES received £31,505 in funding to lower carbon emissions and address fuel poverty. These grants supported: Energy efficiency in community buildings and transport through installation of an air source heat pump in the main building (Bath City Farm); a feasibility study for a proposed new traffic free route (Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon); the development of a physical Climate Hub in Bath (Climate Hub Bath & North East Somerset) and implementing the sustainability plans to improve the energy efficiency of the bungalow on site (Fairfield House). Environmental Education through investment in a thermal imaging camera and materials to help people to learn how to save energy and reduce fuel costs (Bath Share & Repair); free to learn cycle sessions for families and adults including free access to loan bikes (Kidical Mass Bath); an energy saving project that makes information easy to understand for people with learning disabilities (SWALLOW) and a paid student intern to grow Eco Together Climate Empowerment (Transition Bath). Domestic energy efficiency through provision of slow cookers and energy efficiency advice to parents at Keynsham Children’s Centres (Keynsham Community Energy); provision of slow cookers, slow cooker recipe books and heated over blankets for food pantry members (Oasis Hub Bath), plus fuel debt advice and energy efficiency training for Support Workers and provision of energy saving packs (Southside Family Project). Sophie Hooper Lea, Chair of Trustees for BWCE Fund, said: “This is a critical decade for taking action on the climate emergency and we are delighted to be able to support local organisations that are reducing carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty. Our funds are provided by BWCE, a member owned social enterprise that generates clean, renewable, community energy. Thanks to BWCE, since 2015, the fund has awarded 91 grants worth over £270,000 through this grant programme”. Quartet Community Foundation’s Philanthropy Manager, Angela Emms said: “We’re delighted to continue working with the BWCE Fund. As charities are facing both increasing costs and increasing demands, this grant programme has the double benefit of supporting projects which reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. Carbon reduction does not just relate to energy projects; it might include local food, sustainable transport or waste reduction or indeed any activity that reduces carbon emissions. This year we would particularly welcome applications relating to fuel poverty/affordable warmth, ensuring that everyone can access and afford energy this winter.” Case study – Slow cookers, recipe books and heated blankets for Oasis Hub Bath A grant of £4,875 from Bath & West Community Energy Fund grant programme, has provided slow cookers, recipe books and heated blankets for their food pantry members. The project has reduced members’ energy costs at the same time as reducing their carbon footprints. Claire Henwood, Community Worker: “A slow cooker saves around 1.3kWh of energy for each hour it’s used in place of a conventional oven. Using an electric blanket for eight hours a day instead of a heating system can save around £50 a week. Whilst we would much prefer the recipients of these items to be able to afford to use their heating, this at least provides them with some form of consistent low cost heating, hopefully getting them through the worst of the winter temperatures. This will both ease the impact of living in fuel poverty and reduce their carbon footprint. We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Bath and West Community Energy Fund.” Find out more and apply before 3 November Groups are invited to apply to the BWCE Fund grant programme before 12 noon on Friday 3 November 2023. Interested projects need to apply through the Quartet Community Foundation website: https://quartetcf.org.uk/grants/bath-west-community-energy-grant/ Full details of the grants awarded in previous years can be found on BWCE’s website www.bwce.coop/communityfund/

HelpFilm is a charitable production company that produces high-end video and animation content solely for other charities and has been running since 2017. They make no fee for their role in planning, pre-production, and managing the project from concept to completion. Last year, they secured funding to help charities over the next two years to achieve a contemporary, thought provoking and competitive video that promotes their cause and raises their profile. Any small registered charity with an income of under £1 million can contact HelpFilm to make a film with them, providing that they complete the online referral form which asks some simple questions about their charity. Those shortlisted will then meet with members of the team before a film is agreed. HelpFilm referals open on October 1st. Founded by Alan Walsh, a veteran of 15 years in video production, and now head of Citywire Studios in London, HelpFilm was created to ensure that smaller charities are able to create the best possible content available. So far, HelpFilm have produced a number of films for a whole range of charities including: Solar Aid, Youth Moves, Frame, Streetvet and Adult Cerebral Palsy Hub. All of which have received wonderful reviews and attention, including winning international prizes and raising additional funding. Sophia at Solar Aid expresses her appreciation: ‘This will really help us to present our work in a beautiful and professional way to our supporters and partners, and help us on our mission to light up every home, school, and clinic in Africa by 2030.” Their most recent projects include working with the Sumatran Orangutan Society, Tender UK, Windle International and Hostage International. HelpFilm is incredibly grateful to Citywire for this wonderful opportunity and are now on a mission to meet with many more charities in the near future. If you small charity is interested in learning more, below are some important links: Information about the referral process: https://helpfilm.org/how-to-make-a-film-with-us HelpFilm portfolio of films made so far: https://helpfilm.org/previous-work FAQs: https://helpfilm.org/frequently-asked-questions There is no deadline, HelpFilm meet with people on a case by case basis.