Make the most of local funding opportunities

There are always local opportunities to increase your funding, if you know where to look.  There are retailers and banks that offer support to community groups and who can help you raise your profile, as well as local funding organisations in the borough. Don’t miss what could be on your doorstep.  Take a look at all our guides and other useful information on our Briefings and Guides page.

Briefings and resources

Shelves of colourful book spines in sunlight

We have produced and collated a number of useful resources and guides to support the effective running of your organisation.

 “It’s been incredibly helpful to have RCVS review our bids and provide support to complete professional applications.  It also provides an independent perspective on what we do and how to best communicate our work and impact"

Free 1-2-1 Funding Advice

You may be looking for new sources of funding, writing a new funding application, considering new fundraising techniques or something else.

Our advice is always tailored to your organisation's needs.

Funding Advice Service

We know how important funding is and we offer a number of ways to help increase the funding potential of your organisation. Our 1:1 funding advice service is fully subsidised for organisations providing services in Richmond.

We have an expert team who can help you:

  • search for suitable funding
  • review your funding applications
  • explore new fundraising options for you organisation

If you are interested in this support, please download and complete our simple Funding Pre-Advice Form and email it to action@richmondcvs.org.uk.

Start Your Fundraising in 5 Easy Steps

Crowdfunding

Thinking of starting an online crowdfunding campaign?  Download our handy resources to get started:

If you need further advice or support to create your campaign, please email us.

Funding opportunities

Visit our Funding Update page to see our full listing of the latest grants and funding opportunities available.  Click here.

We also have a handy short Guide to Funding Sources - click here to download (PDF). 

Training and events

We run a programme of training and events to help with fundraising. Update your knowledge and skills on topics such as grant applications, community fundraising, trading, legacies and more.

Funding news

Make sure you don’t miss out on funding news and opportunities. You'll receive regular e-bulletins and alerts highlighting new funding sources, resources and upcoming training courses and events.

Download our briefings

Take a look at our full range of suggested resources, including those relating to fundraising, on our Briefings and Guides page.

Complaints Policy

From time to time, individuals or organisations may feel that they have a complaint against us – the Board of Trustees, or an individual Board member, or one of our staff or volunteers.

We have our own complaints procedure to provide a speedy, just and open examination of complaints received by us. This policy applies to external organisations or individuals wishing to make a complaint.

 

How do I make a Complaint?

You make complaints in writing to the Director of Richmond CVS who is responsible for ensuring that:

  • All complaints are logged
  • You receive an acknowledgement of your complaint within 3 working days and a copy of this complaints procedure

If your complaint is about the Director, you can, if you prefer, address your complaint to the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

 

To make a complaint you can:

Email the Director at Kathrynw@richmondcvs.org.uk

Email the Chair of the Board of Trustees at chair@richmondcvs.org.uk

Write a letter of complaint to Richmond CVS, Richmond and Hillcroft Adult and Communtiy College, Parkshot, Richmond, TW9 2RE

What happens next?

We aim to investigate your complaint promptly and reply to you within 10 working days. If we cannot do this, we will send you an interim response informing you of the action taken, or being considered.

On issues of statutory responsibility, such as those surrounding child or vulnerable adult protection, Richmond CVS has a duty as employer to inform the relevant agencies immediately.

 

How will my complaint be investigated?

All complaints received will be investigated by the Director and/or the Chair of the Board of Trustees. If the complaint is about an individual Board member or a staff member, he or she will be told the details of the complaint made against them and will have the right to reply to the complaint in writing. Where appropriate, documentation which may have a bearing on the complaint will also be reviewed.

 

How will I know what has been decided?

You will receive a written reply outlining how the complaint was investigated and the outcome.

The outcome of all complaints received will be logged and reported to the Board of Trustees. General information about the nature and outcome of all the complaints received will also be available to Richmond CVS members and others with a legitimate interest, such as funders.

Details of any disciplinary action taken against a Board or Staff member as the result of a complaint will remain confidential.

 

What if I am still not satisfied?  Your right to appeal.

If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your complaint you have the right to appeal in writing, within 14 days of being notified of our response to your complaint, to ask the Board of Trustees to review the decision, giving your reasons for the request.

The Board of Trustee will consider:

  • Your original complaint
  • The response of the RCVS Director
  • Your further submission setting out reasons for being dissatisfied

 

The Board of Trustees will then either:

  • Uphold your complaint, in which case the matter will be referred to the RCVS Chair or Director to deal with, as appropriate, or
  • Dismiss your complaint

 

The appeal stage to the Board of Trustees is the final stage of the process for Richmond CVS. If you remain unhappy, you are entitled to contact Richmond Upon Thames Voluntary Sector Partnership, our major funder or your local councillor or MP.

We will communicate the outcome of any specific complaints received to those involved and provide general information about the number and nature of complaints received by us in annual and other reports.

About Richmond

Bird on a post on Richmond Riverside

The information and documents below will give you an overview and understanding of the demography, local needs and trends in the borough. This information influences the purchasing and commissioning of services in Richmond upon Thames and is useful to inform tenders and funding applications.

It is essential that when groups are preparing to tender for service delivery in the borough, you put your service in the context of both local intelligence and national policy. You must evidence how your provision meets the specified local need and achieves the outcomes set in the specification. The data and analysis collated and provided by LBRUT, Public Health, Achieving for Children and Richmond CCG will also help you when preparing applications to external funders, including charitable trusts, and in developing new projects evidenced by local need.

Richmond Council changed its political administration in May 2018 and is now led by the Liberal Democrats. It is likely that some of the current strategies and plans may be updated to reflect this.

Resources

The Census Borough Profile is a compilation and analysis of census information from 2011.

The Richmond Community Plan 2016-20 sets out a vision of the borough where local people are engaged and involved in their communities and where there is a vibrant and sustainable community and VCS to support residents and help them play a full role in community life.

The Richmond Equalities Mapping and Profile 2011 (based on statistical evidence from the census) - although produced in 2011, this document provides an interesting insight into equality and inclusion issues in Richmond and provides a baseline for understanding the changing demographic of the borough. The document includes a helpful executive summary, key findings by equality strand, and population projections to 2033.

Richmond State Of The Sector - November 2013 - research into better understanding the needs and aspirations of the local sector and the future support needs of the sector.

The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment is made up of documents covering a range of health and social care topics. It explores how Richmond upon Thames compares with others locally, regionally and nationally and considers currently what works well and what could be improved. Together with The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health  The Richmond Story 2017/18 sets out the current context for the delivery of services in the borough, outlines future trends, and its approach to meeting the needs.

The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2016-21 sets out the vision of the Health and Well Being Board - “prevention and joined up services throughout peoples lives to enable all residents to start well, live well and age well”. The Board is a forum where key leaders from the health and social care system work together to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population and reduce inequalities.

Adult Social Care Strategies have been collated and are available LBRUT’s website. Particularly useful are:

  • The Market Position Statement 2018/19 provides information on current supply and demand planned changes and emerging trends for services. It provides context for existing providers in the borough and those considering starting a business or extending their operations in Richmond.
  • Promoting Wellbeing and Independence - A Framework for Prevention 2015-18 sets out plans formeeting future health prevention needs of Richmond residents and people registered with a Richmond GP.
  • The Joint Dementia Strategy 2016-21

The Cultural Partnership Strategy 2015-19 provides a framework for arts, culture and sport in LBRUT, with the goal to increase involvement, raise ambition and build on the sense of place.

The South London Partnership is a sub-regional collaboration of the five boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton. It concentrates its activity on the areas of economy, health and care, housing and planning, and skills and transport. It produces very useful data focused on issues where working together adds value to what each individual borough could achieve on their own

The Richmond Children and Young People’s Needs Assessment 2017 provides an overview of the needs of children and young people and highlights local priorities. It includes a comprehensive data set and needs analysis

The Richmond and Kingston Local Children’s Safeguarding Board provides a strategic overview and co-ordination function for child protection and safeguarding in the two boroughs. The Annual Report highlights issues and trends, and the local priorities for keeping children safe.

The Richmond Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Transformation Plan 2015-20 includes a comprehensive local assessment of need, achievements to date and the road map to transformation for Richmond.

Healthwatch Richmond enables local voices to influence the design and delivery of local services. Their Annual Report provides useful insight and information about local health and social care services, people’s experiences of them and how they can be improved.

Download our briefings

See our full range of suggested resources, including those relating to local issues and opportunities, on our Briefings and Guides page.