| Support for FFLAG |
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We were all disappointed when our bid to the Big Lottery Fund was not successful. Still, if at first you don’t succeed, have a large (pink) gin and tonic. Then try again. The FFLAG Board and myself have been working on a strategic re-think, to get a securely funded future for ourselves and all our affiliate groups and helplines. We have been offered some fantastic professional help with this work. Gareth Edwards from the Practical Fundraising Association (PFA) is giving us one year’s support, mentoring and 12 places on training courses at a much reduced cost. The PFA run training courses on all aspects of fundraising, creativity and personal development for the voluntary sector. Representatives from FFLAG have already attended a number of PFA courses, including one on corporate fund-raising, and Gareth has helped with one of our funding bids. The Cranfield Trust provides free consultancy support to the voluntary sector from its national register of volunteers from the commercial world. In almost 20 years they have supported over 1000 projects. The Cranfield Trust finds a volunteer with the appropriate skills for the project and they work on a one-to-one basis with the charity. We asked the Cranfield Trust to find us someone who could help write a five year business plan based on the strategy the Board have recently produced. Richard Marchant, met Anita and myself and has already given us a much better idea of what a business plan should look like. Our third source of support is via the LGBT Consortium, who have secured some funding to enable FFLAG to pay for two days of consultancy support on volunteering and fundraising. The consultant, Chris Penberthy, is a Director of The Red Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to provide consultancy, fundraising and communications services to the voluntary sector. Chris has many years experience of working with volunteers and has had considerable fundraising success in the past. He has offered to give us a further three days’ support pro bono. It is very heart-warming when our own belief in the importance of FFLAG is reflected in other people’s willingness to help us. We are still keen for input from our key source of strength: our parent-volunteers. If you are interested in working with us as a Trustee or Special Friend, do contact us. We are particularly looking for Trustees who have financial expertise, are based in or near London or who are interested in our work in Europe at the moment. |