Charity Networking Event - December 2025
2025-12-12 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | Enterprise, Enterprise House, Vicarage Road, Egham, TW20 9FB, Enterprise House, Egham, TW20 9FB, United Kingdom
We’re pleased to invite you to our next networking event designed to bring together local organisations and community groups. This event is a great opportunity to share what your organisation does, connect with others in the sector, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Coming up at our December networking event, we have:

Ian McLintock joining us from Charity Excellence Network. Ian will talk about the latest developments on CEN, including its use of AI.
Suzanne Hodnett, our Charity Development Specialist, will talk about the importance of marketing for your organisation. Suzanne has extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in her long career working in both the commercial and charity sectors, including running her own marketing business for 13 years, and her recent article about marketing and building a community – further down this newsletter – will give you a flavour of how your organisation could benefit from her insights.

Plus there will also be a seasonal quiz!
The event will take place at Enterprise in Egham between 10am and 12pm and you can book your place using the short form below.
For any questions, please contact Alison at alison@voluntarysupport.org.uk or call us on 01932 571122.

New: Trustees Forum - January 2026
2026-01-28 18:00 - 19:15 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
If you are a Surrey-based Charity Trustee, we would like to invite you to join us for an engaging early-evening Trustees Forum designed to bring Surrey trustees together for reflection, connection, and practical peer learning.
This friendly and focused session will create space for you to share your headline updates and hear what is going on for other Trustees in their roles. We will explore challenges with one another, engage in a short creative exercise designed to spark fresh thinking around impact and value. We’ll also spend time discussing a key governance topic chosen from issues which trustees have told us matter most such as board effectiveness, safeguarding responsibilities, legal concerns, or the changing landscape of local government in Surrey.
Our expert leader on the day, Helen Frary, is a trustee champion, a very experienced professional in the charity sector and a trustee herself at VSNS. She will guide conversation to help you with networking, to help surface insights, and to capture themes that can feed into future sessions.
We’ll finish with a short wrap-up to highlight the emerging themes and signpost you to relevant resources and more specific support, as well as to invite thoughts on what trustees would find most useful to explore at the next forum.
This will be the first of an ongoing bi-monthly Trustees Forum where you will have regular opportunities to exchange ideas, gather suggestions from peers, and reflect on what you want to take forward in your organisation.

Social Media Marketing and Remarketing for Community Building
2026-02-12 09:30 - 12:30 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
This workshop explores how to strategically use social media to attract, engage, and retain audiences through authentic community building. We will look at what is a reasonable expectation from your efforts, what kind of goals to set and how to achieve them. We will also cover the technique of growing an email list from your social media and website, and the fundamentals of remarketing, leveraging repetition and targeted messaging to really engage followers and subscribers
By the end of the course, you will understand how to integrate social media, email marketing, and remarketing strategies into a cohesive system to nurture relationships and boost their engagement.

Key Topics:

Designing social media content that captures your target audience

Achieving engagement and building an online community

Growing and managing an email list effectively

Creating remarketing campaigns that reinforce brand awareness through repetition

Nurturing closer connections and longer-term relationships

Surrey Heath Mental Health Forum - Mar 2026
2026-03-04 10:30 - 12:00 | Places Leisure, Grand Avenue, Camberley, Surrey Heath, GU15 3QH, United Kingdom
Our Surrey Heath Mental Health Forum continues to meet on a quarterly basis and we are delighted to announce the date for our next forum will be Wednesday 4th March, 10.30am – 12noon at Places Leisure Centre, Camberley.
This event is for groups based in or operating across Surrey Heath with a connection to mental health, whether that’s through tackling isolation, age-related mental health or disability.
Each meeting has one or two speakers, followed by a roundtable session where people can give an update on their service and share anything new for discussion.
If you’re interested in attending, please contact libby@voluntarysupport.org.uk for more details.
Alternatively, you can call Libby at our Camberley office on 01276 402789.

Grants & Trusts Fundraising Applications Training - March 2026
2026-03-10 09:30 - 15:00 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
Grants & Trusts Fundraising Applications Training – March 2026
We are running our popular Grants & Trusts Fundraising Applications Training on Tuesday 10th March.
This one-day introductory training session will guide attendees through structuring and writing charity applications for national and local grants and trusts.
During the session, we will cover:

Researching the need for your project
Planning
Measuring impact
Finding the appropriate funder
Application structure
Funding Strategy

If you have any questions about the training, please contact Alison at alison@voluntarysupport.org.uk.
If you would like to attend, please fill in the short form below.

Charity Networking Event - March 2026
2026-03-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Enterprise, Enterprise House, Vicarage Road, Egham, TW20 9FB, Enterprise House, Egham, TW20 9FB, United Kingdom
We’re pleased to invite you to our next networking event designed to bring together local organisations and community groups. This event is a great opportunity to share what your organisation does, connect with others in the sector, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
——————–
Speakers for our March event are:
John Skipper talking about cyber security threats to charities and how to mitigate. He will be looking at:
• Who are these “hackers” and why do they do it?
• What is the risk? How bad can it get?
• What can I do about it? 5 practical actions you can take.
John has over 30 years’ experience in cyber and information security. He has advised governments, defence organisations, NHS, local authorities and commercial businesses, and was previously the Chief Information Security Officer for Metro Bank. He has a particular interest in the cyber resilience of critical services and is keen to help simplify the lessons of cyber security for voluntary organisations and charities.
We will also be welcoming:
Hannah Dirks from Surrey County Council giving an update on the Local Government Reorganisation
and
Becky Whale from Runnymede and Spelthorne Citizens advice talking about how they are preparing for LGR and their challenges.

Runnymede and Spelthorne Older People's Forum - March 2026
2026-03-18 10:00 - 11:30 | St Paul’s Church Egham Hythe, St Paul's Road, Staines, Surrey, TW18 3HG, United Kingdom
Our next Older People’s Forum will be held on the morning of 18th March at St Paul’s Church Egham Hythe from 10am to 11.30am. This will be our first session joining groups from both Spelthorne and Runnymede so a great opportunity to make some new connections and hear more about the services available locally. We very much hope you’ll be able to join us.
Anyone who works for an organisation with a connection to older people (there’s no defined aged, but approximately 55+) is welcome, whether their focus is tackling isolation, age-related physical or mental health or another service.
If you’re interested in attending or would like some more information, please contact Jo at jo@voluntarysupport.org.uk or Elaine at elaine@voluntarysupport.org.uk or give us a call on 01784 465536.
You can also book your place below and we’ll be in touch with further details.

Trustees Forum - March 2026
2026-03-26 18:00 - 19:15 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
If you are a Surrey-based Charity Trustee, we would like to invite you to join us for an engaging early-evening Trustees Forum designed to bring Surrey trustees together for reflection, connection, and practical peer learning.
We’ll discuss key governance topics such as board effectiveness, safeguarding responsibilities, legal concerns, or the changing landscape of local government in Surrey.
We’ll finish with a short wrap-up to highlight the emerging themes and signpost you to relevant resources and more specific support, as well as to invite thoughts on what trustees would find most useful to explore at the next forum.
This bi-monthly Trustees Forum is a regular opportunity to exchange ideas, gather suggestions from peers, and reflect on what you want to take forward in your organisation.

Recruiting and managing volunteers - April 2026
2026-04-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Meeting Room 2, Staines Library, Elmsleigh Centre, Unit MSU 2, Staines, TW18 4QB
This workshop is aimed at voluntary organisations who want to improve how they recruit and manage volunteers, and establish good practices to help retain the volunteers that they have.
Areas covered during the workshop are:

Evaluating and planning the recruitment process
Advertising and promoting your volunteer opportunities
What should be included in a volunteer policy/agreement
Understanding what motivates and de-motivates volunteers
Methods of recognising and rewarding volunteers.

Charity Law for Trustees - May 2026
2026-05-06 10:00 - 15:00 | Kitchen Room, Staines Library, Elmsleigh Centre Unit MSU 2, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 4QB
Voluntary Support North Surrey is offering a practical, full‑day course to help trustees and charity leaders strengthen governance, understand legal responsibilities, and improve financial confidence.
Led by charity law expert Helen Harvie, the session covers:
✔️ Trustee duties & recruitment
✔️ Board roles and effective meetings
✔️ Governing documents & Charity Commission requirements
✔️ Financial health, accounts & reporting
✔️ Serious incident reporting & key legal essentials
Perfect for new or experienced trustees, CEOs and senior leaders who want to keep their charity compliant, confident and well‑run.

Meet the Funder: BBC Children in Need
2026-05-19 10:00 - 11:15 | Online via Microsoft Teams
Meet the Funder: BBC Children in Need
We will be joined at this Meet the Funder session by Pam Bacon, Impact Officer for the South East at BBC Children in Need, on Tuesday 19th May at 10am. Pam will give a 40-minute presentation, with time to answer questions afterwards.
This will be followed up by 1-2-1 sessions at the Chertsey office on Thursday 4th June (fully booked) and Thursday 18th June (now booking) when people can book a 20-minute appointment with Pam. Please email Alison to book a 1-2-1 slot.
About BBC Children in Need
BBC Children in Need funds vital support for children and young people struggling with challenges caused by mental health, poverty, social inequity and family-related issues. Our ambition is that every child and young person should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be.
They support not-for-profit, community-based organisations in their work to help address some of the day-to-day challenges that impact children and young people up to the age of 18 years, living in the UK.
Grants can contribute towards core organisation costs and project costs associated with directly supporting children and young people to experience positive differences in their lives. Grants of up to £40,000 per year are available for up to 3 years. They run a rolling programme so there are no published deadline dates.

Trustees Forum - May 2026
2026-05-27 18:00 - 19:15 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom

Surrey Heath Mental Health Forum - June 2026
2026-06-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Places Leisure, Grand Avenue, Camberley, Surrey Heath, GU15 3QH, United Kingdom
Our Surrey Heath Mental Health Forum continues to meet on a quarterly basis and we are delighted to announce the date for our next forum will be Wednesday 3rd June, 10.30am – 12noon at Places Leisure Centre, Camberley.
This event is for groups based in or operating across Surrey Heath with a connection to mental health, whether that’s through tackling isolation, age-related mental health or disability.
Each meeting has one or two speakers, followed by a roundtable session where people can give an update on their service and share anything new for discussion.
If you’re interested in attending, please contact libby@voluntarysupport.org.uk for more details.
Alternatively, you can call Libby at our Camberley office on 01276 402789.

Charity Networking Event - June 2026
2026-06-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Enterprise, Enterprise House, Vicarage Road, Egham, TW20 9FB, Enterprise House, Egham, TW20 9FB, United Kingdom
We’re pleased to invite you to our next networking event designed to bring together local organisations and community groups. This event is a great opportunity to share what your organisation does, connect with others in the sector, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Speakers for our June event will be announced shortly.

Digital Fundraising Training - June 2026
2026-06-16 10:00 - 12:30 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
Join us for our Digital Fundraising training, where we’ll explore how to attract and engage donors through social media. This session will cover:

Understanding your audience
Telling your story effectively through digital channels
Mapping out your donor journey

Whether you’re new to digital fundraising or looking for new ideas and ways to refine your approach, this training will provide practical insights to help you boost digital engagement and donations.

Proving Your Value to Funders - July 2026
2026-07-16 10:00 - 12:00 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
Proving Your Value to Funders
Writing a funding bid isn’t just about filling in a form, it’s about turning your funding application into a story that funders want to be a part of.
It’s about making a compelling case for support, one that moves beyond good intentions to clearly showing why your work matters. It’s about showing that no-one else is already doing it for the community you support, evidencing the need, proving how and why it works, the change it is already making for individuals and in relieving demands on wider local resources, and the reasons it deserves backing for ongoing and increased impact.
Proving Your Value to Funders is a practical, insight-driven course designed to help you transform your funding applications into powerful stories of change.
The course will help you:

Move beyond telling a funder your project will make a difference and show them how and why it already does with real-world examples
Present your work as a compelling story of change addressing the challenges and issues the funder cares about
Back up your ambition with meaningful facts, figures, lived experience and evidence of the benefits through case studies
Using data effectively (without overwhelming the reader)
Connect emotionally while staying professional
Demonstrate how your work reduces pressure on other services and the community, how it prevents escalation and crisis and illustrates long-term change
Position your organisation as a credible, investable partner
Present outcomes clearly, concisely and confidently so they feel confident in you and what you’re telling them!

Who this course is for

Charity and community organisation leaders
Social enterprise founders close to launch or those contemplating a community project
Bid writers and fundraisers
Anyone responsible for securing funding

Whether you’re new to bid writing or looking to strengthen your success rate, this course will help you present your project and organisation with clarity and credibility.
By the end of the course we hope that you won’t just be asking for funding, you’ll be inviting funders to invest in meaningful, measurable change.

Charity Networking Event - September 2026
2026-09-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Enterprise, Enterprise House, Vicarage Road, Egham, TW20 9FB, Enterprise House, Egham, TW20 9FB, United Kingdom
We’re pleased to invite you to our next networking event designed to bring together local organisations and community groups. This event is a great opportunity to share what your organisation does, connect with others in the sector, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Speakers for our September event will be announced shortly.

Social Media Marketing and Remarketing for Community Building
2026-09-21 09:30 - 12:30 | Meeting Room 2, Staines Library, Elmsleigh Centre, Unit MSU 2, Staines, TW18 4QB

Recruiting and managing volunteers - October 2026
2026-10-06 10:00 - 15:00 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom

Charity Networking Event - December 2026
2026-12-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Enterprise, Enterprise House, Vicarage Road, Egham, TW20 9FB, Enterprise House, Egham, TW20 9FB, United Kingdom
We’re pleased to invite you to our next networking event designed to bring together local organisations and community groups. This event is a great opportunity to share what your organisation does, connect with others in the sector, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Speakers for our December event will be announced shortly.
