Civil Society

Charities will add social value to DCMS supply chains

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, March 30, 2023 — Civil Society

VCSE Crown Representative

As Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VCSE) Crown Representative, Claire Dove CBE acts as an intermediary between government and the charity and social enterprise sectors to champion the Social Value Act and secure an improvement in commissioning practices. As a key player in the social enterprise movement for over 40 years she brings a wealth…
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Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village, an amazing community of hardworking volunteers

Lottie Morris

Lottie Morris, September 2, 2021 — Civil Society

Senior Marketing Officer, Watts Gallery - Artists' Village

This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the major restoration and reopening of Watts Gallery in 2011. This could not have been achieved without the commitment and tireless efforts of a group of volunteers who approached the challenge of clearing the Gallery with enthusiasm and energy. Among their many tasks, they emptied cupboards and drawers,…
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A Summer of fun and learning

Andy Gardner

Andy Gardner, — Civil Society

Marketing & Communications Content Manager, SLQ Sports Leaders

A young person is teaching children on how to play sports
Now is the perfect time to get back out and reconnect with friends, family and community, looking ahead to the future and more times we can all enjoy together. After a period of time like no other that has forced us all to spend time alone and away from the people we love, this summer…
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Making it Magic for Everyone

Ian Crabbe

Ian Crabbe, July 28, 2021 — Civil Society

Managing Director Resort Theme Parks for Merlin Entertainments

Alton Towers ride
Merlin Entertainments Director, Ian Crabbe, welcomes the National Disability Strategy and reflects on some of the positive changes Alton Towers have made to ensure everyone has a safe, fun and memorable visit. A visit from the Minister We were delighted to welcome Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston to Alton Towers recently, to show him not only…
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MindOut provides vital support for LGBTQ mental health

Helen Jones

Helen Jones, February 23, 2021 — #CommunitiesCan

CEO, MindOut

MindOut volunteers
As part of DCMS Community Match Challenge through Global’s Make Some Noise, MindOut, based in Brighton, has received a £20,000 grant for their virtual mental health service for the LGBTQ+ community. The funding covers online Support Worker salaries and training costs to extend hours for the online support service. This temporary increase in hours and…
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Using Dormant Assets to get charities and social enterprises the capital they need

Seb Elsworth

Seb Elsworth, January 9, 2021 — Civil Society

CEO, Access - The Foundation for Social Investment

Access uses money from dormant assets to support more charities and social enterprises to get the capital they need to grow and help more people in their communities. We do this through a model we call blended finance. This means combining loans and grant so that social lenders are able to support smaller organisations who…
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Supporting frontline organisations to make a real difference

Stephen Muers

Stephen Muers, — Civil Society

Interim CEO, Big Society Capital

Image from Acorn childcare video of a smiling baby playing
Big Society Capital was set up with the promise of £425 million from dormant bank accounts and £200 million from our four bank shareholders. Our mission is to improve people’s lives in the UK through investment.  It is the frontline organisations that deliver such impact, so far more than 1,200 of them, and the fund…
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Military Wives Choirs: A thank you for supporting our virtual activity #CommunitiesCan

Eleanor Pullen

Eleanor Pullen, October 9, 2020 — #CommunitiesCan

Digital Engagement Officer, Military Wives Choirs

12 members of the Military Wives Choirs pose for a photo wearing choir outfits including a black dress and purple cardigan
The grant funding that the Military Wives Choirs has received has enabled us to continue to bring our network together, albeit virtually, during these unprecedented times in the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 70 choirs and more than 2,000 members in British military bases across the UK and overseas, the Military Wives Choirs is a charity…
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Building trust and community cohesion through Board Games – #CommunitiesCan

Mem Mehmet

Mem Mehmet, September 11, 2020 — #CommunitiesCan

Happiness Engineer, Universal Board Games

Two dads play a board game in the park as their children watch on. All socially distanced.
Universal Board Games have been using play to build trust and community cohesion for 20 years. We feel it will be even more important to rebuild this after the negative impact of the coronavirus lockdown on vulnerable communities in Hackney. The Coronavirus Community Support Fund we’ve received has enabled us to build capacity and plan…
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Reshaping the Hailsham Festival – #CommunitiesCan

Dr Tony Biggin

Dr Tony Biggin, September 4, 2020 — #CommunitiesCan

Chair, Hailsham Festival

Hailsham Festival
In early 2020 Hailsham Festival – an annual celebration of creativity, talent and imagination – was gearing up for its most ambitious year ever – not only were plans well advanced for the ‘normal’ festival fortnight in September but also for ‘String’ – a newly commissioned community musical, rooted in Hailsham, its surrounding villages and…
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