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Richmond Council is committed to supporting the voluntary and community sector in Richmond. You are receiving this email as you have opted-in to receive these mailings. To stop receiving these emails please follow the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. |
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Voluntary Sector News and Updates Bulletin
September 2025 |
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Welcome to the September edition of the Voluntary and Community Sector Newsletter. Please find information below on a range of funding and training opportunities, as well as local updates and events from across the borough.
Please email voluntarysector@richmond.gov.uk with any newsletter feedback or comments.
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Funding Opportunities
Apply Now: Acquiring a Defibrillator (AED) through the British Heart Foundation
Did you know that a shock from an AED, teamed with bystander CPR, can increase chances of survival from just 6% to 74% when delivered within the first 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest? Having a publicly accessible AED within 200m really can save lives.
With World Heart Day coming up on September 29th, it’s a great opportunity for your organisation to see whether you are eligible for a free publicly accessible defibrillator through the British Heart Foundation!
Funding is expected to close in February 2026; however, this may change depending on the volume of applications received. It only takes 25 minutes to apply, so we would recommend applying early!
Loved and Wanted Fund – Now Open for Applications
The Loved and Wanted Fund supports civil society organisations to bring Londoners together and strengthen social cohesion across the city. Funded by the Mayor of London, this programme builds on the All of Us social integration strategy, recognising the vital role communities play in creating a more just, welcoming London.
The fund is aimed at incorporated, venue-based community organisations or partnerships working to:
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Foster meaningful connections between Londoners from different backgrounds
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Promote participation in local and city-wide life
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Tackle barriers to inclusion and belonging
Grant amount: 15 grants of up to £60,000 each
Delivery period: February 2026 – March 2028
Eligibility: Lead applicants must have an annual turnover between £100,000 and £10 million
Deadline to apply: Sunday 19 October 2025, 11:59pm
CharityJob’s 2025 Charitable Donation – Applications Now Open!
This year, CharityJob is giving away £70,000 to eligible small charities. Want to be considered? Simply complete the application form.
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Deadline: Friday 26 September 2025
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Successful applicants notified: Week commencing 3 November 2025
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this year’s donation!
Comic Relief Community Fund – Apply Now for Grants up to £5,000
Grassroots organisations in England tackling poverty or hardship can now apply for Comic Relief grants of up to £5,000.
Funding is available for groups with an annual income under £250,000, and can be used flexibly — whether for project costs, core expenses, or both. From staff wages and rent to equipment and training, this fund is designed to meet your needs.
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Urgent support: foodbanks, shelters, advice services, healthcare outreach
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Long-term solutions: employment access, financial resilience, community-led initiatives
Who can apply? Local organisations working to address or prevent poverty and hardship.
Applications open: Monday 8 September 2025
Deadline: 12 noon, Monday 6 October 2025
Apply for a Climate Action Microgrant
Richmond Council's climate action microgrants award between £100 and £500 to community groups, schools, individuals or non-profits to run events, activities and initiatives that promote positive behaviours in the community around climate change and sustainability.
We want to help spark and support locally-led climate action initiatives, providing small scale funding to help your local green initiative get off the ground or grow an existing project.
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Training Opportunities
Workforce Development Training: Drive Project Implementation
The Drive Partnership is launching a new series of free online training sessions designed to support borough mobilisation and equip professionals with the tools to engage with the Drive approach to tackling domestic abuse.
About Drive:
The Drive Partnership (Respect, SafeLives, Social Finance) works to end domestic abuse by challenging and changing the behaviour of high-harm, high-risk, and serial perpetrators. The programme is embedded in a whole-system, whole-family response and aims to reduce repeat victimisation, harm to victims and children, and the number of serial perpetrators.
Analysing Qualitative Data Workshop for Community and Voluntary Organisations
Join the South West London Research Support Network for a practical workshop on analysing qualitative data, led by Kate White and the Superhighways team. Learn simple techniques to code data, identify key themes, and use digital tools to support your analysis. Ideal for community and voluntary organisations working with interview, survey, or feedback data.
📅 Thursday 25 September
🕐 13:00–16:00
📍 Oru Sutton, 7 Throwley Way, Sutton SM1 4AF
Free Mental Health First Aid Training – Book Now
Richmond Public Health is offering a fully funded, two-day Mental Health First Aid course for frontline staff in the community and voluntary sector.
Dates: Monday 24th & Thursday 27th November
Location: Twickenham Training Centre, Grimwood Road
Please share with your Richmond networks – spaces are limited!
Stronger Voices: Free Six-Month Communications Training Programme
Media Trust is now inviting applications for Stronger Voices, a free, six-month strategic communications training programme designed for London-based third-sector organisations working on equalities and social justice.
Programme dates: November 2025 – May 2026
Eligibility: Equalities-focused organisations addressing structural inequality in London
Stronger Voices equips 20 selected organisations with the tools, skills, and confidence to deliver powerful, values-led communications that challenge harmful narratives, shift public mindsets, and inspire lasting change. Participants will learn how to navigate the media landscape, tell compelling stories, and amplify the voices of the communities they serve.
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Employment Opportunities
The Harlequins Foundation is currently recruiting Level 2 Sports Coaches to support the delivery of its youth programmes across six London boroughs. The Foundation is seeking passionate individuals who are committed to making a difference through sport. Coaches will contribute to initiatives such as Move. Learn. Grow., Project Rugby, METTLE, and SWITCH, which focus on developing life skills and improving outcomes in education, employability, wellbeing, and inclusion.
Current Vacancies:
Merton, Croydon & Wandsworth – jade.shuriah@quins.co.uk
Richmond, Hounslow & Kingston – sheree.cooper@quins.co.uk
The Harlequins Foundation also offers ongoing training and mentoring to support coach development. Applications are welcome from both experienced professionals and those at the beginning of their coaching journey — especially young people who would benefit from the Foundation’s support.
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Events
Multicultural Richmond has launched HALO — a new monthly gathering designed to bring together faith leaders, cultural leaders, and community connectors across Richmond. HALO is a space for sharing, listening, and co-creating ideas that support mental health and collective wellbeing in diverse communities. This is not a training — it’s a safe, respectful roundtable where lived experiences, spiritual practices, and community wisdom come together to strengthen local social networks and foster compassion.
Upcoming Events at Multicultural Richmond
HALO Founders’ Circle – Co-Creating for Wellbeing Monday 22nd September 2025, 2:00 PM Theme: Peace of Mind – Faith, Healing, and Belonging
Interfaith Week UK – Launch Event Monday 10th November 2025 Location: 111a Kneller Road, Whitton, Twickenham, TW2 7DT (Details TBC)
To get involved, please contact:
The KRSCP invites VCSE and faith organisations to a dedicated forum on Tuesday 1 October 2025, 2–5pm at York House, Twickenham. The session will cover updates on Early Help and Family Hubs, PREVENT and radicalisation, and the Single Point of Access (SPA) referral process. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share insights, and strengthen safeguarding practices.
To book your place please email Tracey Welding via email: tracey.welding@kingrichlscb.org.uk.
Business Clinic Speaker Series – St Mary’s University
Following Dr Luisa Weinzierl’s presentation at the Voluntary Sector Forum in July, St Mary’s University Business Clinic invites professionals to attend its upcoming speaker series events. These sessions offer valuable insights into business and community collaboration. The Business Clinic welcomes project suggestions and enquiries.
Upcoming Events: 30 September, 23 October and 25 November.
Get in touch via: businessclinic@stmarys.ac.uk
Please share with colleagues who may be interested in attending or collaborating.
Richmond Women’s Hub and Creative Workshops at the Sanctuary
Richmond Women’s Hub sessions have resumed and will now take place every Wednesday during term time. Local professionals are encouraged to share this opportunity with women they support.
New Women-Only Art Workshops at The Sanctuary: The Hub is also offering a series of creative workshops featuring collage printing, clay work, and painting. These sessions are designed to be fun, inclusive, and accessible.
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Richmond Council Updates
Richmond Council invites views on a new Events in Parks Policy
We're looking at changing our policy on events in our parks, open spaces and commons.
Events like outdoor cinemas, pop-up theatres, neighbourhood festivals and community gatherings are much-loved, and we want to encourage more to take place while also protecting the landscapes we all treasure.
The policy is anticipated to be adopted later this year. Alongside consulting on the policy, the council is also reviewing guidance notes for event organisers to make it more straightforward to deliver smaller events while still ensuring safety, wildlife protection, noise management, and community engagement.
Read the draft policy and take part in the consultation by Sunday 5 October.
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Useful Information
If your organisation has some news or an event you'd like to share with residents on the Council's community news pages, via our social media accounts or in the weekly community e-newsletter, tell us about it.
The e-newsletter is distributed to over 43,000 individual contacts and is a great way to promote your services and increase awareness of local news and issues.
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