Consultancy and in-depth specialist support

Looking for specialist advice, in-depth consultancy or hands-on support? Looking for support for a particular type of project?

This page lists a number of key sources from the array of specialist support available for charitable, voluntary and community organisations.

You can either visit the organisations individually or alternatively complete this form and your enquiry will be passed on to a member of the Community Links Bromley Organisational Development Team.

Enquiry Form

Free management consultancy from the Cranfield Trust

The Cranfield Trust want to let you know that they have the capacity to work with your organisation on all those projects that have been in the back of your mind for the last few months - perhaps updating your business plan, holding an 'awayday' with your board and staff to consider your future strategy or build your team, doing a thorough investigation of a new income-generation opportunity, or just bringing your HR information and plans up to date.

The Trust work with a national register of over 600 volunteers who give their time free to carry out projects. Details from www.cranfieldtrust.org.uk

Getting media coverage

Getting media coverage for your organisation is not nearly as hard as it seems, according to the support charity The Media Trust. Just follow some basic principles, and remember that local journalists are usually keen for community stories.

How can you get help to do this? The Media Trust offer three services: Community Newswire, where two journalists work with your organisation to develop media campaigns; Media Matching, where your organisation is paired with an experienced communications professional; and their website, containing free downloadable guides.

Details from www.mediatrust.org or call 020 7217 3717.

Pilotlight

Pilotlight is a registered charity committed to helping other small, innovative charities to grow and fulfil their potential. To do this Pilotlight recruit business leaders who want to donate their time and skills to help organisations to develop their infrastructure and become more sustainable.

Pilotlight's objective is to build the organisational capacity of our client charities, giving them the tools that they need to plan and manage for their future growth. Through the support of our members Pilotlight have been able to offer this service free of charge. All they ask of organisations that they work with is that they can commit to their model of partnership and are open to new ideas and change.

Further information can be found at www.pilotlight.org.uk.

Community environmental projects

Are you looking to transform a garden, a derelict area or underused public place into an attractive community space?

BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) has launched a support project for community groups who are looking to set up environmental projects. You may be looking for information on sources of funds, advice or training for your project.

For more information please contact David Strachan, London Development Manager on 020 7843 4287 or email d.strachan@btcv.org.uk.

Support and advice for sport or physical activity projects

Do you provide - or want to provide - sport or other physical activities for your community or beneficiaries? Looking for support or information on funding, regulations or policies and procedures?

If so, you could benefit from support and advice from the London Community Sports Network. The Network recently met with CLB to promote their capacity building support programme for voluntary and community groups. They are keen to work with groups in Bromley and we are keen that local groups can benefit from this specialist support service.

LCSN were established to support voluntary and community groups in developing sport and physical activity, to help tackle social exclusion and improve the health, skills and confidence of people in local communities.

Their support could bring great benefits. For example, LCSN worked with Fitrovia Youth in Action, a small charity in Camden and Westminster. Thanks to support from the network the group were able to expand from a small community group to establish a football development project. The network were able to signpost the group to information and useful contacts, helped apply for funds specific to sport, implemented policies and procedures and promoted the project to outside agencies.

If your group would like to benefit from this kind of support, please contact Melanie Bindel, Community Development Officer at the Network on 020 8556 5973 or email Melanie.Bindel@locsp.org or visit their website at www.communitysports.org.uk.

Page updated: 1 December 2008