Aston Villa Foundation to Organise Online Support Event

Aston Villa Foundation to Organise Online Support Event

The Aston Villa Foundation will run a Third Sector Support Festival tomorrow, Wednesday August 26, as part of the Club’s ‘Supporting Our Own’ initiative. The online event aims to support local community and non-profit organisations affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Running all day, the event will feature various talks from experts on different topics so that charities and community groups can rebuild after the Covid-19 pandemic; including staff and volunteer management, risk assessments, funding, and media and communications.

Jennifer Tullett, Neighbourhood Engagement Officer for the Foundation, said: “The Aston Villa Foundation understands what a difference local grassroots groups can make in communities. The Supporting Our Own initiative was set up to help and recognise individuals and organisations operating in Birmingham, as well as the wider Aston Villa family. We have set up this event specifically to help charities and organisations feel confident to reopen safely, so they can continue or restart their work following the challenges presented over the last few months. We work with a variety of different third sector organisations across the city, and this is just one of the ways we want to offer support.”

The event will be run via video call and the talks are scheduled as follows:

9:30am-10:30am: Furloughed staff and HR:- With furlough being a new concept since Covid-19, many are not sure what steps to take. This session will discuss what to do after you have furloughed staff and things to consider before reversing the furloughing. What are the effects when staff return on a part-time basis? There will also be discussions on other HR queries.

11am-12noon: Starting up a voluntary group:- Many people have been inspired to do more to help their community during the Covid-19 crisis. This may be by starting up a new group or bringing skills and enthusiasm to an existing group. Birmingham Community Matters will run an informal session covering things to consider when starting up a voluntary or community group. They will share information on working with other groups in the city of Birmingham, gathering and motivating volunteers and also identifying structures for small groups. There will be opportunities to ask questions and learn from others.

12:30pm-1:30pm: Risk assessments:- The importance of a Risk Assessment has always been prominent, however since Covid-19 there are many more elements involved. This session will cover how to write a risk assessment and things to consider including current Covid-19 guidelines.

2pm-3pm: Large grant making and bid writing:- Moving from grassroots grants to commissioning and larger grants can be a minefield and much more detail is required when covering aspects such as need, impact and planning. This session will be delivered by Get Grants.

3:30pm-4:30pm: Social media:- In a world of instant communication and connection among many different sources, getting your message across has never been easier. This session will discuss which platforms will gain highest reach depending on target audience and different types including paid for and free; and will be delivered by the foundation’s social media expert.