Community Foundation North East: Connecting time and expertise to North East charities
While giving is often associated with money, the donation of time, talent and professional expertise can be just as valuable to charities – and hugely rewarding for the individuals and businesses involved.
To support this, the Foundation’s Skills Match programme connects businesses and professionals to local charities in need of expert advice. This can include help to address a specific challenge, improve governance, build resilience or develop services.
Members can offer one-to-one support on topics ranging from law, HR and marketing, to property, digital transformation and business planning. Others get involved by speaking at webinars or training events. Many also go on to become trustees of causes they care about through the Foundation’s dedicated trustee-matching service.
There’s no fixed time commitment or obligation; businesses and individuals can give as much or as little support as they feel able to. There are no legal ties, and either party can step away from the arrangement at any time.
The benefit to charities is clear: access to support they might otherwise be unable to afford, helping them pursue their mission and better support their communities. But the experience is just as rewarding for those offering their skills.
Pro-bono consultants often connect with organisations they wouldn’t otherwise be aware of. Early-career professionals gain valuable experience in client liaison. And for many businesses, it’s a meaningful way to contribute to their ESG and social value strategies.
Colette Harrison, sector support manager, said: “It’s a privilege to help connect local charities with specialist support – and to raise awareness of the generosity and expertise offered by businesses right across the North East.”
To learn more about how individuals, businesses and charities have benefited from working together or to get involved, visit communityfoundation.org.uk/sector-support or contact Colette on 0191 222 0945 or at [email protected].
