There’s fantastic work happening across Hackney and the City, in our communities and neighbourhoods. At the same time, voluntary and faith organisations are facing increasing challenges.

The Development team is here to work with voluntary, community and faith organisations across Hackney and the City of London, working with you to build on your strengths, navigate challenges and grow with confidence.

Every organisation is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to organisational development.

Whether you’re just starting out, looking to strengthen what you already do, or navigating a period of change, we’re here to support you at every stage of your journey.

We offer one-to-one sessions and training to work with organisations.

The areas we can support you with are listed below.

Getting started

• • Setting up a new not-for-profit organisation.
  • Developing impactful projects in your community.
  • Finding funding.
  • Writing your first funding application.
  • Understanding the fundamentals of managing funding and projects.
  • Promoting your organisation.

Building and progressing

• • Strengthening funding applications.
  • Developing impact data frameworks.
  • Diversifying your income.
  • Building robust governance (policy development and reviews, safeguarding support, etc).
  • Improving your reach.

Growing and thriving

• • Developing your long-term strategy.
  • Growing your infrastructure – your team, your work, your voice.
  • Building resilience in your organisation through core funding, risk management and business continuity planning.
  • Collaborating and influencing the sector.

Want to have a free one-to-one session?

Contact the Development Desk. We can meet in person, online or over the phone.

Book an appointment

• Book an online appointment using our booking form.
• Phone the team on 020 7923 1962.
• Email the team.

What to expect from the sessions

Group workshops and events

These sessions often bring together lots of organisations from across Hackney and the City. These will generally focus on a particular topic or theme, and they are a great way to get to know fellow organisations and learn from each other.

We will cover a number of topics. Contact us if you have suggestions for workshops. Email us

One-to-one sessions

Sometimes sitting down with someone to discuss your thoughts, ideas and challenges is a great way to problem-solve. In one-to-one sessions, we will look at your organisation together, discussing where you are right now, where you would like to go in future and the best, achievable steps to get you there.

Linking into the wider sector

We also want to encourage organisations to feed into the wider sector.
We will support you to:

• Understand the local landscape, including local organisations with similar aims and potential partners.
• Develop tools to manage your organisation’s finances.
• Broker partnerships and consortiums with other organisations.
• Tap into local assets and resources.

Other ways to get involved with Hackney CVS

Events and training Hackney CVS – we run training sessions on a wide range of topics for organisations. All training that we deliver is free to attend.

Hackney CVS newsletter has weekly updates on funding opportunities and local voluntary and community sector news.

The Neighbourhoods Programme hosts Action Groups in each of City and Hackney’s eight NHS Neighbourhoods. These meet regularly to take practical steps to address two agreed health and wellbeing priorities in the local area.

About the Development Team

Azi, Anoushka and Stephen (pictured above, from left to right)

The Development Team is made up of Azi, Anoushka and Stephen (pictured above, from left to right) who have been brought together to work with organisations to offer a place for support, a listening ear and an intention to empower groups to become strong and sustainable

Stephen is Hackney CVS’s Development Manager. He’s spent over twenty years working in and being involved with voluntary and community organisations, at grassroots and national levels. He is a facilitator at heart, and he genuinely believes that voluntary and community organisations can make a real difference to people’s lives.

Anoushka is the Hackney CVS Development Coordinator. Anoushka has worked in a variety of organisations, both big and small, across the voluntary sector, working across mental health, equality and diversity and disability. She is fiercely passionate about bringing power, agency and wealth back to communities.

Azi is the City Network Coordinator, working to connect organisations based in or working in the City of London, co-create a meaningful organisational development programme and help organisations access the wider support offered by Hackney CVS. He brings first-hand experience of the challenges facing communities and voluntary organisations.