We are hosting a one-hour Meet the Funder event with Ian Wilson from The Vernon Charitable Foundation.

Vernon Building Society has a long history of giving back to Stockport and Poynton communities. So, in our centenary year, we're excited to announce the launch of Vernon Charitable Foundation. Through grants of up to £5,000, the Foundation will support local charities providing public benefit in Stockport, Cheshire and Greater Manchester, focused on the prevention and relief of poverty and community development.

Please note, the Vernon Charitable Foundation only funds registered charities - you are more than welcome to attend if you are a VCFSE group that is considering becoming a charity, but please bear in mind that you won't be able to apply for funding until your registered chartiable status has been approved by the Charity Commission.

To find out more and register your attendance, click here.

The meeting of members of Stockport Armed Forces Community Organisation.

To RSVP please contact maurice.perkins@outlook.com

Your open forum to share any challenges, concerns, insight and learnings with others in the sector.

Chaired by your Community Engagement Lead, John.

Register here.

The exercise will be focussed on humanitarian assistance and the role of the VCSEF sector in supporting category 1 and 2 responders. The day will be informative and interactive with a combination of tabletop and live play. We will also hear from key partners and incorporate learning from them into the approach.

Category 1 and 2 responders, VCFSE partners and Community Emergency Response Volunteers are welcome to attend.  

Full joining instructions will be sent out a week before the exercise.

Register here.

RSVP - to book a place contact info@ageukstockport.org.uk  / 0161 480 1211

An opportunity to share, learn and celebrate diverse culture music from around the world!

Join to honour the incredible achievements and contributions that enrich our diverse community.

Register here

Discover how to turn numbers into narratives at this interactive Peer Learning Network. The Greater Manchester Data Peer Learning Network is open to anyone working with data (monitoring & reporting) in the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise sector in Greater Manchester. In today’s data-driven world, telling compelling stories with data more than just a skill—it’s how we can inspire action, attract funding, and drive our missions as VCFSE organisations.

Register here

Flourish Together have launched a series of affordable training to boost skills, knowledge for staff, volunteers, and team leaders from community groups, charities, and social enterprises who want to create a safer environment for their teams and service users.

Register here

RSVP here

Are you interested in gaining bid-writing skills or refreshing your knowledge? Our three-hour interactive workshop aims to help you improve your confidence and increase your chances of successful funding bids, through:

• Knowledge of key funding terms

• Better understanding of funding eligibility and criteria

• Knowledge on how to answer key questions for every bid

• Top tips to put into practice

This workshop will be a mixture of presentation, interactive activities, and group discussion. It is aimed at those working, volunteering, or starting out in the VCFSE (voluntary, community and faith-based groups, and social enterprise organisations) sector in Stockport.

Register your place here.

Join the Sector 3 Team and Jilla Burgess-Allen from Stockport Public Health to break down the Live Well Fund.

In it's first year, the grant is aimed to fund ‘projects addressing entrenched health inequalities affecting global majority communities, socially isolated individuals, and children and young people, with priority to groups and projects working in areas of deprivation within Stockport.’ 

At this Meet the Funder event, you’ll be able to find out more on:

• Eligibility criteria

• Application Process

• Decision making

You will then have time to ask any questions you may have about the fund, advice on how to apply, and anything else!

Find out more and book your place here.

Join the Income Club: Empowering Voluntary and Community Groups to Thrive!

Are you part of a Voluntary, Community, Faith-based, Social Enterprise (VCFSE) or charitable group in Stockport, navigating the world of funding and resources? The Income Club is for you.

Through our conversations with Voluntary & Community organisations, we understand that navigating the funding landscape can be at often times isolating and lonely. With this in mind, Kaylie and Charlotte are running a monthly Income Club to bring anyone involved in fundraising together.

Find out more and book your place here.

As requested by the sector, GM Moving, in collaboration with Sector 3, Seashell, and Breakthrough UK, is offering a series of workshops designed to reduce barriers and create inclusive volunteering experiences for voluntary & community organisations across Greater Manchester.

These workshops provide essential training and resources for organisations who want to attract more volunteers and improve disability inclusion in their volunteer workforce. By participating, you’ll gain practical insights on recruitment, training, and supporting volunteers with a disability.

Workshop 1 focuses on the Social Model, Foundations for Change and Action Planning, and is delivered by Breakthough UK.

Find out more and reserve your place here.

We are hosting a one-hour Meet the Funder event with Gin from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

At this Meet the Funder event, you’ll be able to find out more on:

• Eligibility criteria

• Application Process

• Decision making

You will then have time to ask any questions you may have about the fund, advice on how to apply, and anything else!

Find out more and register here.

PACT will be hosting their upcoming Stockport Parent Carer Forum SEND Information Day later this month. This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with other parents, carers and families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

For more information email events@pactstockport.co.uk or call 07786101072

The first of the monthly equity network drop-ins is a chance for members of Stockport’s Equity Networks to share recent successes, challenges and skills. Each month will have members of the Sector 3 team on hand to talk about opportunities and training and other external guests will be sharing information and opportunities for co-working.

More information about Stockport’s Networks available here.

For more information and to RSVP please contact john.clarke@sector3sk.org

RSVP via lisa.crank@pureinnovations.co.uk

Join the Groundswell Project for a unique interactive 1.5 hour workshop designed for community groups to combat hateful ideologies and build resilience. This workshop is a multimedia workshop that combines academic knowledge, personal experience and testimonies.

This is a free event.

Register your attendance here.

Your monthly online forum to share learnings, meet others in the sector and work through challenges together.

Facilitated by the team at Sector 3.

Register here.

Essential training for anyone who cooks, prepares or handles food as part of their work.

To book a space email customer.training@stockporthomes.org or call 0161 474 2862

We are hosting a one-hour Meet the Funder event with Lizzy McDowell (Kao Data) and Vicky Bloomfield (Sector 3) who are facilitating the brand new Kao Data SEED Fund.

The 'Kao Data SEED Fund’ aims to support innovation, community-led projects, and initiatives that improve local sustainability and encourage enterprising within Stockport's communities.

There will be two grant pots, £500-1000 and £1000-2500, available for any eligible VCFSE working in Stockport.

At this Meet the Funder event, you’ll be able to find out more on:

• Eligibility criteria

• Application Process

• Decision making

You will then have time to ask any questions you may have about the fund, advice on how to apply, and anything else!

This event is aimed at those working, volunteering, or starting out in the VCFSE (voluntary, community and faith-based groups, and social enterprise organisations) sector in Stockport.

Register your attendance here.

This focused training session exploring how Artificial Intelligence can support and enhance your bid-writing process.

During this event, you’ll learn:

• The Benefits and Considerations of AI: Gain a clear understanding of AI’s potential and its limitations

• Top Tips for Using AI: Discover practical advice on integrating AI into your workflow

• Using AI for Bid-Writing Support: Participate in an activity designed to demonstrate how AI can streamline and strengthen your proposals.

This session is perfect for anyone looking to better understand AI’s role in bid-writing and how it can be used effectively.

Find out more and register your place here.

This is a new 8-week course funded by Sector 3 in partnership with Walthew House, starting every Tuesday evening from January 14th 2025, and will run until March 4th 2025. Each session will be 2 hours long, starting at 6pm and finishing at 8pm. As

this 8-week course is funded, we are charging a £50 refundable cover fee. Once you have completed the course, the £50 will be refunded back to you. Please note, the total amount you will be refunded is £50 (we are unable to refund eventbrite fees).

Find out more and register here.

Join Ayisatu from Flourish Together for a skills session on the fundamentals of building community using email marketing.

Bring along your own digital device if you have one : phone, laptop, tablet etc with Instagram, Linked In and Facebook downloaded.

Register here

Using coaching support and getting started with the social business model canvas. Helping to avoid the pitfalls of 2025 and boosting focus & direction for an impactful year.

Led by Proper Good Stockport leads Simone Callaghan & Jo McGrath.

Register your place here.

Welcome to our gathering for Volunteer Managers in Stockport! Join us for a dynamic exchange of ideas, best practices, and networking opportunities with fellow professionals in the field. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, this event is perfect for sharing insights and building connections. Don't miss out on this chance to learn, grow, and collaborate with like-minded peers. Let's come together to make a positive impact through volunteering!

Themes this time will be around inclusivity in volunteering and how you can ensure you are supporting volunteers. Guest speaker is Katy Ollerenshaw from Breakthrough UK.

Find out more and register your attendance here.

Monthly meeting of the network. The January meeting will be setting goals for the next 18 months

Register here

Find out more and register your attendance here.