North Devon Voluntary Services - NDVS

04/09/2026

🟠🌿 NDVS Friday Round‑Up 🟠

It may have been a short week, but the NDVS team packed in plenty! 🟠

Just some headline news, but the team will be busy updating socials from their perspective

🟠 Board Workshop
We continued our organisational development and future‑proofing journey yesterday - huge thanks to Michelle McCartan for guiding us through it. The team picks this up again next week.

🟠 Year 3 Lottery Planning
Our final‑phase plan for The National Lottery Community Fund project is now ready for team sign‑off. Year 3 will focus on community intelligence, quieter voices, learning and legacy.

🟠 Devon Connect Funding Secured
A real highlight; this support helps us keep building vital community infrastructure across Devon.

🟠 Events & Awards
Jill has been busy with our Annual Community Awards and our upcoming VCSE Awareness Event.
Join us here:
👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vcse-awareness-event-local-government-nhs-mental-health-initiatives-tickets-1996996402999?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile
VCSE awareness

🟠 Volunteer Management Forum
Louise and Sammy delivered another brilliant quarterly forum, strengthening connections across our VCSE community.

🟠 Team Time
With fewer meetings, the core team finally had space to sit together, reflect and align - always where the best ideas emerge.

And as for me… I’ve taken NDVS “up north” for a couple of days (if it’s good enough for the Prime Minister!) - mostly to spend time with the other half of my heart.💙

Wishing everyone a restful weekend.

To those we serve: thank you. It’s an honour to enable those who do good to flourish. 🟠🌿

Marie - Chief Officer

A VCSE discussion & networking event exploring Local Government Reorganisation, Integrated Neighbourhoods & Mental Health Shared Pathways

03/09/2026

Great opportunity for right person

Such an awesome org making such a difference

🧡🫶🏻🧡

👀 We are looking for a new team member, Charity Bookkeeper and Payroll Administrator, Monday-Friday 9.30am-12.30pm, 15 hours a week.

Job description:

🧾 Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Charity Bookkeeper and Payroll Administrator to join our dynamic team. This vital role combines financial stewardship with payroll management, ensuring our charitable organisation maintains accurate financial records and processes employee payments and pension efficiently. The ideal candidate will bring experience of nonprofit accounting, strong organisational skills, and proficiency with Xero accounting software. This position offers an exciting opportunity to join the Age Well team, we are a small group of professional people dedicated to helping our older community age well.

💪 Duties:

Manage all bookkeeping activities, including recording income and expenditure, using Xero accounting software .
Reconcile bank statements regularly to ensure accuracy of financial data and maintain up-to-date financial records.
Oversee accounts payable processes by verifying invoices, processing payments, and maintaining vendor records.
Prepare detailed financial reports for internal review and external audits, highlighting key financial metrics and compliance status.
Administer payroll functions by processing employee wages, pension and deductions accurately and on time.
Ensure compliance with payroll regulations and maintain confidentiality of sensitive employee information.
Ensure compliance with Charity Commission submissions.
Maintain organised documentation of all financial transactions, payroll and staff holiday records, and supporting documents .
🏅 Qualifications:

Proven experience with Xero accounting software.
Strong understanding of accounts payable procedures and payroll administration.
Familiarity with nonprofit accounting practices is preferred.
Excellent attention to detail with the ability to analyse financial data critically.
Effective communication skills to collaborate with team members and external vendors.
Ability to prioritise tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of relevant regulations related to payroll processing and charitable organisation finances is a plus.
Join us to contribute your expertise in bookkeeping and payroll management within a vibrant organisation committed to making a positive difference!

💌 To apply: please email your CV to: [email protected]
📅 Closing Date: Wednesday 16th September

03/09/2026

💙 Help us make sure every voice is heard

The Northern Devon Community Life Survey closes tomorrow, and this is your final opportunity to take part.

We've been delighted by the number of responses received so far, but we want to ensure the survey reflects the experiences of people from all walks of life across Northern Devon.

If you haven't already completed it, please take a few minutes to share your views.

👉 https://letstalk.northdevon.gov.uk/community-life-survey

And if you've already taken part, thank you. Could you help us one last time by sharing this post with friends, family, neighbours and community groups?

Together, we can ensure the richest possible picture of life in Northern Devon.

💙

02/09/2026

This could be a real win – win for somebody 🧡🫶🧡

Age Well - awesome asset to our community

Thanks all you do 🤞

☎️ We NEED VOLUNTEERS on Mondays & Wednesdays to make someones week with just a phone call💜

A familiar friendly voice and the opportunity to put the world to rights makes an enormous difference in the lives of many of our older North Devon residents. We offer telephone befrienders to help make a difference in someones lives and we desperately need a few extra kind voices to offer this service.

As a Telephone Befriender, you’ll provide a regular friendly call to an older person who may be feeling lonely or isolated — offering conversation, companionship and that all-important human connection. You don’t need to be an expert. simply friendly, a good listener and enjoy talking to people, you could be exactly who we need.

If you have a little time on either of these days and would love the chance to share tips, tricks and life experiences whilst enjoying listening to the wonder of others, please get in touch - contact Jill - our volunteer manager on:

📞 01271 445134
📧 [email protected]

Volunteer. Connect. Make a difference in North Devon

01/09/2026

📣 Easy Fundraising Workshop – Donations from Retailers

Join NDVS and easyfundraising.org.uk for a free online workshop showing you how your organisation can use easyfundraising to receive unrestricted funding on an ongoing basis — simply by supporters shopping online through participating retailers.

The session will cover:

✅ How easyfundraising works
✅ How to get your organisation set up
✅ How to make the most of the platform
✅ Plenty of opportunity to ask questions

It’s suitable for all types of third-sector organisations, including voluntary groups, CICs, social enterprises, charities, churches, schools and sports clubs.

🗓️ Thursday 29 October
⏰ 10am–11am
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Book your free place:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/easy-fundraising-workshop-donations-from-retailers-registration-1998415605873?aff=oddtdtcreator

If your organisation is looking for simple ways to bring in a little more unrestricted income, this is well worth an hour of your time. 🙌

👉 Please share with other voluntary and community organisations who might find this useful!

01/09/2026

Fundraising volunteers needed - Appledore RNLI Fundraising Events

☕ RNLI Volunteer Fundraiser Coffee Morning ☕

Are you interested in supporting the RNLI and helping to raise vital funds that save lives at sea?

The RNLI Appledore Lifeboat Station is hosting a Coffee Morning for new volunteer fundraisers and would love to welcome anyone interested in getting involved.

📅 Saturday 19th September
⏰ 10:30am - 12:30pm
📍 RNLI Appledore Lifeboat Station

Come along for a friendly chat, meet the team, enjoy a coffee, and find out how you can support this incredible lifesaving charity through fundraising.

01/09/2026

We have been asked to share this opportunity -
Brainstorm Your Brand Comms

A Problem-solving Q&A Workshop for Social Impact Organisations in South-west England, Wales & Northern Ireland

This pro bono, half-day workshop, delivered by brand strategy specialist, Adam Piggot, has been specially created for social impact organisations. Structured around questions that you bring to the session, it’s designed to generate ideas and suggestions that will help you address key issues around the communication of your brand.

The workshop takes place via Zoom on Thursday 24 September from 9.30am-12 noon. It’s completely free of charge, and in all, six places are available.

To find out more and book your place, please visit:

https://adampiggot.com/bybc-24-sep-26

27/08/2026

Are you passionate about fostering stronger, thriving and far more inclusive and accessible communities? We are seeking a Community Developer to help enhance the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector across North Devon and Torridge.

You will be working with the team of place-based Community Developers and Connectors to help discover and remove the barriers, promote accessibility and ensure services are available to all.

If you’re motivated by community engagement, partnership working, inclusivity, diminishing inequalities, relationship-building and creating lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.

For more info & to apply visit - https://www.devonjobs.gov.uk/job/Community%20Developer%20-%20North%20Devon%20Voluntary%20Services-11/

For paper copies contact NDVS on 01271 866300 or email [email protected]

Thanks to One Ilfracombe for their support with this 🙏

27/08/2026

Calling all charities, community groups and social enterprises (VCSE) based in North Devon

🚨 VCSE Sector Awareness Event – Local Government, NHS & Mental Health Initiatives 🚨

Significant changes are taking place across local government, health and mental health services.

Join us for a VCSE sector discussion and networking event exploring:

✅ Local Government Reorganisation & Devolution
✅ Integrated Neighbourhoods
✅ Devon Mental Health Alliance Shared Pathways

This event is designed to inform, engage and create space for discussion, helping VCSE organisations better understand what these developments may mean for communities whilst capturing questions, concerns, opportunities and ideas from across the sector.

Whilst we may not have all the answers, we believe it is important that the VCSE sector is part of the conversation from the outset.

We're grateful for the support of partners including the Devon Mental Health Alliance, TTVS, Torbay, Plymouth and Devon VCSE Assembly, Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority and North Devon Council

📅 Wednesday 16 September 2026
📍 Grow Forward Project
⏰ Registration from 9.30am

Book your place here: 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vcse-awareness-event-local-government-nhs-mental-health-initiatives-tickets-1996996402999?aff=oddtdtcreator

A VCSE discussion & networking event exploring Local Government Reorganisation, Integrated Neighbourhoods & Mental Health Shared Pathways