Microsoft has extended its software donation programme so that Charities registered with the Charity Commission, Charitable Housing Associations registered with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act and with HM Revenue & Customs confirmed charitable status can obtain free Microsoft software products at any time over a two year period.

The programme is being managed in the UK through CTXCHANGE. Visit their website to check your eligability and entitlement.

Solihull based Health Care recruitment company, Ogrady Peyton has some high quality training equipment they are no longer using and would like to find a suitable local charity/organisation who could benefit from this.

They have rectangular tables with tubular legs that can be arranged in many configurations.  There are blue upholstered tube frame chairs that go with these tables.

They also have a number of lecture room chairs with a sliding seat and a writing surface that flips over from one side.

Contact Linda Pool on 0845 310 7310 ext 7451 or email her on linda.pool@ogradypeyton.co.uk

Olton Tavern on Lode Lane can provide accommodation for meetings and can seat up to 40 people. There is no charge but they ask that any refreshments are bought from them at cost price.

They are open from 11.00am in the morning until 11.00pm at night.

To book, call the Olton Tavern on 0121 742 0515

Social Welfare Training has produced a very useful poster as a guide to benefits for 2011-2012.

Download the poster here

We have a good qualty desk that is 47 inches long x 31.5 inches wide and 28” high. Collection only from The Priory, Church Hill Road, Solihull, B91 3LF. Contact Tina on 0121 711 3148 to arrange.

Finding the right conference venue can be difficult for your potential customers, especially when
they may be looking for one with a social, environmental, charitable or community benefit.

At Think Venue we have made it simple for those customers to find you!

Think Venue is an online venue finding service of conference venues representing Third Sector
organisations that re-invest their profits rather than delivering them to shareholders. The
initiative has proved extremely successful in Birmingham and it is now being rolled-out in
Solihull.

Think Venue lists everything from small community spaces, to church halls and large venuse like the NEC & IAA

The cost of listing your venue is as little as £40 per year and, if you mention SUSTAiN, the first 3 months are free and you will get 15 months for the price of 12.

The Venues search function on our website already links directly to Think Venue making it even more likely your venue will get found.

This is a very clever social enterprise idea and we would encourage you to give it a go. You have nothing to lose.

Think Venue Solihull Promotion Leaflet

Visit Think Venue and get your meeting room listed

Solihull Council has lots of ring binder and Lever arch folders at Keepers Lodge in Chelmsley Wood looking for a home.

If interested please contact Emma Jones on 0121 788 5374 or email ejones@solihull.gov.uk

Are you eligible for NCVO’s Community membership?

If you are part of a charity or community organisation with an annual income of less than £10,000, you are eligible for NCVO membership with no fee.

Visit the NCVO Community Members site for details.

Ramada Hotel (also known as The George) in the centre of Solihull is able to offer an exceptional deal for your event.  The Courtyard Suite room will accommodate up to 200 people for an event and is offered FREE Friday and Saturday evenings to local organisations through SUSTAiN when available. Food is offered at reduced rates if required, bar open free of charge.

What’s the catch? – None except the room is offered at 4 weeks late availability notice for a minimum of 100 people with the bar open.

How Do I respond?

Contact the Ramada (details below) to see the facilities, plan the event, have everything ready-to-go at the press of a button, and then register your interest with Ramada. When the Courtyard Suite is available you will be contacted. If it’s do-able for you when contacted then have a great event.

Call Ros Wilson or Laura Moore on 0844 815 9011 or email csales.solihull@ramadajarvis.co.uk for all the details and to discuss how this would be a great way to have a charity fundraiser with very little overhead.

The Charities Evaluation Service has produced a new guide called ‘Monitoring & Evaluation on a Shoestring’

The guide explains how to gather evidence and what to monitor and how to carry out an evaluation without spending huge amounts of money in the process.

Download Your Free Copy Here