Peer-to-peer Fundraising Support Group Meeting 5

Thank you to those of you who attended Our VAI Peer-to-Peer Funding Support Group Meeting 4 and shared your experiences so openly. It was very well attended, with great engagement and lively discussion throughout. The contributions of Sophie and Sarah from The National Lottery Community Fund, along with Michael and his team from the North London Waste Authority, were valuable and are sincerely appreciated.

Feedback from attendees highlighted how these sessions are becoming more than just a space to learn and share skills. It is also developing into a place where organisations connect, build relationships, and start meaningful conversations around collaboration and networking. Many participants shared on how useful it was to hear from others, exchange ideas, and learn from shared experiences.

Feedback from our meeting 4   attendee
” Thank you so much Tsigereda, it was so helpful the meeting today.  I learnt so much and will liaise with the other trustees and the two funders I met today at the meeting.”

Meeting 5 will take place on

Date: Monday,  9^th March 2026

Meeting Time: 10:30 -12:30 (registration start at 10:15)

Venue: Voluntary action Islington, 2^nd Floor, 200 A Pentonville Road, London  N1 9JP

Scarlet Dempsey from Islington council , Community Investment Lead will be joining us to explore ideas and share practical insights , with a particular focus on applications and what works well.

Register today using this link  

 What to expect:
This is not a training – it’s a space for networking , honest discussion, mutual support, and peer learning.

We’ll focus on:

• Sharing real funding applications – both successful and rejected
• Reflecting on what worked and what didn’t
• Talking openly about common challenges
• Exploring ways to diversify funding beyond grants

Bring along (if you’re comfortable):

• A past or current funding application
• A question, idea, or experience
• Yourself – whether you’re new to fundraising or well established, your perspective matters

Join other local organisations to share experiences, exchange practical fundraising tips , and building networking and collaboration opportunities through our peer-to-peer sessions

Upcoming session

We also have more discussion sessions and webinars planned over the next few months. Further details will be shared soon, but for now, please pencil these dates into your diary — more information will follow.