On the #63. The Monday Shot

The Weekly Tea, Monday 16th June 2025

Grab a strong brew as this week we highlight ‘Cereal Adjusters’ (see what I did there?!) of their application windows'; the Toy Trust and Victoria Wood Foundation.

Last year, the Toy Trust paused its funding applications after being inundated with requests. Charities were told to revisit the Trust’s page in January 2025 for news on when applications might reopen.

Following the release of a new set of deadlines, the Trust once again took action to manage demand and, on Thursday, closed its application window a full 24 hours before the published deadline.

For the second time in a year, the Victoria Wood Foundation has paused its application process, citing an overwhelming number of funding requests as the reason for its temporary closure, skipping it’s summer window.

To keep up to date with the grant-making shenanigans you can find The List here 👇

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The Extra Shot

Since publishing ‘A Very Quiet Crisis: Charity Sector Challenges and Closures in the UK’ in April, I have been closely following the unfolding developments at Oxfam. The charity’s recent financial struggles, job cuts, and controversial outsourcing plans have brought into sharp focus the wider pressures facing the sector. As Oxfam grapples with a significant drop in income, announces redundancies, and faces protests from staff and unions, its story serves as another example of the broader challenges confronting UK charities today. Through the lens of Oxfam’s ongoing situation, we can trace the interconnected pressures—financial, operational, and reputational—that increasingly threaten the stability and effectiveness of the sector as a whole.

Sources

Union petitions Oxfam over redundancies and alleged outsourcing plans -

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/union-petitions-oxfam-over-redundancies-and-alleged-outsourcing-plans.html#sthash.2OrHauSo.dpuf

Oxfam reports financial deficit as income drops by over £30m - https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/oxfam-reports-financial-deficit-as-income-drops-by-over-30m.html#sthash.5wCtNC1Q.dpuf

Oxfam to move to smaller HQ to cut costs

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/oxfam-to-leave-hq-as-it-relocates-to-cut-costs.html

Protests held at Oxfam’s offices against its redundancy and outsourcing plans

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/protests-held-at-oxfam-s-offices-against-its-redundancy-and-outsourcing-plans.html#sthash.do88pmXq.dpuf

Oxfam GB announces 265 jobs at risk in effort to save £10m

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/oxfam-gb-announces-265-jobs-at-risk-in-effort-to-save-10m.html#sthash.vCev4No9.dpuf

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The Coffee Shop

For Small Charity Week, I’m thrilled to be joining my friends at Fair Collective who are offering a whole heap of FREE webinars (with even more to be announced!) .

On Monday 23rd June I’ll be chatting ‘Learning from The List: the changing landscape for trusts & foundations’💚

Hope you can join us. If you can't make it, don't worry they'll be a recording available!

Dates for your Diary;

💚 11th June - Christmas In June - Fair Collective associate Sarah Goddard - FREE

💚24th June - Crisis, what crisis? - Fair Collective associate Nicola Upton - FREE

💚 25th June - Resilience in Fundraising: How to Adapt to a Changing Funding Landscape - Fair Collective associate Wonu Owoade - FREE -

💚 26th June - How to create effective video content using your phone for charities - The Saltways - FREE

💚 26th June - How to unlock your power to shape the sector - Fair Collective associate Emily Wilson-Smith - FREE - Sponsored by WRS Insurance Brokers

💚 27th June - Fill Your Cup - Wellbeing for activists with The Joyful Activists® FREE

💚 27th June - Steady in the Storm: Practical Leadership Tools for Uncertain Times - Fair Collecctive associate Flóra Raffai - FREE - Sponsored by Charity People | B Corp - https://lnkd.in/d2248-vH

More Fair Collective Small Charity Week content to be announced soon

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