As we conclude our “Get Ready for 2026” updates, we’re sharing a free, downloadable 2026 calendar fetauring important dates, bank holidays and reminders.

Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence were hot topics in 2025, with further legislation announcements expected in 2026 and beyond.  In this article, we summarise the latest developments and provide useful resources.

We have a limited number of 20-minute 1-2-1 sessions with fundraising experts at ABL Health to offer to VCSE organisations in Gloucestershire.

These 1-2-1 sessions can be used to troubleshoot an issue you're having, such as:

- Getting feedback on a draft bid

- Help identifying best-fit funders

- Support with demonstrating impact

You can submit an Expression of Interest here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/quickfixfundraisingEOI/

As part of our December “Get Ready for 2026” Programme, our fourth focus area is Local Government Reorganisation.

You can catch up on recent developments and find out about our upcoming “Local Government Reorganisation Update for VCSE Organisations” webinar, provided by Gloucestershire County Council.

We're looking for three small VCSE organisations to attend a special test session of the "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Small Charities" webinar on Thursday 15th January from 10am - 1pm.

As part of our December “Get Ready for 2026” Programme, our third focus area is data management.

In June 2025, the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA) was introduced, phasing amendments to data legislation between June 2025 and June 2026.

The DUAA amends, but does not replace, the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).  

It’s expected that some key changes will be introduced in January 2026, although no firm dates have yet been provided.

We’ve set out the changes likely to affect the VCSE sector in this article.

We are delighted to announce that our first cohort of 50 Inclusion Allies has now completed the Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance Inclusion Allies Programme.

These dedicated individuals, drawn from across the county’s charities, community groups and social enterprises, have developed new knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to embed equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) into their organisations and across the sector.

We are delighted to announce that our first cohort of 50 Inclusion Allies has now completed the Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance Inclusion Allies Programme.

As part of our December “Get Ready for 2026” Programme, our second focus area is employment legislation.

The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) will be rolled out in phases during 2026 and 2027. The ERB continues to be considered by MPs and the House of Lords, meaning that Royal Assent will come later than planned.

The government has published a roadmap for when changes will come into effect, which is set out in this article, but some abiguity still remains.

As part of our December “Get Ready for 2026” Programme, our first focus area is charity finance.

The Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) has recently been updated, and SORP 2026 will apply to reporting periods starting on or after 1 January 2026. Changes have been made to lessen the reporting burden on smaller charities, and to better align with FRS102.

Is your organisation a member of Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance?

Membership is changing...

WINTER HAF and HAP returns!  Please help to share with all your families and carers as there are some fun things to participate in, all children must be registered prior to booking.  Bookings go live tomorrow (1^st December at 12pm) but you can see what events there are as of now: (https://familyhubs.gloucestershire.gov.uk/events-haf)

The Gloucestershire Mental Health Forums are where a mix of people come together to discuss actions that could improve the lives of people affected by mental ill health.

Earlier today (26 November 2025), the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered the Autumn Budget, presenting it as a plan to cut NHS waiting lists, reduce national debt, and ease the cost of living. What does this mean for Gloucestershire households and the local VCSE sector?

With the role of neighbourhoods featuring across government policy, NAVCA has released a report today into the value and importance of neighbourhoods.

Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be abolished at the end of the next electoral cycle in 2028. 

The NHS in Gloucestershire is inviting residents to share their views as it launches a new period of engagement looking at local health priorities and how services should develop in the coming years.

The English Indices of Deprivation 2025 was released on 30 October 2025.

The Indices of Deprivation can be used to identify the most deprived neighbourhoods and relatively compare areas across England, explore the types of deprivation, and compare larger areas (such as Local Authorities)

Gloucester Foodbank manager Vicky Ranford, pictured above, talks about food security in our latest spotlight

To mark International Men’s Day on 19 November we thought it timely to spotlight men’s mental health. Brandon Wood from Sunflowers Suicide Support suggests ways of supporting friends who may be in need.