VA Briefings
VA Briefings are short, succinct publications which provide up-to-date and relevant information for voluntary arts groups and those who work in them. Briefings are listed below in reverse order of publication.
VA aims to use Plain English in all its publications. This approach keeps jargon to a minimum and uses simple, friendly language, spelling out acronyms and changing arts and policy terminology into simple terms where possible. For more information on Plain English see The Plain English Campaign – www.plainenglish.co.uk.
• Most briefings are available from this site in PDF
• PDF – to read briefings saved in PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. For a free download go to www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
• Accessibility: If you have trouble reading the PDF or require any briefing or publication in an alternative format please contact us at info@voluntaryarts.org.
Click on the titles for a summary and link to the PDF Briefing:
152 Micro-volunteering (Mar 2012)
151 Using photography (Mar 2012)
150 Crowdfunding for voluntary arts and crafts groups (Dec 2011)
149 Making your performances accessible to people with hearing and sight loss (Dec 2011)
148 Creating a Twitter presence (Dec 2011)
147 Creating a YouTube presence (Sept 2011)
146 Crisis management and disaster recovery (Sept 2011)
VAScotland Briefing – Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (Aug 2011)
145 The future of cheques (Jun 2011)
144 Health and safety for lone and remote workers (Jun 2011)
143 Creating a Facebook presence (Jun 2011)
142 Commissioning – an opportunity for the voluntary arts? (Mar 2011)
141 Finding a venue – some new ideas (Mar 2011)
140 Community media as platform for the voluntary arts and crafts (Dec 2010)
139 Making the most of Corporate Social Responsibility (Dec 2010)
138 Welcoming newcomers to your group (Dec 2010)
137 Making the most of your telephone (Sept 2010)
136 Getting charitable status – an update (Sept 2010)
135 Gift Aid and tax effective giving (June 2010)
134 Welcoming speakers of different languages (June 2010)
133 Putting your arts or crafts group on the map – ten ways to get noticed (March 2010)
132 Child Protection Part IV – Children and vulnerable groups (March 2010)
132x Child Protection – Garda Vetting and the Arts (Republic of Ireland) ( March 2010)
131 Community Benefit – measuring the impact of arts and crafts activity (Dec 2009)
130 Developing European links and opportunities (Dec 2009)
129 Taking the next step – from informal group to registered organisation (Sept 2009)
128 Events checklist – disability and access (Sept 2009)
127 Working with groups of other art and craft forms (June 2009)
127x Understanding and creating accessible PDFs (June 2009)
126 Engaging with freelancers (June 2009)
125 Fostering a long-term relationship with occasional volunteers (March 2009)
124 How to make sure your group is still here in ten years’ time (March 2009)
124x Making your group even more environmentally-friendly (March 2009)
123 Free and low-cost IT tools (Dec 2008)
122 Reaching out to new audiences (Dec 2008)
121 Incorporation and the lastest developments in company law (Sept 2008)
120 Voluntary and community sector jargon (Sept 2008)
119 Useful information and contacts for setting up and running a voluntary arts group (June 2008)
118 Insurance for voluntary arts groups (June 2008)
117 Social enterprise (March 2008)
116 Trustees and fundraising (March 2008)
115 Attracting business sponsors (March 2008)
114 The latest developments in web technology (Dec 2007)
113 Welcoming people with a learning disability to the voluntary arts (Dec 2007)
112 Why should I become a trustee? (Dec 2007)
111 How inclusive are you? A checklist for voluntary arts groups (Sept 2007)
110 Whose Board? Whose Agenda? Including disabled and deaf people in your management committees (Sept 2007)
109 Child Protection Part III – An Update (Sept 2007)
108 Health and Safety in Offices – Assessing the Risk (June 2007)
107 Annual Reports (June 2007)
106 Community Interest Companies (Mar 2007)
105 Health and Safety in Offices – Fire Safety (Mar 2007)
104 Older People and the Voluntary Arts (Mar 2007)
103 Health and Safety in Offices – Electrical Equipment (Dec 2006)
102 Accounting for Worth (Dec 2006, 8 pgs)
101 What’s happening with the Licensing Act 2003? (Dec 2006)
100 Lets Celebrate! Recognising and rewarding our worth (Sept 2006)
99 Lobbying politicians and policy makers: an introduction to influencing (Sept 2006)
98 Consultation – making it work for you (June 2006)
97 What do I need to know about Copyright? (June 2006)
96 Networking; not just nattering (Mar 2006)
94 Cultural Diversity and the Voluntary Arts (Dec 2005)
93 Displays and Exhibitions for Voluntary Arts Organisations (Dec 2005)
92 Computerised Accounting (Sept 2005)
91 How to Write a Funding Application (Sept 2005)
90 Young Adults & Voluntary Arts (June 2005)
89 Cashflow Forecasts (June 2005)
88 Glossary of Accounting and Financial Terms (June 2005)
87 Applying to Trustfunds (Mar 2005)
86 Making your website for everyone (Mar 2005)
85 Taking the Voluntary Arts into Education (Dec 2004)
84 Artists in Hospitals: Guidelines for the Voluntary Arts (Dec 2004)
83 Child Protection: Part II – Putting Child Protection into Practice (Sept 2004)
82 Child Protection: Part I – An Introductory Guide (Sept 2004)
81 Effective Meetings (July 2004)
80 Monitoring & evaluation (July 2004)
79 Licensing Act 2003 (Mar 2004)
78 Creating a Financial Risk Policy (Mar 2004)
77 How to.. write a press release (Dec 2003)
76 A guide to Good Design – for printed promotional material (Dec 2003)
75 Planning a Marketing Campaign (Dec 2003)
74 Publicity Explained (Dec 2003)
73 Writing for the Web (Dec 2003)
72 Risk management for charities – a good opportunity (Sept 2003)
70 Charity Trustees – what do they do? Part II: managerial, legal & financial roles & responsibilities (Mar 2003)
69 Charity Trustees – what do they do? Part I – An Overview (4pgs)
68 Organising a weekend event (6pgs)
67 Risk assessment for event organisers – a beginners guide (4pgs)
66 Recognition–one of 4 briefings on volunteering to celebrate voluntary artists & Volunteers Week (4pgs)
65 Reward – one of 4 briefings on volunteering to celebrate voluntary artists and Volunteers Week (4pgs)
64 Retain – one of 4 briefings on volunteering to celebrate voluntary artists and Volunteers Week (4pgs)
63 Recruit – one of 4 briefings on volunteering to celebrate voluntary artists and Volunteers Week (4pgs)
62 Local Strategic Partnerships improving quality of life (4pgs)
61 Just how safe are you? Health and Safety for voluntary arts organisations (4pgs)
60 ’Statement of Purpose’ – your mission (4 pgs)
59 Value and Values in the voluntary arts – by Francois Matarasso (6pgs)
58 Participatory Planning – Involving your stakeholders (4pgs)
57 Effective Management Committees (4pgs)
56 Telephone conferences – Networking made easy (4pgs)
55 Constitutions Clarified (4pgs)
54 Gift Aid – making subscriptions go even further (2pgs)
53 Creating Clear Print – reaching the blind and partially sighted (4pgs)
52 How do we deal with goods and services – 2: Accounting for Goods & Services (6pgs)
51 How do we deal with goods and services – 1: Acquiring Goods and Services (6pgs)
50 Action Learning – an introduction (4pgs)
49 Make change work for you (4pgs)
48 Taking on paid staff – How do we do it? – II. Selection & Induction (4pgs)
47 Taking on paid staff – How do we do it? – I. Recruitment (4pgs)
46 Data Protection Act 1998 (8pgs)
45 How do I create an Equal Opportunities Policy? (4pgs)
44 Disability Discrimination Act Part III – how will this affect arts organisations? (4pgs)
43 Active Communities – voluntary arts doing it already (cultural volunteering) (4pgs)
42 Culture Makes Communities (ground breaking speech by Francois Matarasso) (4pgs)
33 Putting the Voluntary Arts on the Agenda (devolution) (4pgs)
32 So, What’s So Great About the Voluntary Arts? 50 Points to make to Policy Makers & Funders (4pgs)
28 Eventful Planning – A Practical Checklist for Arts Events (4pgs)
27 Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Statistics for Arts Participation (4pgs)
26 Who Me, A Treasurer? Financial Responsibilities and Duties (4pgs)
24 Increasing and Maintaining Your Membership (4pgs)
23 Incorporation (4pgs)
22 Getting Charitable Status (2pgs)
21 Making Committees Work for You (4pgs)
19 Designing and Producing Your Newsletter (4pgs)
15 Strategic Planning (4pgs)
14 Writing Words that Work (4pgs)
12 Raising Funds Locally (4pgs)
11 Get Into Print – Working With the Press (4pgs)
10 Access – Good Access Makes Life Easier for Everyone (2pgs)
9 Feasibility Studies (8pgs)