Sports/Recreation/Leisure
Also see Umbrella bodies/networks.
- English Outdoor Council for organisations operating in the field of outdoor education, training and recreation.
- Activity Alliance for disability inclusion sport (was English Federation of Disability Sport).
- Chartered Institute for Management of Sport and Physical Activity.
- Leisure Studies Association.
- Sport and Recreation Alliance (was Central Council of Physical Recreation).
- Supporters Direct For those wanting to set up or develop supporters trusts for various types of sports clubs (not just football).
- Thrive ‘supports a network of specialist projects that run programmes of horticultural activity for training and employment, therapy and health.’
- Youth Hostels Association.
Arts and Heritage
- Action for Children’s Arts.
- Architectural Heritage Fund ‘Helping charities restore historic buildings’. Also a good links page.
- National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice – national body for the promotion of arts in Criminal Justice.
- ArtsForward free business support for arts and cultural orgaisations. Part of Business in the Community.
- Arts Council England covers museums and libraries too.
- Association of Community Theatre.
- Association of Festival Organisers Supporting live music, dance, song, arts, crafts and theatre (community/folk flavour).
- Association of Independent Museums.
- British Arts Festivals Association.
- British Federation of Festivals.
- Cinema for All (British Federation of Film Societies).
- Community Arts Partnership – Northern Ireland.
- Community Diversity and Equality Group of CILIP, the association for librarians, promotes equal access for all communities.
- Council for British Archaeology.
- Cultural Enterprise Office Scotland’s specialist Business Development Service for creative and cultural practitioners and businesses.
- Cultural Industries Development Agency, specialist support organisation for the creative and cultural sector, including but not restricted to not-for-profits (East London).
- Dance Resource Base Practical facilities, resources and services for those involved in dance and advocate to raise the profile of the art form, Northern Ireland.
- Disability Arts Online
- European Library Bringing together national resources.
- Federation of Worker Writers & Community Publishers. Umbrella organisation for writers’ groups and community publishers, who wish to share their skills and work with their communities.
- Heritage Alliance – umbrella group for the heritage sector.
- Heritage Trust Network – “drawing together and supporting the work of local heritage groups, whether constituted as building preservation trusts, community trusts or social enterprises”.
- Independent Theatre Council.
- Institute of Conservation Brings together various artistic and cultural conservation bodies.
- KSAM Knowledge bank supporting arts and cultural management.
- Making Music provides help to set up, run and develop music groups in communities.
- Museums Association Representing and supporting museum and gallery community.
- National Association of Youth Theatres Supporting the development of youth theatre.
- National Campaign for the Arts.
- National Federation of Artists’ Studio Providers for organisations providing affordable studios for artists in England.
- National Operatic and Dramatic Association The main representative body for amateur theatre in the UK, can provide help to set up a new group.
- National Rural Touring Forum for mainly rural touring schemes and rural arts development agencies in England and Wales.
- People Dancing (previously Foundation for Community Dance) UK development agency for access, participation and progression in dance for all.
- Sound Connections Consortium for London youth music training and development.
- Sound Sense Development agency for community music.
- Theatres Trust promotes the better protection of theatres. Good links page.
- TheatreNI.
- UK Centre for Carnival Arts in Luton.
- Voluntary Arts Network UK development agency for the voluntary arts. Mission is to ‘promote participation in the arts’. With a links page for other arts support organisations. Has separate wings for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland.
Education
including early years, playwork. Also see Children/Youth, and Umbrella/support bodies.
- Advisory Centre for Education offers information and support about education for 5-16 year olds.
- Education Otherwise Support and information for families whose children are being educated outside school.
- informal education homepage A source of info on informal education and lifelong learning.
- Early Years Alliance National educational charity and umbrella body, linking 14,000 community-based members.
- Early Years Scotland.
- Family and Childcare Trust “working since 1980 to promote high quality affordable childcare for all”.
- Learning Link Scotland is an intermediary body for voluntary organisations engaged in adult education.
- Mentoring and Befriending Foundation is the national strategic body for mentoring and befriending.
- National Association for Small Schools The voice for those who believe that small schools and village schools are too valuable to lose.
- National Day Nurseries Association Promotes quality childcare and education for all children in the early years.
- National Governance Association.
- National Literacy Trust “dedicated to giving disadvantaged children the literacy skills they need to succeed”.
- Play England.
- Parentkind (was PTA UK) (previously National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations).
- Pupil Inclusion Network (Scotland) is for practitioners and managers in the voluntary sector who work with young people who are excluded, disaffected or disengaged from school.
- School Councils UK has advice for pupils, teachers etc. on setting up, and the benefits of, a school council.
- Scottish Out of School Care Network supports school-aged play, care and learning.
- English Secondary Students’ Association.
