The Directory of Social Change (DSC) exists to support charities in the work they do. A charity itself it provides training, books, funding sources, online resources, bespoke research, and it campaigns to make the UK a better environment for charities to thrive in. Led by chief executive Debra Allcock Tyler, DSC’s activities bring it into contact with around 20,000 voluntary sector organizations each year. DSC is largely self-sustaining and earns around 95% of its income through the sale of publications and training. DSC is a registered charity, limited by guarantee. The trustees of the charity are also members and directors of the company.
Activity
DSC’s main activities include:
* Training in the areas of
fundraising
Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...
, management and leadership, personal development,
finance
Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods and services (the discipline of fina ...
,
law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
, governance, marketing and communications,
policy
Policy is a deliberate system of guidelines to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by a governance body within an organ ...
,
campaign
Campaign or The Campaign may refer to:
Types of campaigns
* Campaign, in agriculture, the period during which sugar beets are harvested and processed
*Advertising campaign, a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme
* Bl ...
s and research
* Researching and publishing reference guides and handbooks
* Providing subscription funding websites detailing sources of funding for the voluntary sector from trusts and foundations, the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
and companies
* Running conferences, seminars, briefings and fairs including Charityfair
* Campaigning and policy work, focusing on championing the needs of small and medium voluntary sector organizations
* Undertaking bespoke research projects to inform charities
* Providing free resources, top tips and best practice articles on its website
History
In 1975 Michael Norton published a book entitled 'The Directory of Social Change' and the organization was formed. The book, was a directory, the first of its kind, full of ideas, information and contacts for those wanting to explore alternatives for creating better communities and a better society.
Four directories were published on community, education, housing and women. In 1977, Michael organized his first fundraising training and started publishing practical information on fundraising, marketing, management and legal issues for charities. In 1984, looking for a more sustainable source of income, Michael created the first “Guide to Company Giving” and then asked Luke FitzHerbert to create a “Guide to the Major Trusts”.
This was how the Directory of Social Change started, adopting the principles of social enterprise in structuring how it operated and was funded.
In 1988, Luke FitzHerbert became co-director with Michael Norton and together they established DSC’s Liverpool office. In 1992, DSC organized the first Charityfair. In 1995, Norton and FitzHerbert stepped down as co-directors and Mike Eastwood was appointed as their successor. In 2001, Eastwood stepped down and Debra Allcock Tyler was appointed.
Since 1975 DSC has helped make tens of thousands of charities stronger. In 2016, around 35 staff worked in their London and Liverpool offices.
References
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External links
www.dsc.org.uk
Social welfare charities based in the United Kingdom