In a nutshell is an exciting, free, ten-week online course delivered through the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) learning portal. Participants work with other professionals, community workers and volunteers across the public, private and community sectors to develop a shared understanding of the sustainable communities agenda.The course will help develop a real understanding of the term ’sustainable community’ by exploring the national and regional policy context and perspectives. It will also consider the roles, responsibilities and skills of the various organisations and individuals responsible for delivery and examine putting theory into practice. The course is facilitated by a highly experienced tutor who provides feedback, advice and guidance from start to finish. You will be expected to set aside approximately three hours per week to take part in online discussion forums and active learning modules which enable the sharing of ideas and experiences. The course cost of £100 per participant is being fully funded by the ASC. For more information or to reserve a place call Kelly Brewell on 0113 394 4574, email k.brewell@ascskills.org.uk

Weblink

6 November 2008
© Creating Excellence

Youth charity, The Prince’s Trust Cymru, is recruiting business men and women from across South Wales to take on the challenge of mentoring a young person. With volunteer help, The Trust can help to change young lives in the UK. It gives practical and financial support, developing skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 14-30 year olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. The Trust is offering core training for potential volunteers, especially people who may consider mentoring on the newly launched Business Programme, enabling and supporting young people to set up their own enterprises.  As a provider of volunteer training, The Trust is well respected and will provide volunteers with a greater understanding of the work of the Trust and how mentors can make a real difference.
 
Weblink

5 November 2008
© WCVA

New research shows vocational qualifications are a route to higher wages. A radical new advisory service, which will combine skills and training advice with practical guidance for people on how to overcome the barriers they face in getting on in life, has been announced by Skills Secretary John Denham. For the first time, the adult advancement and careers service (aacs) will provide a one-stop-shop for those seeking training and help into work but who also face problems in areas like childcare, money matters, housing and disability issues.
 
Weblink

30 October 2008
© Learning and Skills Council

The programme has been praised by First Minister Rhodri Morgan as ‘affordable and accessible’, and hailed by participants as helping to strengthen the sector during the funding and other difficulties likely to occur in the near future. ‘Courses for Communities will help make the sector fit to face the challenges that lay ahead in these uncertain times,’ said Clive Curtis, Partnership and Development Manager with Vale Council for Voluntary Services. Topics covered include formalising organisations, organising a committee, monitoring and evaluating the organisation’s work, getting the best out of IT and working with others. There will also be training in effective communication skills, working with the statutory sector and volunteering, appointing trustees and management committee members, employing and managing people, and finding and managing money. WCVA Training Manager Kate Thomas said: ‘It became clear to us that while there was a wealth of training being delivered to the sector, there was little consistency in provision of core training to support voluntary groups in setting up and developing their organisation, supporting staff, volunteers and trustees, fundraising, managing their assets and delivering better services.’ 

Weblink

16 October 2008
© WCVA

The event – for both children and adult services colleagues already familiar with an outcomes approach – will consider how councils might use an outcome-focused approach to drive local area agreement priorities. There will be an opportunity for councils to share their experience of what really drives better outcomes, to consider the value of local and community report cards and to hear from other councils who have begun to embed the ‘outcome based accountability’ thinking both in the planning and delivery of children’s services. Date: 5 November 2008. Duration: 10 – 15.30. Location: Holiday Inn, Coram Street, London, WC1N 1NT. Cost: free. For any queries, please contact:
Janine Dancey, telephone: 020 7296 6816, email: janine.dancey@idea.gov.uk

Weblink

24 September 2008
© IDeA

The Warwickshire based rural regeneration charity ruralnet|uk is embracing the latest Web 2.0 tools to ensure that their forthcoming national conference will create great discussions, generate nichier content and cover relevant topics. Using the social networking tool ‘Crowdvine’ ruralnet|uk will encourage delegates and those with an interest in all things rural to ‘meet’ and share ideas, practices and solutions before the event in Skipton a concept known as an ‘unconference’; knowing who will be at the event and where their interests lie saves precious time during the conference itself. The concept of the ‘unconference’ is where the attendees organise and create the content online. ruralnet|uk are using ‘Crowdvine’ to provide delegates with the opportunity to ‘meet’ one another before the 2-day conference in Skipton on 30 September.Rural interest groups will today get their chance to give feedback on the roll-out of the Scottish Government’s flagship rural development programme.

Weblink

18 August 2008
© Plunkett Foundation

As charities face the credit crunch, increased competition for funding and wavering donor loyalties, CAF Charity Workshops help charities reach more donors in new ways and advise how best to manage charity money.
The Autumn/Spring 2008/09 series of workshops begin on 14 October led by Panikos Efthimiou. An experienced fundraiser, trustee and former actor, Panikos has 28 years’ experience of working and volunteering with charitable organisations and ten years’ experience as a charity trainer. CAF’s range of interactive training gives simple, practical and achievable advice. Focusing on learning while having fun and connecting with other fundraisers, CAF’s training explains how to understand and maximise tax efficient donations, make corporates beneficial friends, influence donor loyalty and effectively promote charities in new and exciting ways. Each session is unique as Panikos finds out what will benefit each organisation the most and creates an exclusive plan. Panikos is also contactable after training to advise and encourage. Sarkia Shah, Executive Director, Theodora Children’s Trust commented on the workshop she attended saying: ”Thank you so much for a fantastic regular giving workshop this morning. I felt really inspired and full of great ideas - I think it was the only course I’ve been on where I haven’t looked at the clock!” For more information on CAF Charity Workshops email pefthimiou@cafonline.org Courses cost £100 per person for a full day and £60 per person for a half day.

Weblink

13 August 2008
© CAF

A new multi-media directory will help to get more local people into jobs. South Liverpool Signpost 2008 is a tool which will help develop the local economy and enterprise by offering a comprehensive directory of training and employment services in the area. It will give potential employers a complete overview of opportunities available in the South Liverpool area and hopefully attract new investment. Councillor Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool’s executive member for Safer, Stronger Communities said: “We want to increase economic activity in all areas of the city. But South Liverpool is a particular priority for the council as in areas such as Speke there is a higher level of people out of work compared to the rest of the city.”

Weblink

24 July 2008
© Liverpool City Council

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has launched a consultation on a new right at work: the right to ask for time to train. The consultation seeks views on proposals to give employees in England a legal right to a serious conversation with their employer about their skills development. Under the proposals employees can request time to undertake formal training that leads to a qualification, or for informal unaccredited training that will help them to develop a specific skill relevant to their job. In both cases, the only requirement would be that training should help improve business performance and productivity.

Weblink

23 July 2008

©e-skills.com

Charities that provide services to government should have to obey the Human Rights Act and the Freedom of Information Act, a Commons select committee report has recommended. Public Services and the Third Sector: Rhetoric and Reality , published today by the Public Administration Select Committee, said that users of public services should receive the same level of protection under the law whoever provided their services.

Weblink

10 July 2008
© David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online