Voluntary Action Lewisham

This one-day course is an initiative linked to the 'Safe Project: Keeping Our Children Safe’ and is intended as a follow-on from Safeguarding Children Awareness training.

The course has been designed to assist in the development of a firm partnership between the setting (or Club’s) Management Committee and Designated Person for Safeguarding. This includes a firm ‘partner relationship’ that includes all elements of the setting (or Club’s) legal safeguarding responsibilities. Within this, differing family, cultural and individual perspectives will be considered.

Course aims:

•   To highlight key elements to the Designated Person and Management Committee Member role and responsibilities, as identified in the legislation, guidance and policy  - Including Lewisham Safeguarding Children Board guidance

•   To assist Designated Persons and Management Committee Members in assessing the knowledge, skills and competence of their setting (or Club’s) staff team in safeguarding children, young people and their families according to their policy, procedure and professional practice-  Including in reference to allegations  made against staff members or volunteers

•    To promote Designated Person and  Management Committee Member’s awareness of high standards of professional behaviour and conduct for staff members and volunteers- Including how these are made known via induction & professional training and regular reference to Organisational procedures

•  To support Designated Person and Management Committee Members in conducting an audit of their setting (or Club’s) compliance with the legislation, guidance and policy- Including production of an action plan as follow-up

Introduction to budgeting and monitoring a budget.

Policies and procedures needed to manage your organisation's money safely and effectively.

Move from crisis planning to strategic planning when it comes to fundraising.

Effectively promote your organisation and its services. Produce publicity that will make an impact to prospective clients, organisations and funders.

This training provides an overview of the role of marketing in the organisation.

Participants will be able to:

• Review their current approach
• Look at different marketing options
• Draft a strategy for their organisation

Organisations will have an opportunity to discuss what makes a successful Trust application.

Participants will be able to

• Find out how to research appropriate trusts
• Interpret guidelines and criteria
• Discuss successful applications including budgets, monitoring and evaluation
• Develop a template application for their organisation

Many organisations struggle to find funding for their project's work and often wait for a crisis before taking action. Have you thought about developing a plan for your fundraising work? This workshop will consider strategic planning and the funding mix necessary for effective fundraising.

This course is all about how to develop a fundraising strategy.

By the end of the training you will have had an opportunity to:

• Consider your organisation's needs
• Understand the planning process
• Create a draft strategy

Over the next six months VAL will deliver The Safe Project which will include workshops and discussion sessions for small voluntary organisations with the aim of raising awareness of children's and young people's safeguarding issues ... read more.

This two day Train the Trainer course will include learning styles and techniques to help you deliver effective presentations. Participants will have the opportuity to gain accreditation through Advice UK.

Participants will be able to:

• Understand what makes a successful presentation
• Plan a training session on a chosen topic area
• Deliver a short presentation

To be held on 10th May 2011 and 12th May 2011

How do you resolves issues between staff, volunteers or management committee?

Participants will be able to:

• Explore the types of conflict that can arise in organisations
• Recognise the skills and attitudes you need to take issues forward
• Identify ways forward if you can't resolve the problem

The current cuts and funding climate are a real challenge for organisations with premises. This course is all about how premises can be developed using a business plan to support their sustainability.

Participants will be able to:

• Consider why and how a business plan can support your organisation
• Look at key elements to include as well as a template
• Discuss the challenges premises holders face, the effects on the business plan and how to handle them

Our expectations of our management committee is that it is equipped to manage the organisation's affairs on behalf of its members. This includes the organisation's legal responsibilities with respect to finance, recruitment, health & safety, etc. Just how much as a trustee do you need to know?

By the end of the training you will be:

• Familiar with Charity and Company Law
• Able to understand the duties of the Board
• Able to recognise appropriate interaction with staff
• Able to recognise good practice

Are you a management committee member, chair or treasurer of a charity or voluntary group?

Perhaps you are considering joining a committee but are worried about the responsibility?

If you would like to learn more about the financial aspects of being a committee member, this workshop will help you:

• Be clear about the financial responsibilities that are shared by committee members
• Be aware of policies and procedures for managing your organisation's money.

This two day course will consider all aspects of project management from the idea of a project to its implementation.

Participants will be able to:

• Determine the issues for organisations when managing a project
• Look at project planning
• Discuss tools and techniques to define, plan and manage a project

It is said that voluntary and community organisations can deliver services in distinctive ways which will improve outcomes for service users as we have a better knowledge of and contact with the customer base, the ability to serve hard to reach groups, the capacity to listen to user's needs and generate innovative solutions to meet them. But, how do we evidence this work?

This is an opportunity for groups to look at how they measure their organisation and project's progress and impact.

Participants will be able to:

• Consider how their organisation is making a difference
• Identify key terminology
• Recognise the tools for gathering and analysing information