Training
Voluntary Action Swindon provides training support to organisations in a variety of ways. One-day courses include First Aid, Risk Assessment, Fire Safety, Human Rights, Understanding Finance and Minute Taking. Bite size lunches are also held throughout the year for a number of relevant topics.
If you have been on a training session we would appreciate any feedback you have, please visit our contact page and let us know your thoughts.
Training and support is provided in the implementation of the PQASSO quality assurance system.
Organisational training needs analysis can be carried out on request.
For more information please contact John Phipps
Implementing an Outcomes Focus
The concept of attempting to identify the changes brought about by an organisation or project has been around for many years. However, in recent years, both VCOs and funding bodies have become increasingly aware of the value and benefit of becoming more focused on the outcomes of their work.
Voluntary Action is running a number of FREE two day training courses on implementing an Outcomes Focus.
Background to the course
Many people in the voluntary and community sectors are recognising the benefits of focusing on organisational outcomes:
assessing their organisation’s effectiveness
learning more about what works to improve services
boosting morale for staff and clients by showing that change is happening
demonstrating to funders that they are making a difference.
Since it was established in 1990, Charities Evaluation Services (CES), a registered charity, has trained hundreds of people in outcomes from its offices in London. CES has now set up a major national programme to meet the rapidly growing demand for training on outcomes and to enable more organisations throughout the country to learn about the outcomes approach.
At the heart of this national programme are Outcomes Champions like John Phipps, who have been on a course specially designed by CES. By completing that four-day course, he is now certified to offer Outcomes Training courses.
The course
Outcomes Training courses aim to equip you to introduce an outcomes focus within your own organisation. They will run on two separate days, with a gap of four weeks in-between, during which time you will have the opportunity to apply what you have learnt. The course also includes some free one-to-one follow-up support.
Day 1 covers:
Outcomes: what they are and what they are not
How to identify relevant outcomes for your work
The benefits of having an outcomes focus
Simple ways to monitor outcomes
How to use outcomes information in decision making and planning.
After Day 1
You will be asked to hold a meeting about outcomes within your own organisation, to consider implementing an outcomes focus. You will receive materials and follow-up support to help you do this.
Day 2 covers:
How your meeting went and addressing any problems or issues.
Methods for gathering outcomes information
Reporting outcomes
Using outcomes information well
Next steps in implementing an outcomes approach.
Follow-up support will also be offered after Day 2.
The cost
The cost of this course would normally be £250, but CES has received a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, and so this training and the follow-up support are free. However, these free places are limited.