Training courses will help ‘drive up knowledge and skills’ in Welsh charities

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.’

In an address to Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Services’ annual meeting, Rhodri Morgan said the programme was the result of the Partnership Agreement ensuring that ‘excellent, quality services’ were available to users across Wales.
He said the session fees of £20 or less per person put them within reach of organisations large and small, and showed them how to turn their ideas into a project, to sourcing funding, employing people, managing their money and promoting their project.
Heidi Bennett, Director of Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations, said that the schedule offered a wide range of set training topics that aimed to meet the varying needs of local third sector groups in bite size, manageable chunks.
‘It presents a great opportunity for organisations to access relevant, affordable and quality training provision locally,’ she added. ‘As a whole, the programme aims to drive up the knowledge and skills base in the sector, better equipping organisations to meet their development needs - as well as those of their staff and volunteers.
‘And, as CVCs are delivering the training locally, it minimizes the amount of time people have to take out of their projects to attend. This is important, because not having enough hours in the day to do everything can be a huge barrier for organisations and individuals in prioritising training.’
Richard Davies, Training Officer at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, described it as a comprehensive modular programme that covered many of the learning and skills development needs of voluntary sector organisations at different stages in their development.
‘At a time when voluntary organisations and community groups are feeling the financial pinch, this programme provides affordable good quality training and - because of its clear structure and timetabling - organisations are now able to identify courses that meet their learning needs and plan ahead.’
Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council Chief Executive Officer John Watkin said the courses provided organisations with practical training opportunities tutored by practitioners within the sector supported by specialist trainers brought in, for example, to work through employment matters.

‘In Denbighshire, the feedback from learners to date has been fantastic, and we are now seeing those learners returning for other modules within the programme - a clear demonstration that they find the learning sessions relevant to their work either as a volunteer or paid member of staff.’

• The one and half-day courses are being delivered by CVC members of staff, with other organisations brought in to provide training in some of the identified specialist areas. To find out more about the courses, dates and venues please visit www.coursesforcommunities.org.uk