Welcome to the E-Training Bulletin - a listing of training opportunities and consultation events of interest to voluntary organisations and community groups in the Bedfordshire and Luton area. If your organisation provides training opportunities for voluntary sector staff, trustees or volunteers and you would like a listing in this bulletin, please click here.

December 2008

10/01/09 - Funding Workshop – Fit for Funding
This funding workshop aims to help meet the demand from groups for funding and development advice and guidance.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 10 January (morning), CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

13/01/09 - Introducing the Common Induction Standards in Bedfordshire
An interactive opportunity to:

• Explore why induction?
• Discuss the latest in Workforce Reform
• Learn how to access free training and e-learning
• Shape the “Beds 0- 19 VCS Professional Development Portfolio”

Who is it for? Senior Staff & those involved in Human Resource, Management in the Voluntary & Community Sector.

Delivered by: Family Matters Institute/ Voluntary Organisation Consortium
Date/Time/Venue: 13th January (9:30am to 1:30pm) Moggerhanger Park, Bedfordshire, MK44 3RW,
More info: e-mail, website, 01767 641 002

15/01/09 – Certificate in Community Volunteering (ASDAN) – 14 week course
ASDAN is a qualification for volunteers that recognises the general skills that volunteers need and use when carrying out voluntary activities. It can provide a stepping stone to vocational qualifications and employment. It appears as a Level 2 Qualification in the National Standards Framework.

FREE - Priority is given to people who live in Tithe Farm, Downside and Parkside

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 15 January for 14 weeks, Kingsland Campus, Houghton Regis
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

15/01/09 - Fundraising and the Law
This is an excellent course that covers the main laws and regulations that organisations and community groups need to be aware of in their fundraising activities. Not to be missed!

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 15 January, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

20/01/09 - Getting Tender Ready
If you want to know about tenders, contracts and how your organisation needs to prepare itself for this brave new world, this is the place to start.  The workshop will focus on public sector funding, so it is a must for those holding or wanting funding from these sources.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 20 January, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

22/01/09 - Quality: Choosing Between Different Approaches
There are so many different quality standards available, but which one is right for your organisation? This introductory course will explain the main quality assurance systems and the principles behind each one, so that you can choose the one most suitable for your organisation.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 22 January, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

27/01/09 – Making Partnerships Work
Working in partnership with other organisations has become increasingly important for frontline organisations, and for development workers that support them. This course will look at the process of forming, leading, developing, sustaining and leaving partnerships.

Delivered by: Skild (NAVCA)
Date/Time/Venue: 27 January, London
More info: website, e-mail, 0114 289 3970

31/01/09 - Funding Workshop – Fit for Funding
This funding workshop aims to help meet the demand from groups for funding and development advice and guidance.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 31 January (morning), CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

04/02/09 - Project Management
Getting the funding can sometimes be the easy bit. You then have to make the project work. This course is aimed at those with little to no experience of managing a project. It will examine the importance of project management, and give an overview of the key issues to consider.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 4 February, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

03/02/09 – Every Child Matters – why it matters to development workers
Every Child Matters is a government strategy that sets out the legal requirements for any third sector group working with children and young people. This course will give development workers the information and tools they need to support groups.

Delivered by: Skild (NAVCA)
Date/Time/Venue: 3 February,  Birmingham
More info: Website, e-mail, 0114 289 3970

05/02/09 - Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
This is for you if you work with groups of adults who:

• are older
• have a disability or life limiting illness
• experience mental health issues
• suffer domestic violence
• vulnerable in any other way
• you want to develop a policy and guidelines for their protection and safety.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 5 February, Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

07/02/09 - Basic Budgeting
Do you need a budget to support your funding application? These half-day courses are aimed at people without a financial background to help them understand why budgets are necessary and how they are produced and used.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 7 February, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

11/02/08 – Project management
More and more development workers undertake project management – sometimes without knowing that’s what is it called. This introductory course covers

• how to work out the project content and boundaries
• planning projects, including useful tools and techniques
• how to support the groups you work with to manage projects well

Delivered by: Skild (NAVCA)
Date/Time/Venue: 18 March, Birmingham
More info: Website, e-mail, 0114 289 3970

12/02/09 - Progressing into Partnership
Working in partnership may be the key to survival for many organisations. Many funders are looking for more groups to be working in partnership. This half-day course will give you an understanding of the policy background, different partnership models and the steps to take to get into partnership!

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 12 February, Wilstead Village Hall
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

17/02/09 - Assertiveness and Confidence Building
Assertiveness is a way of behaving that helps us express our thoughts, feelings and beliefs in direct, honest and helpful ways. It also means that we allow others to express their views and feelings in turn to us, and show respect for their point of view.

This course is suitable for paid workers and volunteers who want to build their confidence and skills in their relationships with others.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 17 February, Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

17 & 24/02/09 – Marketing your Organisation, Products and Services
Voluntary organisations, community group and social enterprise are increasingly functioning in a competitive marketplace as a result more and more organisations need to turn to marketing to help them to identify and better serve their target beneficiaries needs and to increase and sustain demand for their services. Through a comprehensive approach to marketing, this workshop will look at how groups can achieve optimal use of their resources and increase their income to ensure long-term sustainability.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 17 & 24 February (7.00am to 9.30pm) Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

19/02/09 - Creating a Better Business Plan
If you are looking for larger amounts of funding, most funders will expect applicants to have a Business Plan. This course will explain what a Business Plan should include and how it can help with developing and sustaining the work of your organisation.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 19 February, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

21/02/09 - Demonstrating Need and Understanding Outcomes
This workshop will build on the skills you gained from the Fit for Funding workshop and will:

• explain how to identify and explain need for your work
• define aims, outcomes, targets and milestones

Through using practical examples and an interactive workshop we aim to make sense of some of the most common problems groups have when making funding applications.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 21 February, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.  

23/02/09 – Jobs, Skills and Training Fair
If you‘re interested in finding employment, changing career, starting a new course or volunteering, then the Jobs, Skills and Training Fair is for you.

Come along and meet a range of companies as well as training and education providers.

Delivered by: Bedfordshire County Council
Date/Time/Venue: 23 February (2pm to 6pm), Houghton Regis Leisure Centre, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis
More info: Donna Wilkinson, South Beds District Council, 0845 849 6291

25/02/09 - Volunteers and the Law: Payments and Perks
Sandy Adirondack will run a seminar covering:

• tax and national insurance implications of payments to volunteers
• volunteers and employment rights
• volunteers and the national minimum wage
• volunteers who are charity trustees
• volunteers on state benefits
• volunteers from overseas
• volunteer agreements

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 25 February, CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

02/03/09 - Funding Workshop – Fit for Funding
This funding workshop aims to help meet the demand from groups for funding and development advice and guidance.

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 2 March (evening), CVS Mid & North Beds, 43 Bromham Road, Bedford
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

03/03/09 – Finding the Right Funder
Funding may be available from a variety of sources. However, the first step to successfully secure funds is to identifying the right funder(s) who would be willing to support your project. Finding the Right Funder looks at the range of funding bodies and how best to identify the right funders for your project.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 3 March, Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

10/03/09 – Health and Safety at Work
This workshop is about managing the overall health and safety process in your area of responsibility.  It is intended to go beyond meeting health and safety legislation and move towards a situation where health and safety considerations are firmly embedded in the planning and decision making processes and the culture of your area of responsibility.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 10 March, Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

11/03/09 – From Development Worker to Manager
Working with groups, but wondering what it would be like to move into management? This day looks at

• the skills you need to be a good manager
• management in the third sector
• teams, and being part of a team
• the tricky things that managers have to do.

Delivered by: Skild (NAVCA)
Date/Time/Venue: 11 March, London
More info: Website, e-mail, 0114 289 3970

12/03/09 – The SOUL Record
The SOUL (Soft Outcomes Universal Learning) Record is an effective method of measuring soft outcomes / informal learning in a way which benefits the client. It is useful for the client to help them to see the progress they are making, the worker as an ice breaker and a diagnostic tool; identifying where a client or learner may need some extra help or support, and for an organisation in providing evidence of the fantastic work being undertaken with their clients.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 12 March, Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

12/03/09 – Presenting Your Tender
40% of all competitive tenders are won after giving a presentation to an assessment panel.

This course will give you the opportunity to receive guidance and practice your skills in a supportive learning environment before you have to do it for real!

Delivered by: Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) Mid and North Bedfordshire
Date/Time/Venue: 12 March, Rufus Centre, Flitwick
More info: Jan Warnier, 01234 354366, e-mail, website.

17/03/09 – Moving from Grants to Contracts
It is becoming increasingly clear that government organisations are replacing many grants to the third sector with contracts. It is equally clear that third sector organisations need to explore and ready themselves for the whole arena of commissioning including competitive tendering for contracts.
Effective tendering requires an understanding of the policies and the practical background within which public sector procurement is taking place. It also requires a clear understanding of what procurement officers want to see in your tender document and how to ensure your tender scores well at the appraisal stage. This workshop will show you exactly what's involved and equip you with the skills and knowledge to gain an advantage over your competitors.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action
Date/Time/Venue: 17 March, Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

18/03/09 – Being a New Development Worker
For people who are new to supporting groups, or revisiting the job after time away. This day focuses on

• the role of the development worker
• working hands-on with groups
• safety nets for development workers
• ethical issues of development work
• where to get further support

Delivered by: Skild (NAVCA)
Date/Time/Venue: 18 March, Birmingham
More info: website, e-mail, 0114 289 3970

19/03/09 – Funders Briefing – Big Lottery
The Big Lottery Fund is the largest distributor of Lottery money.

This year they will hand out £630 million to voluntary organisations and community groups and to projects for health, education and the environment. Come and find out how you can get a share of the pie.
This briefing will be interactive and give you a chance to ask questions specific to your project.

You will also be able to discuss programmes suitable for your group and find out how to make a good application to the Big Lottery fund.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action Date/Time/Venue: 19 March, Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website.

19 & 26/03/09 – Basic First Aid (two part course – evenings)
This workshop will provide you with a British Red Cross certificate in Basic First Aid, valid for three years, as a nominated person to take charge in an emergency. It is suitable for small organisations that require a member of staff or volunteer to have basic lifesaving skills.

This are a two-part evening workshop, you would have to attend both evenings in order to receive your certificate.

Delivered by: Voluntary and Community Action Date/Time/Venue: 19 and 26 March (evenings), Bossard House, Leighton Buzzard
More info: Kim Mead, 01525 850559, e-mail, website. 

Headway South Beds – Brain Injury Training
Headway South Beds is a charity, based in Luton, supporting people who have acquired brain injury, their families and carers. The causes of acquired brain injury are wide ranging and result from medical, surgical or traumatic incidence. i.e. stroke, tumour, meningitis, injury due to road traffic accidents, assaults and falls. Most people know somebody affected by acquired brain injury and the consequences are vast, both for the individual and the family.

The consequences of a brain injury can often be hidden and therefore misunderstood. There is limited training available on the subject and one of Headways aims is to raise awareness of acquired brain injury within the local community. They have recently developed their services and now have a training officer, Kate Grant.

Kate has worked with adults with acquired brain injury for 10 years. She has developed some training packages and would like to offer community groups the opportunity to access this training at competitive rates for voluntary organisations. To discuss the training opportunities in more detail please contact Kate Grant, or Grahame Atkins, Service Manager at Headway on Luton 876729, or email headwaysouthbeds@aol.com