Courses

SEE BELOW FOR ADVANCE NOTICE OF NEW DATES

These are arranged under 3 sections - click below:
Management Skills & Organisational Development
IT Skills
Personal Skills

Management Skills & Organisational Development

Business Planning
This session will look at the steps involved in costing, drafting and presenting a practical and clear Business Plan. The workshop will consider the process involved in compiling the document to ensure that it is truly 'owned' by the organisation and its personnel making use of the exercise as a team building programme. A robust Business Plan is essential for maintaining direction of your organisation to keep on track and prioritise as well as providing a foundation document for effecting a strategic fund raising campaign - more than anything else, it will help you to convince funders that they should support your activities.

Trainer: Mark Gerbaldi
Date: Thursday, 6th November 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Venue: Latton Bush, Harlow

SORP - HALF DAY £25
Charity Law and accounting practice are what underpin SORP and these have a habit of changing, which is why there is a need to update SORP. Learn how to make sure your accounts comply with current Charity Commission requirements.
Trainer: Jane Seymour
Date: Wednesday, 12th November 2008
Time: 9.30am to 12.30 p.m.
Venue: Essex Records Office, Chelmsford

Retaining Volunteers - linked course see Recruiting Volunteers
Volunteer turnover, just like staff turnover, is costly and time consuming. This session will help you ensure that your volunteers are motivated, supported and properly valued. The session will ensure it is a "win-win situation" for you, the volunteer and the organisation. This training is intended as a 'follow on' session from the Recruiting Volunteers course. Participants will be able to gain Open College Network accreditation for their learning by undertaking some pre- and post-course work. There is an optional additional charge of £12 payable if participants wish to gain accreditation. VST will invoice this amount on receipt of booking - please indicate on your booking form if you will be seeking accreditation.
Trainer: Kate Hinch
Date: Thursday, 20th November 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Venue: Champions Manor Hall, South Woodham Ferrers

Conflict Management
- Dealing with difficult customers/clients
One of the many challenges for staff working with people within a 'care' setting is to develop an awareness of the effect our attitudes/behaviour may have on clients and to increase our ability to identify and deal effectively with potential areas of conflict. By the end of the session participants will have a greater understanding of the effect they have on others, improved awareness of potential conflict and strategies to
reduce their vulnerability and increase their skills to deal with
conflict situations.
Trainer: Derick Moore
Date: Tuesday, 25th November 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Venue: Holiday Express Inn, Braintree

Getting media coverage on a shoestring!
-PR for 'not for profit organisations'
This highly practical workshop will help you get column inches in the press and valuable coverage on TV, Radio and the web. The workshop will cover working with journalists, what makes a great news story, how to write the perfect press release, offering photography that editors want, understanding how TV news works and using Web 2.0 to get your message across. Bring along an open mind, a local paper and a press release about your organisation.
Caroline BlackMCIPR, LicCIPD, MIoD is a highly experienced professional specialising in communication, management and interpersonal skills for the public, private and not for profits sectors. Her clients include Cancer Research UK, SightSavers, Ethical Trading Initiative, North London Hospice, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Girls Day School Trust. She is a facilitator, conference chair, public speaker and has presented on the Community Channel. She is an approved coach/trainer for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. She is the author of The PR Practitioner's Desk Top Guide (Thorogood 2002)
Trainer: Caroline Black
Date: Wednesday, 26th November 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Venue: Essex Record Office, Chelmsford

Leadership Skills
Managers manage, leaders inspire; the skills needed to make your team want to follow your lead. This course will look at different leadership styles, when to use them and how motivation and objective setting are key to leadership.
Trainer: Kate Hinch
Date: Thursday, 27th November 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Venue: The Basildon Centre, Basildon
NEW ACCREDITED LEADERSHIP& MANAGEMENT COURSE COMING IN NEW YEAR, watch this space!!!

Cash Flow - HALF DAY
This course will help you understand why organisations need
a Cashflow forecast, who is responsible for Cashflows and
what type of information would be needed to help prepare
a Cashflow. It will also show you how to monitor Cashflow and how to use Cashflows to aid financial risk assessment.
It would be useful if delegates have previously attended a budget training session, as principles of budgeting will only
be touched upon briefly.
Trainer: Jane Seymour
Date: Tuesday 9th December 2008
Time: 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Venue: now moved to Chelmsford

Sexual Orientation Awareness Training
Do you know what the issues are? Is your organisation fully prepared for the impact of Civil Partnerships? Do your organisation's policies and procedures accommodate lesbian, gay and bisexual employees and service users? This training course is designed to give employers and service providers the necessary tools to get it right and will cover:
- An increased understanding of the discrimination that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered people face
- Dispel some common myths around sexual orientation
- An understanding of the legislation in this area and the implications for service providers and employers
- Impart strategies for dealing with discrimination of lesbian, gay and bisexual people
- Provide the opportunity to think about how participants can change their own practice and influence their workplace
Trainer: Pink Triangle Training
Date: Wednesday, 10th December 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Venue: Ivan Peck House, Chelmsford

Trustees Roles & Responsibilities
In this course participants will have the opportunity to learn about Trusteeship and the roles & responsibilities involved in effective 'Governance' of a community organisation/charity
or charitable company. Participants who will benefit from this
programme include anyone considering involvement in the management of a community group, anyone who is already involved at any level e.g. an existing Trustee, or simply anyone who wishes to know more information about governance in general.
Trainer: Mark Gerbaldi
Date: Thursday, 11th December 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4. p.m.
Venue: Castlepoint CVS, Thundersley
NEW 4 day OCN ACCREDITED TRUSTEE COURSE COMING IN NEW YEAR, watch this space!!!
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IT Skills
ALL SESSIONS USE A MOBILE LAPTOP SUITE.

PowerPoint XP FULL
Learn how to make an impact with your presentation using PowerPoint to construct a slide show. Participants should be comfortable using a PC/mouse but no other prior knowledge is assumed.
Trainer: David McLeary
Date: Tuesday, 2nd December 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Venue: Committee Room, Great Dunmow

Coming next term:

27th Jan 09 Excel, venue tbc
27th Feb 09 IT for Small Groups and Charities, Maldon CVS
26th March 09 Access XP Chelmsford
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Personal Skills

First Aid (Appointed Person)
This course will give you a working knowledge of first aid,
covering what to do in emergency situations, wounds and bleeding and resuscitation. It will include HSE regulations and responsibilities of being the Appointed First Aider. Also further first aid treatments relevant to participants' work environment. All participants will receive a wallet size certificate (on successful completion of assessment), a
comprehensive First Aid pocket size manual and a Health and Safety information handout.
Trainer: Jane Johannessen
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Course 1
Date: Wednesday, 17th September 2008 FULL
Venue: Christian Growth Centre, Chelmsford
Course 2
Date: Tuesday, 16th December 2008 FULL
Venue: Latton Bush, Harlow
NEW DATES: 20th Jan 09 Dunmow
and 10th March 09 Ongar

CIEH Level 2 Award in Food Safety
This course will provide candidates with a good understanding
and knowledge of food safety. The qualification provides an
introduction to food safety and focuses on eight key areas, including the law, principles of safe food storage and food handling. Study aids will focus on catering practice and guide candidates in applying knowledge of food safety, to ensure that hazards are controlled and good food hygiene standards are maintained.
Trainer: Kate Hinch
Date: Friday, 3rd October 2008 FULL
Time: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Venue: Committee Room, Great Dunmow
NEW DATE: 18th March 09 Southend (SAVS)

Mental Health Awareness
Mental illness is surrounded by prejudice, myths and misunderstanding and all those that come into contact with service users who have mental illness problems, ranging from the mildly anxious, to those with serious enduring mental illnesses, need a basic understanding of the types of illnesses, treatments and services available, as well as information on the Mental Health Act. By the end of the session participants will have a greater understanding of the types of mental health problems which will improve their ability to interact with clients and improve communication. They will have a basic understanding of the classifications/signs and symptoms, as well as the types of treatments available.
Trainer: Derick Moore
Date: Tuesday, 7th October 2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Venue: Essex Record Office, Chelmsford
NEW DATE: 27th April 2009 Chelmsford

Risk Assessment - HALF DAY £25 FULL
A properly implemented programme of risk assessments can assist in preventing injuries, property damage and other losses. Employers must ensure that people undertaking risk assessments are competent to do so. The course will cover the necessary knowledge and practical skills.
Trainer: Kate Hinch
Date: Tuesday, 21st October 2008
Time: 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Venue: Latton Bush, Harlow
NEW DATE: 22nd January 2009 Brentwood AM

Lone Worker - HALF DAY £25 FULL
Working alone carries specific personal safety risks. Health
and Safety law requires employers to assess these risks and to take steps to avoid or control risks where necessary. Employees too have a responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their work. This session will help you understand the risks and consider steps to reduce and control personal safety risks. Trainer: Kate Hinch
Date: Tuesday, 21st October 2008
Time: 1.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Venue: Latton Bush, Harlow
NEW DATE: 22nd January 2009 Brentwood PM

CIEH Level 2 Health & Safety in the Workplace FULL
All staff and volunteers deserve safe working conditions but do you know what your legal obligations are? This session will make sure you know what to do to ensure you fulfil the requirements. The qualification provides an introduction to health and safety. Study aids focus on enabling candidates to understand health and safety requirements placed on employers and employees, the potential hazards and risks in the workplace, the main causes of harm to workers and how their own action can reduce risks to health and safety.
Trainer: Kate Hinch
Date: Monday, 24th November 2008
Time: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Venue: Fullbridge Church, Maldon
NEW DATE: 30th March 09 Harlow

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