Voluntary Sector Training (VST) is an independent charity working to support the development of a strong, effective and diverse voluntary and community sector in Essex  by the provision of  high quality, affordable and relevant training courses.

This service is open to voluntary and community organisations, both paid staff and volunteers including management committee members/ trustees.

VST began in 1999 with a Lottery grant providing affordable, relevant and accessible training for charity and community groups in Uttlesford. VST has expanded in the thirteen years since then and now delivers training across the twelve local authority districts detailed on the map below to voluntary and community organisations (paid staff and volunteers including Trustees).

Delegates from other parts of Essex/Thurrock or indeed anywhere else (if you are willing to travel here), are of course welcome to attend any of the training sessions!

VST offers the following services to voluntary and community organisations:

• The open programme of training covering key topics of relevance to the voluntary and community sector. Tailored training can also be arranged on request to meet particular needs. More details available here.
• Development support for new and small groups and for larger organisations facing change or challenge.
• Training delivered at convenient accessible venues across a wide area.
• Trainers used are experts in their subjects and have experience of working with the voluntary sector.
• VST seeks funding to subsidise the true cost of training places and in the past thirteen years we have gratefully received funding from the Lottery, Learning and Skills Council, Essex Community Foundation, Essex County Council, European Social Fund, LSIS, Job Centre Plus, Capacity Builders, COVER and EEDA.
• Current funders 2012/13 are Essex Community Foundation through the Essex Millenium Fund/Jerome Booth Charitable Fund/Skills Investment Fund, Chelmsford Borough Council, Great Dunmow Town Council New Homes Bonus and Uttlesford District Council.
  

Read about VST's performance in the year ending August 2012 in our Impact summary 2011 to 12

TRUSTEES