Training

ENGLAND

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations
Tel: 0800 2798 798 (freephone) Fax: 020 7713 6300
Organises conferences and seminars, produces a directory of approved consultants, provides a signposting service to training organisations and training for member groups.

Directory of Social Change
Tel: London 0207 391 4800 Liverpool 0151 708 0117
Provides practical, challenging and affordable information and training to meet the current, emerging and future needs of the sector.

Workers' Educational Association (WEA)
Tel: 020 8983 1515 Fax: 0208983 4840
National voluntary organisation offering educational and training courses to individuals and groups – eg basic skills, assertiveness, stress management, helping in schools, return to learn, preparing for work.

Residential

Hillcroft College
Tel: 0208 399 2688
Offers residential courses to women leading to university, employment or vocational training, as well as short or weekend courses, in a beautiful setting near London. Courses are free (£10 booking fee) for eligible students and include childcare facilities.

Trafford Hall
Tel: 01244 300246
Runs residential and day courses for tenants and community groups and families – most funded through grants and bursaries. Also Active Family Learning breaks to find out how to run family centred community projects (minimal cost).


WALES

Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
Tel: 0870 607 1666 Fax: 029 2043 1701
Run training courses, workshops and seminars for voluntary organisations and acts as a signposting service to training. Also offers information and signposting to funding opportunities.

Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations
Tel: 01686 626220
Offer training courses for staff and volunteers e.g. Committee Skills, Minute Taking. Although mainly for Powys they wouldn’t turn anyone away from other regions in Wales.

WEA South Wales
Tel: 02920 235277

WEA North Wales
Tel: 01248 353254


SCOTLAND

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
Tel: 0131 556 3882
Training is one of SCVO’s key services. The Training Section aims to make voluntary organisations more effective and efficient by meeting the training needs of the people who work in the Scottish voluntary sector. Provides programmes of training for SCVO member organisations and manages training and development projects.

Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS)
Tel: 01786 479593
VDS designs and delivers a range of training opportunities to support volunteering in Scotland. Will design courses to meet specific needs. Provides Key Skills Courses, Award in Volunteering Management, and local courses through the volunteer centre network.

WEA Scottish Association (Workers' Educational Association)
Tel/Fax: 0131 226 3456
National voluntary organisation offering community and workplace based adult learning to individuals and groups.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Tel: 028 9087 7777 Fax: 028 9087 7799
Provide a range of consultancy services and training programmes including fundraising and management training. Also provide a signposting service to other training organisations.

Volunteer Development Agency
Tel: 028 9023 6100 Fax: 028 9023 7570 Deliver tailored consultancy and training to any group that involves volunteers on all issues that affect volunteers e.g. recruitment, managing volunteers, volunteer’s policy, training, motivation and much more.

Community Change
Tel: 028 9023 2587 Fax: 028 9031 2216
Provides support, advice and training tailored to each community organisation’s needs.

Workers' Educational Association
Tel: 02890 329718

See also

Distance Learning Course for the Voluntary Sector, Centre for Educational Development, University of Wales, Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 7ED. For details of the programme (available to anyone in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) contact: 01570 424785/422351.

SPAN Managing Your Self Help Group
This accredited distance learning course covers Meetings, Equal Opportunities Finance and Funding and is available online or by post - see SPAN/training for more details.