HCS offers in-house/bespoke training courses on various aspects of governance, fundraising and charity management. This is an ideal way for staff and volunteers to receive cost-effective personalised training, designed to meet a charity's particular needs. Clients include individual voluntary organisations as well as several councils for voluntary service.

Course Design and Delivery

HCS holds an initial consultation with the client, to discuss the issues to be addressed through the training. Objectives for the training are agreed, along with outline content of the course and duration.

Once the client has agreed the course content, a training plan is developed which  describes the course content in more detail. The plan shows how each of the training objectives will be achieved and assessed during the course.

Pre-course questionnaires can be devised and distributed to participants to obtain information on their personal training needs and issues they would like the course to address.

This provides the tutor with background on the participants and enables participants to be actively involved in shaping the content of the course.

Courses can be presented using a variety of methods including tutor input, practical exercises and group discussion.

Courses can be delivered at client's offices over one day or a series of days as required. The maximum number of participants per course is normally 12.

Course Materials

Course materials usually include a course workbook containing copies of all OHPs, exercises and handouts as well as a further reading list and useful organisation contact details. The workbook is designed as a resource that can be used not only on the course itself, but also as a stand-alone reference source. Certificates for participants can also be provided if required.

Course Evaluation

As part of HCS quality assurance participants are asked to complete evaluation forms, which are copied to the client. HCS can also produce an evaluation report and attend an evaluation meeting with the client to assess the effectiveness of the training, if required.

Course Fee

The fee is all-inclusive and covers course design and preparation, travel expenses, course delivery, course materials for each participant eg workbooks and course certificates.

Recent In-house Training

Over the last 18 months Ruth has designed and delivered the following in-house training courses:

For Boston College/South Lincolnshire CVS partnership:

'An Introduction to the Voluntary Sector' - taster half day course

For a housing association in partnership with Boston College:

'Planning for Effective Meetings'

'How to Chair Effective Meetings'

'Resolving Issues and Conflicts in Meetings'

'Scrutinising Committee Reports and Documents'

'Setting and monitoring Action Targets'

'Understanding Value for Money'

'Personal Finance and Budgeting'

'Developing Budgets (1) and (2)'

'Analysing Budgets'

'Marketing'

For Really Useful Stuff (RUS) Workshops:

'Raising Funds for Your Group'

'Promoting Your Group'

'Management Committees and Trustees'

For Renaissance East Midlands
'Evidencing User Need'

For Ryder Cheshire Volunteers
'Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers'

For VCS North Kesteven
'How to Manage Your Group's Money'

For South Lincolnshire CVS staff
'Monitoring and Evaluation'

For Voluntary Action Rutland
'Monitoring and Evaluating Your Project'

'Writing Effective Funding Bids'

'Governance Issues'

For Boston College/South Lincolnshire CVS
'Monitoring and Evaluating Your Project'

'Building a Business Case for your Project'

Boston College/South Lincolnshire CVS Partnership

Ruth has worked in partnership with Boston College and South Lincolnshire CVS since 2004, designing and delivering accredited (National Open College Network [NOCN]) and non-accredited training for staff, trustees and volunteers of local voluntary and community organisations.

Courses designed for this partnership include:

NOCN Level 2 Voluntary Sector Certificate

NOCN Level 3 Award in Managing Voluntary and Community Organisations

OCN Level 2 Qualification in Voluntary Sector Management

To discuss your training session needs contact Ruth at HCS on 01522 544927 or email info@hcsuk.com. An initial meeting is free of charge and without obligation.