Measuring Social Impact for small organisations

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Date: Wednesday 21st September 2022

Time: 10am – 12.30pm

Venue: To be confirmed

Measuring impact- It is increasingly important for organisations and groups to describe the difference that their work makes to its beneficiaries or the wider community. For instance many Funders are now asking about the impact you have.

Who should attend this workshop

If you are part of a small voluntary or community organisation (turnover under £200,000) and:

  • have perhaps heard the term Social Impact, maybe from doing a funding bid ,and would like to know more or
  • you have researched Social Impact and decided that it all seems very complicated and maybe something only larger charities have the resource to do?

then maybe this course is for yourselves. We will be looking at ways for small organisations to evidence and demonstrate their impact.

If your organisation as a turnover over £200,000 and is comfortable with terms such as “Theory of Change” and has heard of tools such as Outcome Stars then this is not most likely not the course for yourselves.

This course will cover:

  1. What is Social Impact and why measure it
  2. What is a Theory of Change and give attendees a chance to have a go at developing a very simple one for their group.
  3. Ways to evidence the difference your organisation is making
  4. Exploring how Social Impact can be communicated with some simple visual examples and resources to help you

Please note this training is the same training that was delivered on the 29th January 2018 13th March 2019 and October 2020. This event is jointly provided by Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Community Foundation.

*Events Cancellation Policy- Free Events*

We request that you let us know in advance if you are unable to attend the event. A consistent failure to do so may result in a holding fee being requested for future events.

Book your place via eventbrite here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/265258353877

Volunteers and the Law

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Date: 16th March 2023

Time: 10am – 12pm

Venue: To be confirmed

Book your place via eventbrite here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/259461094117

Keeping Volunteers

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Date: 26th January 2023

Time: 10am – 12.30pm

Venue: To be confirmed

This short online course is aimed at those new to volunteer management, those who manage volunteers, as well as those who need a refresher.

The session will cover:

  • volunteer induction

Supporting and managing volunteers including looking at:

  • volunteer motivation
  • solving problems

Valuing and developing volunteers through:

  • recognition
  • training

Book your place via eventbrite here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/keeping-volunteers-tickets-259456801277

Trustee Roles and Responsibilities

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Date: 2nd November 2022

Time: 6pm – 7.30pm

Venue: Online

A short introduction to the role and duties of a Trustee of a registered Charity. This session is aimed at new Trustees or for people who would like a refresher.

Maximum of 2 Trustees per charity.

The course will look at:

  • What is a charity and what is meant by public benefit
  • Key duties of Trustees as outlined by the the Charity Commission’s document Essential Trustee
  • The responsibilities that arise from these duties including:- the managing of Conflicts of Interests; managing risk and ensuring accountability

Book your place via eventbrite here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trustee-roles-and-responsibilities-tickets-259433812517

Introduction to grant applications workshop

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Date: 20th October 2022

Time: 10am to 12.30pm

Venue: Online via Zoom

This short online session will cover the broad brushstrokes of grant applications. Aimed at people who are new to writing grant applications. This course is for VCSE organisations that deliver in Northamptonshire This is a very basic introduction for people from Voluntary and Community organisations to grant applications.

It is aimed at volunteers/staff who have not written an application before or are new to doing so. There will be a maximum of 20 participants and therefore there will be a chance to ask questions and discuss the topic.

By the end of the session all the participants will be able to:

  • Identify other types of funding streams available.
  • Explain best practice when planning for & completing grant applications.
  • List the common mistakes to avoid when applying for grants.

Maximum of 2 people per organisation.

Book your place via eventbrite here – Introduction to grant applications workshop Tickets, Thu 20 Oct 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

A practical guide to re-opening after covid closedown

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In this webinar, the Cranfield Trust will help you look to the near future of your charity’s survival and recovery from the epidemic. This webinar will provide information in the form of an aide-memoir of all we need to think about when returning to our places of work.

After the webinar you will be equipped with:
  • Useful checklists
  • Transportation to and from work
  • Visitors
  • Temperature and other screening
  • Workspaces and common areas
  • Cleaning protocols and PPE
  • IT provision, accessories and furniture
  • Awareness and education
  • Handling unwell staff and reinfection responses

available on demand  here.

Building organisational resilience

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This webinar was held on the 18th June – a recording of the session can be found at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDNrMsM9EP0&feature=youtu.be

The webinar discussed how small charities can build organisational resilience, considering the impact of covid-19. The charities aid foundation, as part of their resilience programme, has identified six characteristics of resilience for small and medium sized charities. in this webinar, based on these characteristics, we will share policy insights and practical tips to help strengthen and support small charities in such a challenging climate.  We will be joined by beth clarke, caf’s resilience programme manager as well as policy and impact experts at ncvo.
The webinar covered:

  • understand the core characteristics of a resilient charity
  • have considered organisational resilience in the context of covid-19
  • have tips and insights to help your charity be resilient
    Who should join the webinar?

Autism training in Northamptonshire

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En-Fold – Northamptonshire Autism Support is offering training in understanding Autism and its impact for those working
with Autistic individuals. The training can be delivered within your workplace for up to 30 people and includes handouts and a certificate for each participant. For pricing please contact

Contact by email diane@enfold.org.uk or call 07845905766

For more information here.

Training support staff and volunteers

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Due to Government Funding in the Adult Education Budget, The Aim Group have over 40 Free online Level 2 and 3 Accredited Courses available to learners to help better understand some key issues around mental health and equality and diversity.

Here are some of their most popular subjects available

  • Children and Young Peoples Mental Health (Understand factors which may affect Young Peoples mental health, the impact that they have, and how to support them with these issues
  • Understanding Autism (learn how individuals process sensory information, understand characteristics, conditions, and how speech, language and communication differ in people with Autism)
  • Understanding Behaviour That Challenges in Children (supporting positive behaviour, effective communication & how to manage challenging behaviour)
  • Bullying in Children and Young People (develop your understanding of bullying, including how to recognise that bullying is taking place and how to take action to stop it)
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability (a detailed understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, including equality and diversity in the context of SEND)
  • Equality and Diversity
  • Understanding Dignity and safeguarding in adult health and social care

On average the courses take between 15-35 hours to complete (dependent on each individual’s learning ability) within in a 6-week window and are completed on a laptop or computer at the learner’s home. No Exams, endpoint assessments are involved, the courses are purely Q&A-based and are available to you 24/7. You can do as many as you like, however you can just do one at a time.

The only criteria the learner must meet to be eligible is the following.

  • Aged 19 or over on or before 31st August 2020
  • Have lived in the UK/EU for 3+ years
  • Not already on a Government-funded course (Apprenticeship for example)

There are about 40 different choices of course all accessible without cost too.
(plus once you complete one you can go ahead and access another one .. again without cost)

Here is a full listing of all the courses they have available here.

If you are interested in undertaking one of these Free Online courses, then please complete the following link asap. This will then allow me to contact you and send over the relevant Enrolment details and of course, answer any questions you have.

Voluntary impact Northamptonshire registration form link

If you have any questions, call Stacey Taylor-Hinds on 0203 900 3091 extension 226 or drop me an email at stacey.taylorhinds@theaimgroup.co.uk I will be your main point of contact.