Online Learning Course
I found the course very interesting and a stimulating introduction to effective voluntary sector management. The course was well managed and the virtual learning environment was a very easy and effective way of learning.
- Alan Cooke, University College for the Creative Arts, Kent
The NCVO Working For A Charity online course Effective Voluntary Sector Management ran for the first time during 2007. The next course commences in October 2010.
The course is intended for people new to the voluntary and community sector who want to find out more about how the sector works, and for people considering a move into the sector from other backgrounds.
If you have any specific questions about the suitability of the course for your needs, please contact Elaine Smethurst.
Flexibility
The course has been designed so that people will be able to study in their own time and in a location of their choice. It will require regular study time and you should allow on average 5 hours per week.
I enjoyed the experience of learning online. Work allowed me some time to study, but mostly I studied at home. The content was really useful and I've already applied some of the knowledge. It gave a really good general overview of the sector. I would recommend anyone to do it.
- Carrie Osmond, Bristol Foyer
Course Content
The core course consists of 7 units:
1. Introduction to the voluntary sector: Dimensions of the voluntary sector; the role of the voluntary sector; private, public and voluntary sectors; organisational structures in the voluntary sector.
2. Marketing and Communications: the role of marketing; how charities use PR; campaigning for change.
3. Fundraising: Introduction to fundraising; fundraising mechanisms; donor motivations & relationships; asking for funds; planning; legal and ethical issues.
4. Employment and management: what makes a good charity employer? Employees, volunteers, consultants; important issues in managing people; diversity in the workplace.
5. Volunteering: the volunteering environment; recruitment & retention of volunteers; volunteering & the law; good practice in the support of volunteers.
6. Financial management: introduction to charity accounting; fraud, risk & internal controls; charities and tax; interpreting charity accounts.
7. Governance: the meaning of governance; duties of trustees; the key relationships; good practice in board effectiveness.
I very much enjoyed the course last year, and have learned a great deal which is helping me in my job this year! I have found the course useful in understanding the charitable status of a Students' Union, as well as working with students involved in the RAG society, which raises money for charities in all sorts of different ways.
-Joanne Hodgson, Student Activities Co-Ordinator for the University of Surrey Students' Union
Accreditation
The course is accredited by Roehampton University and the online element will provide 10 credits at HE level 1.
An optional project module will provide a further 20 credits and successful completion of this combined with the 10 credits of the online course will lead to the award of a Certificate of Professional Practice.
There is no academic entry requirement although people will need adequate written English, sufficient computer skills and hardware /software to study online.
There is no accreditation of prior learning and people will be expected to study the online course in its entirety.
I have found the course a positive and valuable learning experience that has allowed me to develop a true understanding of the voluntary sector, its aims, codes and practices and how to be a more effective and strategic manager within an organisation in this sector.
- Caroline Baxter, Manager of Children’s Services, Enhanceable, Surrey
Project Module
Following successful completion of the online module, participants may choose to extend their learning. They will be required to design, plan and conduct a project which applies knowledge and understanding of the voluntary sector to a specific management task or challenge. This will include the writing of a 4000 – 5000 word report.
Course Duration
It is estimated that the online course will take seven / eight months to complete with an average study time of 5 hours per week. To allow for holidays and other "downtime" the online element of the course runs from October 2010 for 7-8 months. Following successful completion of the online module, the project module can then be undertaken from June 2011.
Fees
Fees are £695 for the online course and £945 for the combined online course and work-based project module (leading to the Certificate of Professional Practice). Some bursaries will be available to part fund the course for those in financial need – further information is available to download here (.pdf file, 45kb).
Enrol Online
You'll be able to enrol online from this page shortly. Read the cancellation policy here.
More comments from previous course participants:
The course was really useful in giving me an overview of the voluntary sector. It has helped me understand everything in context, how all the pieces fit together, and where to find more information, support and training. I had been thinking about developing a support organisation for women going through divorce for some time, and the course gave me the confidence to not just think about doing it, but to make ideas a reality. So thank you very much for your input, and your wisdom and support during the course last year.
Rosalind Moffitt, Founder, Maypole: www.maypole.org.uk
This course has really enhanced my understanding of the voluntary sector and also filled in many gaps. The content is so clear and well-organised. There is no doubt that doing the course really helped to put my experience as chair of a small, active charity into context, whilst it opened my eyes to the way other organisations work. It has also given me a huge confidence boost when it came to interview, as I felt I had a grip of the many issues the panel asked about.
-Susan Thomas, Devon
