Training for voluntary and community organisations

We recognise the incredible contribution made by local Voluntary and Community Sector organisations (VCS) in helping residents in the borough.

We know that demand on local VCS organisations is increasing and that is having an impact on staffing. Organisations and individuals are having to adapt and stay ahead of frequent policy changes in a stressful and emotionally challenging environment.

To help the sector, the council is supporting VCS organisations with free access to volunteers through our volunteering hub with Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets.

We continue to signpost the sector towards local, regional and national grant schemes. These can help organisations in Tower Hamlets with unexpected costs, loss of income or new projects. This with the view to help organisations in Tower Hamlets build their capacity and become more resilient and financially sustainable.

This page outlines some of the training opportunities available for VCS organisations in Tower Hamlets.

Please contact Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service (THCVS) for any advice and support.

THCVS is offering its member organisations high–quality training, workshops, courses, and events courses to help them grow stronger and more resilient as organisations.

Available opportunities

VCTH training

Free Peer Learning workshop: The Time Well Spent 2023 Research: Implications for your Volunteer Programme

On Wednesday 20 September 2023, 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Time Well Spent is a research programme focusing on volunteers and their experience. Since the release of the original Time Well Spent research findings in 2019 we’ve had a global pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and more. But has the volunteer experience changed?

In this interactive Peer Learning session, Amy McGarvey, Research and Insight Manager at NCVO, will share the latest findings from the new Time Well Spent 2023 survey. The results are based on responses from over 7,000 adults across Great Britain.

We’ll look at what’s changed (and what hasn’t), including volunteer participation, satisfaction and diversity and inclusion. Most of the session will be group discussions with other local Volunteer Managers, in which you will discuss the practical implications of the research for your organisation.

Venue: Zoom

Priority will go to voluntary sector organisations with a base/office in Tower Hamlets, or that have services aimed at Tower Hamlets residents.

Cost: The Peer Learning programme is subsidised by the council. The session is free to voluntary sector and public sector organisations with a base/office in Tower Hamlets, or that have services aimed at Tower Hamlets residents.

There is a non-attendance charge of £50 and this charge will be invoiced to your organisation if you do not attend without giving 48 hours’ notice. There is no charge incurred if bookings are cancelled at least 48 hours before the start of the session.

For any organisation without a base or services in Tower Hamlets, the session costs £50 per person. The fee is non-refundable unless you give 48 hours’ notice of cancellation.

Book your place on VCTH training

Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets

Free one-to-one support for Volunteer Managers

Would you like to receive free 1 to 1 support/advice from Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets about any aspect of recruiting and managing volunteers? Some examples are listed but you can request support on other volunteering-related issues too.

Reviewing or developing any policies or documents eg Volunteer Policy, Volunteer Handbook, Volunteer Application Form
Developing volunteer roles
Recruiting volunteers (scaling up, more skilled, more diverse, more local)
Improving your volunteer assessment/interview/screening process (including DBS checks)
Reviewing your volunteer induction/training processes
Improving volunteer support and supervision
Improving retention of volunteers
Managing risks related to volunteers
Dealing with difficult situations with volunteers
Developing bespoke in-house training for your staff on any aspect of managing volunteers.

This service is free to

voluntary and community sector organisations with a base/office/centre in Tower Hamlets
services/projects aimed at Tower Hamlets residents.

Other organisations have to pay. Contact Evelyn Rodrigues, Training and Best Practice Manager at evelyn@vcth.org.uk.

Directory of Social Change

Funds Online webinar - Wednesday 23 August

Whether you are a new subscriber to Funds Online or a seasoned veteran, join DSC’s Funds Online expert George Knight for a 30 minute webinar exploring some tips and tricks to help get you access to the funding you need today.

The session will explore everything from completing a basic search to saving funds and search results. George will show you how to get Funds Online working for you, almost as if you had an extra fundraiser working in your team!

At this unique time, Funds Online can give you access to the grant-givers that will ensure you are able to not survive but thrive.

There is a Q&A at the end, so please come prepared with your own questions about Funds Online.
You will receive the link to the webinar in your confirmation email from our Customer Services team.

Training schedule

Online webinar: 12.30 to 1pm, 23 August 2023
Check the booking options

By placing this order you agree to DSC's terms and conditions.

Health Inequalities and the Rising Cost of Living

The Institute of Health Equity has written a report on how to reduce the impacts that the cost-of-living crisis is having on health inequalities in London.

Community Space Guide

Check out this cultural/community space guide from London Business Hub. It covers all the legal, financial and practical questions you might have about creating your own space.

LGBTQ+ Charities

There are so many amazing LGBTQ+ charities. For more information about the charities working on LGBTQ+ issues, take a look at these resources from The London Community Foundation and Charity Digital.

Conducting webinars

Webinars have become a vital aspect of working in the sector. This is why it is vital to make your webinars as good as possible. Check out this detailed guide on the topic.

New City College

Maths Skills for Life

Free course

This is a new programme to help adults across the UK to improve their numeracy skills.

The training programme aims to boost numeracy skills to progress to work or to help with daily tasks, earn higher wages, manage money better and/or support children at home with home learning.

The programme is available online and/or classroom based for 15 hours, or three hours each week over five weeks, there are also options for intensive study.

This programme is ongoing

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM)

This training is aimed at safeguarding young people. Preventing Gambling Harms training aims to raise awareness and address issues around gambling harm (which is disproportionately affecting young people from ethnic minority communities).

The workshop is designed to develop an understanding of socio–cultural and religious contents on shame and stigma in relation to gambling harms.

The prevention programme will deliver specialist workshops to young people from ethnic minority populations aged between 14–24 years, as well as training to community and faith leaders.

To express an interest for the training, please complete the form on Diverse Communities Expression of Interest – YGAM.