March 2010 - Free online training
With many people expressing an interest to develop skills to write better funding applications and to understand what business planning really means, Community First are delighted to promote two free on-line training courses to meet this need:
Course Title Writing better bids
Date Wednesday 17th March 2010
Time 13:45 – 15:30
Tutor Bruce Wright
The objective of this course is to help participants understand how to improve the quality of their funding applications. This will cover:
· Hints & tips on style
· General advice on how to improve partial answers
· Criticisms of actual answers to actual questions
· Objectives, Outputs and Outcomes activity
· Winning probabilities – thinking clearly under pressure about which bids to write
· Critical friends – who are they and how to use them.
Course Title Business Planning
Date Thursday 18th March 2010
Time 13:45 – 15:00
Tutor David Ellis
The objective of this course is to demystify the concept of Business Planning.
It has become common in recent years for funders and stakeholders to ask for a 'Business Plan'. What does this really mean, in a sector more comfortable with budgets based on a mix of grants, Service Level Agreements and donations, with bidding project by project, with campaigning, and with enormous contributions from volunteering?
Is 'Business Planning' yet another demand on our time and resources, a hoop to jump through? Is it something we do already, by another name, or something new? Do we really need one and where does it fit into our planning processes? More importantly, will it be of any use to us - and if so, how do you write one and what do you do with it when you have it?
If you recognise any of these questions, or have some of your own, then this is the on-line course for you.
The training for the on-line courses are led by experienced tutors, and delivered “live” over the internet – all you need to take part, from the comfort of your home or office, is a computer with a broadband connection and speakers/headphones.
Places are available on a first come first served basis and are booking up quickly. To secure your place, contact Isobel Lindsey on 01684 312737 or e-mail: isobell@comfirst.org.uk with:
· Name of course
· Your name
· Organisation
· E-mail address
· Contact phone number
Please see below for the tutor biographies:
Biography - Bruce Wright
Bruce has been involved with the use of emerging technologies since the late 60s and has worked with Community Groups, National Organisations, Local Government, Museums and Regeneration Partnerships on a variety of projects and technologies.
Bruce has established himself as a Funding Expert on ICT-related initiatives, with particular emphasis on Learning, Inclusion and Regeneration. He launched the Funding Matters (Information, Advice & Guidance) online service in 2001. Funding Matters has established itself as a leader in the field of funding for ICT-related projects by providing services that include: Email funding alerts, Critical Friend Review Service, Telephone Mentoring Service, Strategic Overview Service and Webinars on Winning Funding (using internet telephony and screen-sharing technologies)
Bruce currently provides funding and sustainability services to the Berkshire Neighbourhood Learning Centres Partnership, UK online centres network, MGL (a schools service provider) and is the funding expert for Ruralnet’s Expert Online service.
Biography – David Ellis
David is a PRINCE2 qualified Project Manager experienced in leading both voluntary sector and commercial projects.
David is an experienced trainer and currently lectures in Business Management at Coventry University.
David is an Outcomes Champion under the Charities Evaluation Services’ National Outcomes Programme, and has trained and supported a variety of front-line charities in measuring the effectiveness of their work.