Group Support

HVA  delivers a range of short courses covering aspects of community leadership and active citizenship, including:

•    Developing the leadership skills used in running a voluntary organisation or community group
•    Exploring ways of facilitating other people’s involvement
•    Developing the skills, confidence and knowledge to influence local decision making
•    Building skills and knowledge for community leadership in relation to partnership working, effective representation and community engagement

A short course programme (Committee Conundrum) is available through HVA with an emphasis on improving skills and knowledge for people involved in starting and managing voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) to increase skills for community leadership, build organisational capacity and improve management quality.

In addition HVA runs some further tailor-made courses, in response to needs expressed through evaluation of the ‘Committee Conundrum’, where groups can access information and advice on other topics. – Employment law, health and safety etc.

A three day programme is aimed at building capacity and promoting good practice in managing and supporting volunteers in the community. It is targeted at Co-ordinators and Managers who have a substantial or increasing responsibility for recruiting and managing volunteers within their organisations

A programme of one-to one support and mentoring is available linked to the above with over 100 groups supported each year. Quality ‘healthchecks’ Linked to PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations) also provide a systematic programme of support and learning that focuses on the pro-active development of voluntary and community groups. Independent Examinations are also provided to help improve financial management systems.

As a result of attending short courses learners are supported to continue to develop their leadership skills by working on real problems, focusing on learning and actually implementing solutions.

Inroduction to National Support

Capacitybuilders is a non-departmental public body managing the 'ChangeUp' programme and working with other funders to build the capacity of the Third Sector.

Improving Support is a joint initiative to strengthen the support services available to third sector organisations. It is co-ordinated by Capacitybuilders and funded through its National Support Services programme.

Assets, resources and links  from the former 6 nation hubs are still available on The Nation Hubs page of the Improving Support website