ARCHIVE PAGE ONLY - Recent Courses & Events
In recent years we have completed a wide range of learning events for the public, private and third sectors, including:
The first Inspiring Leaders in South Yorkshire is now complete! A total of 21 community leaders from 24 organisations took part in the 6-day programme targeting the voluntary sector in the West / North West area of Leeds. The programme finished with a celebratory graduation on 19th May at St. George's Centre, Leeds where 50 people watched the participants complete the course. Guest speakers on this programme have included: GP Consortium, Health and Social Care Commissioners, a Social Enterprise Director and Councillor Lucinda Yeadon.
In-House Team Building - April 2011
A large and successful charity in the West Midlands, Changes, requested that we deliver a bespoke one-day training session for their staff team. The day covered a number of themes including reviewing their vision and effective team working. Further sessions are planned.
Introduction to Leadership - March 2011
For many years we have been asked to run one day events on leadership and on 8th March we delivered a one day introduction to leading teams for managers and coordinators. This interactive day was, according to a participant, "the best training course I've ever been on!". The day was a whistle stop tour of great leadership using interactive exercises, lots of discussion and much fun!
Introduction to Coaching & Mentoring - February 2011
10 participants from community agencies in Manchester, Lancashire and Staffordshire came together for this introductory workshop to learn how to utilise coaching and mentoring in the workplace. Led by Andrew Ramwell, who is experienced at teaching coaching and mentoring to senior leaders across the country, the group learnt about practical and beneficial ways they can motivate and communicate with their staff and volunteers.
Value of Positive Thinking - February 2011
A group of 12 managers and coordinators in the voluntary and community sector from across the North West region gathered in Central Manchester to receive and welcomed boost to their expectations and outlook at work. In the current climate of political and social policy change, it is so easy to allow negative views and conversations to dominate our working lives. We helped this group see how they can value the people and opportunities around them to create positive attitudes as leaders that inspire and encourage others.
Provider Readiness Programme – October 2010 until March 2011
On 19th November we began a pilot programme to train and mentor 10 charities working with Black Asian and Minority communities in Greater Manchester. In a unique partnership with the voluntary, public and private sectors we are working with SERCO, CEMVO, ACEVO and Salford City Council to pilot this new programme. Participants and their organisations will receive training and mentoring support as they prepare to become ‘contract ready’ to work as sub-contractors for the private and public sector seeking to work with the hardest to reach sections of the community in Greater Manchester. We are evaluating this programme and hope to develop it to a wider audience in 2011. The programme ended with a special graduation ceremony on 24 March 2011.
2010
The Pursuit of Happiness - November 2010
So many people that we come across started out their working life seeking to make a difference to their communities through a cause or passion that deeply resonated with them. We ran this workshop for a group of 8 managers from Manchester and Lancashire to provide simple but practical tools that they could use with their colleagues and volunteers to remind them of how to enjoy their work once more!
Team Building Session – October 2010
On 13th October we designed a bespoke team building training session for the Black Health Agency in Manchester. The day was used to bring all the staff together, some 50 people, to allow the staff to debate the purpose and plans of the agency as it develops its strategic plan.
Managing Teams Differently – October 2010
On 6th October,as part of the Leading Change training series, we held a taster training session for Managing Teams Differently. For two hours from 5pm 10 managers from different organisations in the voluntary, public and private sector participated in this interactive workshop. They learnt four new group activities that can help encourage, motivate and support their teams.
Managing People - May 2010
On 27th May 2010, we delivered a one-day workshop in Manchester dealing with how to manage and motivate staff and volunteers, for voluntary and community sector managers. 15 people attended with a waiting list in operation. Attendees came from across the region including Cumbria and Lancashire! A repeat of this workshop is being planning for later in 2010.
Inspiring Leaders Lancashire 2010
Between April and June 2010 we delivered another Inspiring Leaders programme, this time in West Lancashire using Parbold Village Hall. Due to the high demand for the course in 2009 we were able to fill the places on this course with previous applicants and with the help of West Lancashire CVS we ran the programme for another 7 days. On this course two new tutors took part: Sarah Forster who had coordinated the Manchester programme in 2010 and also Dave Williams, Manager of Manchester Carers Forum who had also attended the programme earlier in the year. It was great to see new tutors join us and more leaders enthused by the course!
Inspiring Leaders in Manchester 2010 ...click here for photos and a video
On 20th January we began a brand new 7-day Inspiring Leaders course in Manchester. There was extremely high demand for this programme and 23 leaders were selected to take part. When the programme finished in March the pictures and video from this course will be posted online shortly.
2009
Inspiring Leaders Lancashire 2009 ...click here for a video
On 29th October 2009 a new Inspiring Leaders course started in Lancashire. We have received a huge response to this course and places are now full. We intend to run an additional course in Lancashire early in 2010; final details are in the process of confirmation and an announcement will be made shortly.
Inspiring Leaders in Manchester Launch - November 2009 - click here for photos
On the evening of Wednesday 11th November we held a fun and informative event at the Zion Arts Centre, Hulme to introduce the forthcoming course: INSPIRING LEADERS in MANCHESTER. Using music, presentations, questions, debate and good food, 50 people representing the local community enjoyed a taster of Inspiring Leaders. The event was sponsored by Manchester Beacon for Public Engagement. Applications for the full course are now open!
Inspiring Leaders Lancashire Launch - July 2009 ...click here for photos
As an introduction to Inspiring Leaders we held a free evening event for those interested in attending or sign posting others to Inspiring Leaders Lancashire at Astley Hall in Chorley with presentations, debate, music and a buffet. Around 30 people attended representing a wide range of organisations and groups. Applications for the autumn course, starting 29th October 2009, are now open.
Inspiring Leaders Liverpool 2009, April - July 2009 ...click here for a video
Twenty participants completed this course at the Kummba Imani Millennium Centre in Toxteth, Liverpool. Delivered in partnership with Sport 4 Life Ltd and the support of the BRM Network in Liverpool the programme has been a resounding success. Participants plan to continue meeting, growing new leaders in the own communities and fulfilling the dreams the course ignited. Pictures of the graduation are available and a short video of participants has been created. Funding from 'Capacity Builders Improving Reach' enabled those representing or offering services to Black and Minority Ethnic communities to attend for FREE.
Inspiring Leaders Oldham 2009, February - April 2009
Sixteen participants worked through the seven programme and have demonstrated the potential power available from harnessing the passion and abilities of local community leaders. Delivered with the support of Sport 4 Life Ltd, North West Street Games and Hathershaw and Fitton Hill New Deal fo Communities the programme was subsidised by funding from Capacity Builders: Improving Reach Programme. A video montage of the programme and participants can be found be clicking here.
Inspiring Leaders Salford 2009, January - March 2009
Seventeen participants worked through the seven day programme and have demonstrated the potential power available from harnessing the passion and abilities of local community leaders. Commissioned by Salford Primary Care Trust this programme was the second of two planned courses designed to help engage the Third Sector in addressing local public health inequalities.
Inspiring Leaders Liverpool Open Evening, March 2009 - click here and here for photos
As an introduction to Inspiring Leaders we held a free evening event for those interested in attending or sign posting others to Inspiring Leaders Liverpool at the Kuumba Imani Centre with presentations, debate, music and a buffet. A wide range of organisations and groups attended, kick starting the local publicity for the full course that started on 29th April 2009.
Inspiring Leaders Salford 2008, October 2008 - Janaury 2009 << See our press release >>
Twenty participants worked through the programme and have demonstrated the potential power available from harnessing the passion and abilities of local community leaders. Commissioned by Salford Primary Care Trust this programme was the first of two planned courses designed to help engage the Third Sector in addressing local public health inequalities. A video from the programme and graduation photos are available.
2008
Volunteers and the Law, September 2008 << See our press release >>
Funded by the ESRC and in partnership with Volunteering Manchester we hosted a FREE one day workshop for more than 60 people in the local voluntary sector on the issue of volunteers and the law. Information from the day is being evaluated by MMU academics to advice and guide Volunteer Manchester on its campaign to provide a volunteer support service in the City.
Leadership Development, June 2008
Funded through a grant from the ESRC we ran a leadership development focus group with previous participants and sector stakeholders to encourage and investigate leadership in the Third Sector. More than 25 organisations benefited from the event and Dr. Clare Schofield, Centre for Enterprise, MMU BUsiness School evaluated the day.
Inspiring Leaders North Manchester, January – March 2008
Located on the edge of Heaton Park 22 participants took part in the Inspiring Leaders programme. Participants came from a diverse range of interests which included: roller blading, high board diving, angling, outdoor pursuits, rowing, rugby, ladies football, sailing and community development. The group were led through a challenging programme that encouraged reflection on personal goals, attitudes and amibitions before offering practical tools and templates for community based leadership. A video showing the graduates of the course can be found here.
Video Interviewing and Editing as Evaluation, February 2008
Using skills gained from delivering and assessing evaluation a workshop was designed from staff from Greatersport engaged in delivering the Women in Higher Level Coaching project. The session allowed participants to practice videoing interviews and then editing the final product to demonstrate impact and change from community based projects. The participants used the techniques learnt to showcase their work to stakeholders and funders.
Volunteers and the Law, February 2008
In partnership with Volunteering Manchester, we piloted a FREE evening seminar for more than 35 people in the local voluntary sector on the issue of volunteers and the law. Information from the day is being used to guide Volunteer Manchester on its campaign to provide a volunteer support service in the City.
2007
Inspiring Leaders Central Manchester, September – December 2007
Using a Sports Development Centre in Hulme 15 participants were inducted onto the new Inspiring Leaders programme. Participants came from a diverse range of interests which included: youth work, carers forums, youth justice, addiction, international development, supported housing, faith groups and sports development. The group were led through a challenging programme that encouraged reflection on personal goals, attitudes and amibitions before offering practical tools and templates for community based leadership. A video showing the graduates of the course can be found here and a montage of the course by clicking here.
Sustainability Toolkit, 7th and 21st March 2007
Using resources supplied by the ERDF, we devised and delivered two free workshops in March 2007 on sustainable planning. In total 30 people representing the not for profit sector attended the workshop. Participants represented a diverse range of interests including: disability, mental Health, arts and Culture, young People, sport and physical activity, housing, crime and community safety. Using an existing free, web based tool called BALANCE the day centred on participants reflecting on their current view of sustainability before completing the tool on line and debating the results. Each participant left the workshop with an action plan that they could share with colleagues and utilise within their organisations.
Evaluation Planning, 7th and 21st February 2007
We devised and delivered two free workshops on evaluation planning for nearly 30 representatives from the not for profit sector and Manchester City Council. Participants represented a diverse range of interests including: sport and physical activity, children and young people, crime / community safety, homelessness / housing, arts, regeneration, education and volunteering. A flexible and practical template was produced for the day breaking down the basic planning process required for any evaluation and participants experiences and examples were utilised to illustrate the tool.
2006
Transforming Communities Through Physical Activity Conference, 6th June 2006
Through funding from the ERDF, we hosted a FREE community conference to promote and share best practice in utilising physical activity to change and enhance communities at the Eastland’s Stadium.The conference was attended by 150 delegates from the Greater Manchester area, representing both voluntary and statutory sectors. Delegates spanned a wide range of interests, i.e. sport, physical activity, refugees, education, young people, health, volunteering, older people, business, community and mental health. The programme involved two keynote speakers setting the scene for physical activities impact in the wider social context and raising issues and dilemmas around sports volunteering. Every delegate could attend two breakout sessions and one-to-one appointments with North West Network www.nwnetwork.org.uk to discuss support needs. Several local agencies were invited to promote their work in a stallholder’s area and lead sessions.