Training

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s not always easy to get all the information you require to be sure you are carrying out your role as effectively as possible. This training will help give you an overview of what’s expected of trustees as well as providing a networking opportunity with your fellow trustees from the area.

The areas covered will include:

• Basic structure of a voluntary organisation
• Trustee duties and liability
• Trustee Roles
• Choosing/understanding your organisation’s structure
• Your constitution
• Reporting
• Organisational policies

The training is suitable for new and existing trustees and will also give a valuable introduction to anyone thinking of taking on the role. You will leave with an improved knowledge of what the position entails along with how to limit any liability you might face.

Register at www.eventbrite.co.uk to book your place.

Highview, Reading RG31 4XD

This fun, energetic, free course introduces you to community organising. This whole day training event is facilitated by independent charity Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) and run by community organisers.

What is community organising?
Community organising is the work of bringing people together to take action around their common concerns and overcome social injustice. Community organisers reach out and listen, connect and motivate people to build their collective power. When people are organised, communities get heard and power begins to shift creating real change for good.

What does the course cover?
This one-day course is an introduction to community organising as a process which can reach out and bring people together to form stronger relationships and develop community activities together. During this course you will explore:

• What community organising is
• The importance of listening to build relationships and uncover issues
• Power in communities and why it matters
• How to motivate people to take action
• How to take your next steps in community organising and social action.

This course is free to attend but places are limited so a £10 administration fee will be charged if you fail to attend the course. To book your place please complete the online form on the website at https://ccb2017.wordpress.com.

Prospect Street, Caversham, Reading RG4 8JB

Everyone is welcome to come along and find out how to set up and run a street party in their neighbourhood. Local group Caversham Champions to End Loneliness is running the free session at Caversham Baptist Church in partnership with Reading Voluntary Action (RVA).

In recent years, national campaigns have promoted street parties as a way of meeting new people, reducing loneliness, connecting people with their neighbourhood and having a lot of fun! Over two weekends, The Big Lunch (1-2 June) and The Great Get Together (21-23 June) street parties will be happening across the country.

Workshop leader David Neale from RVA has organised many street parties in Reading and will guide participants through the kinds of things that need to be considered such as applying to the council, whether insurance is needed, publicity, playing music, serving food etc. The workshop will also cover suggestions for fun and inclusive activities to offer at neighbourhood events.

If you would like to attend this free workshop, please book at www.eventbrite.co.uk or ring Lesley on 01189 473394.

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

If you are new to the role of treasurer for a charity, if you would like a refresher of the role, or if you would simply like to find out more about being a treasurer, this course is for you. If you aren’t yet volunteering as a treasurer but would like to, RVA can then help place you with an organisation to put your new skills into practice.

Aims of the workshop

• To build an understanding of the role of a treasurer in a small voluntary organization
• To ensure the ability to deal with the specifics of the finances of a small voluntary organization
• To give confidence about the issues that are likely to be faced by a treasurer of a small voluntary organisation

Learning outcomes - The content covered will be tailored depending on the needs of delegates on the day. However typically attendees will:

• Understand their financial responsibilities as trustees
• Understand the particular requirements for the accounts of a small voluntary organisation
• Be aware of corporate governance issues facing small voluntary organisations
• Be ready to resolve issues with record keeping and know where to get help if they need it
• Be able to determine if the organisation they volunteer with needs an audit or independent examination of their accounts

The workshop will be open to up to 12 delegates. It will be aimed primarily at new volunteers who wish to act as treasurers in Reading’s voluntary sector, but will also be suitable for volunteers who are stepping up to the role of treasurer.

The course is at our reduced rate of £50 for Reading based charities and community groups. There are a limited number of FREE places for RNN members using the usual promotional code - please contact us at info@rgneighbours.net if you need this code.

Please register at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

Matt Taylor from Age UK Reading is a Dementia Champion and will be delivering this free training session for anyone from Reading’s community and voluntary sector wanting to become a Dementia Friend, as part of Dementia Action Week.

What is a Dementia Friend?
A Dementia Friend is somebody that learns about dementia so they can help their community.Too many people affected by dementia feel that society fails to understand the condition they live with. Dementia Friends help by raising awareness and understanding, so that people living with dementia can continue to live in the way they want.

What does a Dementia Friend do?
Dementia Friends help people living with dementia by taking actions – both big and small.These actions don’t have to be time-consuming. From visiting someone you know with dementia to being more patient in a shop queue, every action counts!

Dementia Friends can also get involved with things like volunteering, campaigning or wearing a badge to raise awareness. Dementia Friends is open to anyone who wants to help people with dementia in their community.

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s not always easy to get all the information you require to be sure you are carrying out your role as effectively as possible. This training will help give you an overview of what’s expected of trustees as well as providing a networking opportunity with your fellow trustees from the area.

The outcomes of the training are to:

• Better understand your role and legal responsibilities as a trustee
• Understand how this role fits with other roles in the charity
• Understand your reporting responsibilities
• Know where to go for help and support
• Feel confident in being an active member of your Board/Committee and helping to achieve your charities purposes!

The training is suitable for new and existing trustees and will also give a valuable introduction to anyone thinking of taking on the role.

Register at www.eventbrite.co.uk to book your place.

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

All voluntary and community groups have a duty to keep their service users safe from harm. This training is for anyone who works or volunteers for a community group or charity in Reading where services are delivered to or they come into contact with vulnerable adults.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Describe circumstances that can make adults vulnerable to abuse
• Recognise possible indicators of abuse
• Respond in line with the safeguarding procedures if abuse is found or suspected
• Report and record appropriately
• Recognise your duty of care to safeguard adults
• Understand the importance of professional boundaries and the consequences of breach

Please book online at www.eventbrite.co.uk. The cost is £10 per person and includes refreshments and printed materials.

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s not always easy to get all the information you require to be sure you are carrying out your role as effectively as possible. This training will help give you an overview of what’s expected of trustees as well as providing a networking opportunity with your fellow trustees from the area.

Outcomes of this training are:

• To better understand your role and legal responsibilities as a trustee
• To understand how this role fits with other roles in the charity
• To understand your reporting responsibilities
• To know where to go for help and support
• To feel confident in being an active member of your Board/Committee and helping to achieve your charities purposes!

To achieve this we will cover:

• Introduction: ‘Trustee’, ‘Charity’ and legal structures
• Trustee roles and responsibilities: 6 Main Legal Duties
• Policies and Procedures: Which ones? Why do they matter?
• Accounting & Reporting – the essentials
• Essential resources and links to help you on your way (Tools)

The training is suitable for new and existing trustees and will also give a valuable introduction to anyone thinking of taking on the role. In some small community groups you may refer to yourselves as the Comittee. If you have overall responsibility for your community group, then this course is for you.

Please book online at www.eventbrite.co.uk. The cost is £10, which includes materials. Refreshments are provided.

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

Are you new to the role of treasurer of a voluntary and community group, or in need of a refresher session? If so, this training is for you.

Aims of the workshop

• To build an understanding of the role of a treasurer in a small voluntary organisation
• To ensure the ability to deal with the specifics of the finances of a small voluntary organisation
• To give confidence about the issues that are likely to be faced by a treasurer of a small voluntary organisation

Learning outcomes: The content covered will be tailored depending on the needs of delegates on the day. However typically attendees will:

• Understand their financial responsibilities as trustees
• Understand the particular requirements for the accounts of a small voluntary organisation
• Be aware of governance issues facing small voluntary organisations
• Be ready to resolve issues with record keeping and know where to get help if they need it
• Be able to determine if the organisation they volunteer with needs an audit or independent examination of their accounts

The workshop will be open to up to 12 delegates. It will be aimed primarily at new volunteers who wish to act as treasurers in Reading’s voluntary sector.

The course is at our reduced rate of £50 for Reading based charities and community groups. There are a limited number of FREE places for RNN members using the usual promotional code - please contact us at info@rgneighbours.net if you need this code.

Please register at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BQ

Voluntary and community groups provide much needed services, often to those who are most vulnerable in our communities. Anyone working with Children or vulnerable adults has a duty to ensure that safer recruitment practices are in place for their volunteers and staff. It’s not always easy to understand just what DBS checks are needed (formerly CRB). This course will help you to gain an overview and understand what steps you should take to identify whether and to what level a DBS check is needed for your volunteers and staff.

The workshop will cover:

• Why did we see a change from CRB to DBS and why is it important?
• What does ‘regulated activity’ mean and how to work out whether it applies to your volunteer/staff roles.
• The levels of DBS checks that can be requested
• How to complete the DBS form
• What is the update service, the benefits and how to sign up?
• What if the DBS shows your volunteers or staff have a criminal record or unspent convictions?
• Your responsibilities
• Help, support and advice that is available

Who should attend? This workshop is for anyone who works or volunteers for a voluntary and community group and is responsible for processing DBS checks, or supervises or manages others. It is also useful for Trustees and Managers of charity’s to gain an overview of the DBS system to inform their Safeguarding Procedures.

Cost: The cost is £10 per person which covers refreshments and printed materials. Online booking is available at www.eventbrite.co.uk.