I provide leadership to the Training and Development Team, and deliver developmental support to both new and established self help groups in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire including funding and sustainability. I also provide advice, support and training to agencies engaged in the development and support of self help, self care and self management (voluntary and statutory sector) in the city and county. I work directly with self help groups and professionals who support them… Show more I provide leadership to the Training and Development Team, and deliver developmental support to both new and established self help groups in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire including funding and sustainability. I also provide advice, support and training to agencies engaged in the development and support of self help, self care and self management (voluntary and statutory sector) in the city and county. I work directly with self help groups and professionals who support them to enable them to become established and follow best practice, and ensuring their sustainability via fundraising.Development of networking events and new ways of training both professionals and group members including delivery of training to City Care professionals as part of a local pilot scheme funded by the Clinical Commissioning Group. Reporting of outcomes from the training and development of future courses.Throughout all of this I promote and enable a range of agencies both in the voluntary and community sector, statutory services and public health to develop skills and expertise in supporting organisations and reaching towards the understanding of self help. Show less

My role as Project Co-ordinator was to support, strengthen and co-ordinate a network of advice agencies in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, which included: Management of over £450,000 Lottery funding with responsibility for planning work and recording and reporting outcomes to funders and stakeholders on a regular basis.Recruitment and management of 2 members of staff, including a specialist Welfare Benefits Consultant Adviser.Networking and liaison with… Show more My role as Project Co-ordinator was to support, strengthen and co-ordinate a network of advice agencies in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, which included: Management of over £450,000 Lottery funding with responsibility for planning work and recording and reporting outcomes to funders and stakeholders on a regular basis.Recruitment and management of 2 members of staff, including a specialist Welfare Benefits Consultant Adviser.Networking and liaison with voluntary and community sector agencies, the public and statutory sector over a range of changes to the welfare benefits system and enabling the advisers within the members to access tools to enable them to meet public demand.Work with individual members to strengthen and support their own organisations including business and funding strategies, communications and adhering to current best practice for their policies and procedures. Working with interested individuals in the community to establish and develop a new advice centre in the Keyworth to meet the needs of local residents, including recruiting volunteers, developing the management committee and securing start up and continuation funding.Development of a programme of training and networking activities to enable the volunteer advisers to continue to be able to meet demand, including a large adviser conference in May 2014. This training programme was flexible to meet the demands of the volunteers and responsive to changes in welfare benefits and other advice areas.Close working relationship with the Local Authority over the preparations for Universal Credit, including being a key stakeholder in the Rushcliffe Borough Council's Universal Credit pilot looking at the support needed by residents making claims. This working relationship led to regular liaison meetings looking at issues between advice agencies and the Revenues and Benefits department, and consultation over local changes in line with welfare reform. Show less

Sessional tutor delivering a range of arts and crafts courses to adults in community settings. Designing, writing and delivering the courses to a variety of skill levels and learning abilities, the courses I taught included:DressmakingEmbroideryUsing vintage patternsPrinting and stitchingCrochetTextile JewelleryThese classes were largely delivered on evenings and weekends and ranged from 1 or 2 days to 26 weeks.

I worked with a wide range of volunteer involving organisations to develop a Nottingham City Volunteering Strategy, leading consultations and mapping exercises to facilitate wide participation and ownership. I developed and disseminated a range of volunteering best practice guides for volunteer involving organisations, delivered a wide range of volunteer management training including a Level 3 Volunteer Management course accredited by LANTRA which generated income and networks.… Show more I worked with a wide range of volunteer involving organisations to develop a Nottingham City Volunteering Strategy, leading consultations and mapping exercises to facilitate wide participation and ownership. I developed and disseminated a range of volunteering best practice guides for volunteer involving organisations, delivered a wide range of volunteer management training including a Level 3 Volunteer Management course accredited by LANTRA which generated income and networks. Supported the Volunteer Centre through the Volunteer Centre accreditation process and advised a range of volunteer involving agencies both on developing their use of volunteers and best practice to resolve issues. Show less

I was responsible for recruiting and managing a team of volunteers who acted as parental support/ advocates for parents and carers of children with disabilities. Line management of 2 staff, including a specialist bilingual family support worker for Asian families. Liaison with a wide range of public and voluntary sector agencies to enable the needs of the child to be best met. Safeguarding lead for the project and trained in leading multi agency meetings. Management of the… Show more I was responsible for recruiting and managing a team of volunteers who acted as parental support/ advocates for parents and carers of children with disabilities. Line management of 2 staff, including a specialist bilingual family support worker for Asian families. Liaison with a wide range of public and voluntary sector agencies to enable the needs of the child to be best met. Safeguarding lead for the project and trained in leading multi agency meetings. Management of the project funding and reporting outcomes to a range of stakeholders including a project steering group. Show less

In this secondment I worked in a nationally focussed role within a large organisation to develop the range and use of volunteers within Family Action. This work meant developing and disseminating tools for the organisation to use to support volunteer development, and working with specific projects closely to enable them to better use volunteers by funding a part time volunteer co-ordinator, and monitoring the outcomes from this funding.Delivery of volunteer management training and working… Show more In this secondment I worked in a nationally focussed role within a large organisation to develop the range and use of volunteers within Family Action. This work meant developing and disseminating tools for the organisation to use to support volunteer development, and working with specific projects closely to enable them to better use volunteers by funding a part time volunteer co-ordinator, and monitoring the outcomes from this funding.Delivery of volunteer management training and working with a steering group to look at volunteering development. I led on an exercise that used trainees from the National Audit Office to examine and report on the level and impact of volunteering within the organisation. I supported some of the local projects to successfully apply for the Investors in Volunteers award, including the first consortium accreditation which was awarded to a group of childrens' centres in North Nottinghamshire. Show less

I was responsible for the management of the Neighbourhood Renewal Funded (NRF) project looking at preventing vulnerable young people (aged 8-12) from becoming involved in crime and being excluded from school, across a Super Output Area in Nottingham. Management of 3 full time support workers and a bank of sessional staff and volunteers, plus responsibility for designing and developing programmes to meet the needs of the 50 young people on our caseload. I reported outcomes to funders… Show more I was responsible for the management of the Neighbourhood Renewal Funded (NRF) project looking at preventing vulnerable young people (aged 8-12) from becoming involved in crime and being excluded from school, across a Super Output Area in Nottingham. Management of 3 full time support workers and a bank of sessional staff and volunteers, plus responsibility for designing and developing programmes to meet the needs of the 50 young people on our caseload. I reported outcomes to funders and key stakeholders on a regular basis both in reports and funding returns, but also via presentation at stakeholder meetings. Financial responsibility for the project including fundraising, financial monitoring and sourcing pro bono work from partners, and ensuring any grants from local politicians was used within agreed timescales. Networking and liaison on a daily basis with local services such as schools, The Police, Youth Offending and the Local Authority in order to reduce crime and share intelligence. I was also the Safeguarding Officer for the project so regularly liaised with Social Services over child protection issues. Show less

Management of a number of projects all funded by DWP designed to support vulnerable people who were long term unemployed to access training, education and work experience. Progress 2 Work Link Up worked with ex offenders, the homeless and people with substance misuse issues. This was to support them to develop confidence and employability - here I worked with a caseload of clients and managed other staff on the project. Gear Change worked with people in recovery from substance misuse… Show more Management of a number of projects all funded by DWP designed to support vulnerable people who were long term unemployed to access training, education and work experience. Progress 2 Work Link Up worked with ex offenders, the homeless and people with substance misuse issues. This was to support them to develop confidence and employability - here I worked with a caseload of clients and managed other staff on the project. Gear Change worked with people in recovery from substance misuse issues to train and gain experience to become support/ key workers. I worked with students on both programmes and supported the management of both. On the Gear Cange course I taught OCN Level 2 Mentoring Skills, as well as supported the learners and worked with the Gear Change Co-ordinator to recruit new students. A large part of my role involved networking and partnership working with a number of agencies such as DWP, The Probation Service and homelessness and addiction charities, and this was a key factor in the success of the project Show less

Recruiting, training and management of a large team of volunteer mentors who were matched to people who were long term unemployed and on the New Deal programme. This project was funded by the DWP and was so successful it then expanded from being in Greater Nottingham to covering the County. Training and ongoing support for the volunteer mentors who were recruited from a variety of fields; this included being the safeguarding lead for the project. Regular recording and… Show more Recruiting, training and management of a large team of volunteer mentors who were matched to people who were long term unemployed and on the New Deal programme. This project was funded by the DWP and was so successful it then expanded from being in Greater Nottingham to covering the County. Training and ongoing support for the volunteer mentors who were recruited from a variety of fields; this included being the safeguarding lead for the project. Regular recording and reporting of outcomes to DWP and our steering group both via written report and face to face at review meetings and in presentations to DWP staff. Show less

This role began on a temporary basis but developed into becoming the Co-ordinator after my colleague moved to a teaching position within the college.Administration and support for the New Deal project that was funded by DWP to develop skills and experience through voluntary sector work placements. Liaison with college staff for enrolment and attendance of students, and with placement providers to ensure the placement was suitable and being attended.Marketing of the service to… Show more This role began on a temporary basis but developed into becoming the Co-ordinator after my colleague moved to a teaching position within the college.Administration and support for the New Deal project that was funded by DWP to develop skills and experience through voluntary sector work placements. Liaison with college staff for enrolment and attendance of students, and with placement providers to ensure the placement was suitable and being attended.Marketing of the service to potential new clients and building links with individuals and departments within DWP to ensure referrals.This service became part of a bigger Welfare to Work scheme when the college merged with New College Nottingham in September 2000. Show less