Management Support and Consultancy

Andy has experience of providing advice and support to voluntary organisations in a variety of ways. Support is always targeted to the specific needs of the organisation concerned. Some of the methods Andy uses are described below, please contact Andy to discuss your particular circumstances.

Training for voluntary organisations

Andy offers training targeted at voluntary sector managers drawing on best practice in the sector and based on his experience at the sharp end.

Training is tailored to the needs of the group and typically involves a variety of formats including tutor input, group discussion, and practical exercises. The training aims to challenge and inspire participants to develop their own understanding.

Some of the training Andy delivers is described below, please contact Andy to discuss your particular requirements.

Review Days

Review Days give you a chance to step back from the day-to-day work and with your staff, committee and volunteers, think about what is needed, what works and set your priorities for the future. Andy will help you to plan and facilitate the day to ensure that you get the most from it.

Business Planning

Take control of your future! review your vision, understand strengths and weaknesses, put your service users first, set SMART objectives, and make a compelling case for your organisation. Andy can take your organisation through the process of business planning, helping as required to review your existing work, and make plans for the future. Andy will encourage you to think creatively in finding solutions to meet the needs of your service users / customers.

Mentoring & Supervision

An external source of support or formal supervision for isolated managers, providing a safe space to discuss difficulties, refocus and develop problem solving strategies. Andy has a great deal of experience in managing staff, and of working for a committee of trustees. He is available to provide external mentoring and supervision for managers working for committees that struggle to find the time to manage.

Health Checks

An independent review of the organisation’s vital signs, focussing on governance, service user needs, people and resources. Andy can help you to take stock of where you are and what the priorities are for the future. The Health Check involves an in-depth interview with the manager / key staff, and questionnaires for trustees, paid staff and volunteers. Andy will provide a detailed report identifying key issues and helping you to plan future work.

Business & Strategic Planning

Modular sessions are available taking participants through the business planning process from deciding who to involve and how through to evaluating the process and reviewing your performance. The training places the customer or service user at the heart of the process – building the plan around their needs.

Practical exercises are used to develop understanding and to encourage participants to put their planning skills to use. The sessions aim to develop participant’s creativity and to encourage them to take a fresh look at how best to meet their service users’ needs.

Training for Committees

Steering a path through the complex roles and responsibilities of the charity trustee.

Creativity and Entrepreneurship

Training to help you to unlock the latent creativity of your people to find new solutions to long-term problems or to redesign what you do to meet new challenges.

Using practical tried and tested techniques the training will help you to put the customer or service user at the centre of your organisation and empower staff and volunteers to take decisions that lead to a more creative, dynamic and focussed organisation.