Training
Our training programme aims to respond to the needs of third sector organisations, including social enterprises, community groups and volunteers. Our courses are delivered by trainers with in-depth knowledge of the third sector. All our training is free to BCA member organisations, non-members please contact info@borderscommunityaction.org.uk
Our courses
- Funding and Fundraising
- Let's Talk about Menopause at Work
- Evaluation - Introduction to the Basics
- Planning for Sustainability
- Financial Management for Non-financial people series
- Understanding charity annual accounts
- Reserves and full costing
- Financial controls, management accounts, budgeting
- Taxes and Gift Aid
We are also planning a mini digital skills series which will feature:
- a Canva masterclass for beginners / new users (Canva is a popular free-to-use online graphic design tool which can be used to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more).
- a session on how to produce perfect presentations and deliver them with more confidence
- a session on how to effectively use AI in non-for-profit and charity communications and campaigns.
Watch this space!
Funding and fundraising
About the session
This training is delivered in two sessions. Using a mix of case studies, presentations and discussions, you’ll learn about:
- understanding the Scottish funding landscape and how arts and heritage fit into it
- what your organisation needs to have in place to start from a position of strength, rather than need
- how fundraising works and why people give – three models
- the main sources of funding, including Trusts and Foundations, statutory sources, individual giving, legacies, events and corporate giving
- identifying what part of your work should be aimed at what source of funding
- researching funders and sources of support
- beyond the thank you – how to develop relationships with your funders and supporter
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- identify what your organisation needs to have in place before you can start to fundraise effectively
- determine what sources of funding you can approach and identify which ones might be best matched to your organisational needs
- outline the elements needed to make your case to funders
- understand what a range of funders look for when giving support
- feel more confident in approaching a range of sources of support
About the trainer
This programme is delivered by Pam Judson. Armed with over 25 years’ industry experience, Pam works with management committees, volunteers and staff across the voluntary sector to strengthen their fundraising capacity. This includes providing guidance and training in strategic planning, governance for fundraising, proposal writing and research, as well as developing membership and friends’ schemes and individual giving programmes.
Dates
Let's talk about menopause in the workplace
Join us for an engaging and informative session with Ruth Devlin, founder of Let’s Talk Menopause, as she facilitates an open discussion on menopause in the workplace.
We will discuss how to navigate and manage menopause in the workplace. This event is designed to provide support, resources, and practical tips for both employees and employers.
Whether you are experiencing menopause or looking to create a more inclusive work environment, this event is for you. Let’s break the taboo and have an open conversation about menopause at work. Don’t miss out!
This session will help:
- Raise awareness and understanding of menopause
- Equip employees and managers with the knowledge to support colleagues
- Foster an inclusive and supportive work environment
Let’s break the stigma and create workplaces where everyone can thrive!
This session is facilitated by Ruth Devlin, a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience in health and wellbeing. She runs Let’s Talk Menopause, provides informative talks, and is trained in Reflexology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Noticing a lack of information for men regarding menopause, Ruth authored a concise, evidence-based guide beneficial for both men and women, available at major retailers like Waterstones and Amazon.
Date
Evaluation - Introduction to the basics
Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) is providing an Introduction to the Basics of Evaluation course for the 35 projects funded through Round 4 of the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
This online course will help funded projects learn how to effectively evaluate and report on the impact of their work. The course is also open to projects/organisations that did not receive funding (although priority will be given to CMHWB funded projects).
BCA actively encourages funded projects to report back to BCA on their work so that BCA can, in turn, share this useful evidence with the Scottish Government.
The course is structured in 2 half-day workshops:
- Workshop 1: Outcomes, Indicators and Methods
- Workshop 2: Analysis and Reporting
Participants should attend both workshops. There is a 1 hour lunchbreak in-between the sessions.
This training will also help the organisation to apply some or all of the ESS principles that evaluation should:
- Be about what matters
- Fit the way you do your work
- Involve the people you support
- Be used by you
- Be communicated well
ESS helps charities demonstrate the difference they make. They are Scotland’s only charity dedicated to supporting organisations with their evaluation and learning. For more info, go to evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk.
Dates:
Planning for Sustainability
About the workshop
In an increasingly challenging time for third sector organisations, where more is expected of them and funding is becoming harder to access, managing unpredictability is key to sustainability.
Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will:
- Have better knowledge of how to use simple tools and processes to plan for the future, set realistic objectives, manage resources, and support funding applications.
The trainer
This course is delivered by Anne McNeill who is Vice Chair, A Heart for Duns and also the Community Led Planning Lead for Duns. Anne’s professional career has focused on working as a Management Consultant and Facilitator, managing the implementation of European Commission Grants and the Neighbourhood Fund for Scottish Borders Council. Anne is an expert in Governance in Public Appointments.
Dates:
Financial Management for Non-Financial People series
Managing a not-for-profit organisation’s finances can be challenging. Trustees (charities) and directors (CICs) are responsible for making sure their organisation is financially robust enough to operate in line with its purposes and meet the needs of beneficiaries. This series of four sessions aims to guide you through some key areas to support your organisation and boost your confidence and knowledge in the most important areas of managing finances.
1. Understanding charity annual accounts
About this workshop:
This session will cover the requirements for charity accounting, what type of accounts a charity should prepare, what should be included and the level of independent scrutiny required.
By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of:
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- The requirements for charity accounting,
- What type of accounts a charity should prepare
- What should be included and the level of independent scrutiny required.
- Overview of the Charities SORP
- What information and numbers in the accounts mean and what they say about the charity’s financial health. (Note this session does not include accounts for CICs)
Date:
2. Understanding Reserves and Full Costing
About the workshop:
If you want to help your not-for-profit organisation become more financially sustainable, its important to consider the concept of reserves and full cost recovery. Reserves are the things you hold back to be able to deliver your activities when you need to. We will look at why you might need reserves and how to work out what you need. Full cost recovery means ensuring that all costs (including overheads) for delivering a project are covered by the funding you have.
Participants will learn:
By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of:
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- How to calculate full cost recovery
- What happens to your reserves if you don’t raise enough funding to cover overheads and how to deal with this situation
Date:
3. Financial controls, management accounts and budgeting
About the workshop:
We need to safeguard our not-for-profit organisation’s assets (for example money and equipment). This session will look at simple measures a small organisation can put in place. One important control is regularly reporting the finances, and so we will consider management accounts – what they are and what they should include.
By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of:
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- Budgeting
- How to build a budget and identify trigger points and how this can help your organisation stay financially resilient.
Date:
4. Taxes and Gift Aid
About the workshop:
This session is a basic introduction to taxes – corporation tax, VAT and employment taxes for those who want to understand how they may impact their charity or CIC, and when they should seek advice.
By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of:
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- Better understanding of taxes and VAT
- Gift Aid regime for charities: how to register, what can be claimed and the records to keep.
Date:
About the trainer:
Elaine Alsop has over 25 years experience working closely with charities, community interest companies and other voluntary and community groups, develop and strengthen their financial management.
