Professional Skills Training

This in-person course will cover everything you need to know about bookkeeping for your small organisation. The modules will provide an introduction to bookkeeping, guidance on setting up your bookkeeping system, templates for financial records, and more.

This in person course will cover everything you need to know about bookkeeping for your small organisation. The six modules will cover:

• Module 1: introduction to bookkeeping
• Module 2: setting up your bookkeeping system
• Module 3: templates of financial records
• Module 4: understanding self-assessment and national insurance
• Module 5: VAT
• Module 6: universal credit for the self-employed

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Basic Bookkeeping training session will be held in-person on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, please

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

A well-crafted business plan is the backbone of any successful organisation. Join our training session to develop effective business plans that align with your goals and aspirations. Whether you’re starting a new venture or looking to revamp your current plans, this session with equip you with the tools you need to succeed.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Contact the training team for more information: training@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649960.

Many voluntary sector groups think they are safe from cyber crime because they have a low income or few assets. This mistaken belief can put you at risk. A 2023 survey found that 24% of charities and voluntary sector groups had experienced a breach or attack int he last 12 months.

Don't put yourself at risk! Join this session to learn:

• What cyber security is
• What the biggest risks are to VCFSE groups
• Simple, practical steps to improve your cyber security.

This session is particularly suitable for those with limited IT or cyber security knowledge.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Contact the training team for more information: training@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649960.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Describe the links between objectives and outputs, specific aims and outcomes, and strategic aims and impact
• Turn objectives into outputs
• Turn specific aims into outcomes
• Specify at least three ways to collect data
• Understand how to develop monitoring and evaluation framework

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Demonstrating Your Impact session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, please

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• Understand the Fundamentals of Fundraising​
• Identify and Apply Various Fundraising Techniques​
• Navigate Legal and Ethical Considerations​
• Develop Effective Donor Relationships​
• Create a Tailored Fundraising Strategy​
• Apply Learning through Practical Activities​
• Enhance Fundraising Confidence and Skills​

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Essential Fundraising for Small Charities training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

Knowing how to evaluate your organisations progress is essential for ensuring your group is constantly improving. Evaluating your projects and services is necessary to analyse outcomes, helping to inform your future steps and feedback to funders, trustees and the communities you serve.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Contact the training team for more information: training@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649960.

This in person Facilitating Team Building training session will help your organisation establish a strong teamworking ethos. 

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Contact the training team for more information: training@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649960.

This session is an introduction to full cost recovery and how to apply this knowledge to funding applications. No previous knowledge is needed to attend the course.

Join this session to understand:

• What is meant by full cost recovery
• Your direct costs and overhead costs, and how to factor these into an applications
• How to apply the full cost recovery concept to future grant and funding applications.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Full Cost Recovery training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

Every organisation which handles private data is obligated to follow General Data Protection Regulation law. This training course will outline clearly for you your legal obligations, how to comply with the laws and how to handle client data safely and confidently.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next GDPR and Confidentiality training session will be held in-person on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

This training course will cover everything your organisation needs to know about governance, from how to comply with guidelines and how to have effective governance.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Introduction to Governance training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

This course will highlight the advantages of a strong marketing strategy for your organisation, covering various marketing methods from traditional to digital. Participants will learn how to manage social media effectively and evaluate their marketing success to ensure ongoing improvement as their organisation grows.

This course will cover

• How a good marketing strategy can benefit your organisation
• How to utilise different forms of marketing, from physical to digital
• How to use social media to your advantage
• How to evaluate your marketing success, and continue improving as your organisation grows

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Introduction to Marketing for Small Organisations training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

If you're a new or aspiring trustee, this one hour Teams course will equip you with essential knowledge about trusteeship. It covers the fundamental aspects of the role within a charity, highlighting the motivations and rewards that come with being a trustee. You'll learn why trusteeship is crucial to the charity sector and gain a realistic understanding of what serving on a board entails. This includes an overview of the responsibilities, challenges, and the significant impact you can have as a trustee.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Introduction to Trusteeship training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

If you're a new or aspiring trustee, this one hour Teams course will equip you with essential knowledge about trusteeship. It covers the fundamental aspects of the role within a charity, highlighting the motivations and rewards that come with being a trustee. You'll learn why trusteeship is crucial to the charity sector and gain a realistic understanding of what serving on a board entails. This includes an overview of the responsibilities, challenges, and the significant impact you can have as a trustee.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Introduction to Volunteering training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

This online Professional Boundaries training session will help you to understand how to develop and maintain professional relationships that adhere to appropriate boundaries. 

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Professional Boundaries training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

This interactive and engaging one-day course will explore the challenges of recruiting, retaining and managing volunteers. It is ideal for staff who have this responsibility as their role.

If you have not already achieved 6 Point Promise accreditation, this is an ideal opportunity to get started!

Areas covered include:

• Volunteer motivation
• Writing role descriptions and recruitment adverts
• Selection process
• Induction and support
• Volunteer supervision
• Managing changing motivations
• Dealing with challenging or difficult behaviour
• Saying 'goodbye'
• Rewarding and recognising volunteers
• The Six-Point Promise

The cost for Hertfordshire voluntary organisations is £70. For statutory and non-Hertfordshire organisations it is the full value at £400.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Recruiting, Retaining & Managing Volunteers training sessions will be held in-person on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

This training session is for staff and volunteers working with children and young people in any setting.

During this course, you will learn:

• What abuse is and how to recognise the signs,
• To understand the key words and phrases used in safeguarding work,
• Accountability - including confidentiality, disclosure, reporting concerns, and working with statutory agencies,
• What happens next - the investigation process.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Contact the training team for more information: training@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649960.

This session will guide you in setting your social media goals and objectives, show you how to pinpoint the channels that are key to growing your online community, and help you develop an effective content strategy.

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Strategic Social media Planning training session will be held online on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, or if you have specific access needs please contact us.  A member or the team will be happy to help you. 

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960

Sustainable Funding course will help your organisation achieve financial stability.

At this session, you will learn -

• How to achieve financial sustainability.
• Implement effective tools and approaches for improving fundraising.
• Help identify potential funders.
• Ways of diversifying income. 

Members can join this course for £25, and non members can join this course for £40.

Upcoming Sessions

Our next Sustainable Funding training session will be held online  on:

If you would like to speak to our training team for more information, please

• Email: training@communities1st.org.uk
• Call: 01727 649960