Training and Skills Development

We provide a wide range of training from one-day events to bespoke training packages and online training.

NICVA's training is developed to meet the needs of the voluntary and community sector and includes a wide variety of high quality sessions, all at affordable prices. NICVA members benefit from 30% discount on all courses.

Training is delivered at NICVA, unless specified otherwise, and if there is substantial demand we will run additional courses in other locations across Northern Ireland.

Bespoke Service

Skills development bespoke training is designed to meet the specific needs of your organisation in the most effective and convenient way to maximise the performance of your staff, volunteers and board. We design and deliver bespoke training to you at a time and place that best suits you. You can find out more about bespoke training here.

Training Calendar

NICVA's training calendar offers courses in a wide range of subjects from management to governance and fundraising. Some of the courses are accredited and all of them are competitively priced and are delivered by subject matter experts. We provide a wide range of training courses including online sessions and accredited programmes.

ILM Accreditation

NICVA is an approved centre with the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). Courses are offered in Leadership and Management, Coaching and Mentoring and Management of Volunteers. We design and deliver a range of ILM courses — award, certificate and diploma — at levels 3 and 5.

TQUK Accreditation

NICVA is an approved centre with Training Qualifications UK (TQUK).  NICVA are currently offering the level 3 award in Education and Training. We design and deliver a range of TQUK courses as part of our training calendar and on a bespoke basis such as Customer Service and Equality and Diversity.

Skills Development Subjects

Leadership and Management

Developing your leadership and management skills has a positive impact on your organisation from improved delivery of services and increased innovation, to better motivation and retention of staff. We provide ILM accredited courses, as well as one day sessions on topics such as managing staff, planning projects and making presentations.

Governance

Developing your governance skills and knowledge will help to ensure that your organisation is governed and led effectively and is aware of best practice and relevant legislation. We provide a range of governance training sessions that can be delivered to your board at a time and place that suits them.

Fundraising

Developing your fundraising skills is essential for the sustainability of your organisation. Our training will help you to consider how to diversify your funding streams and how to be successful in securing resources. We provide a range of fundraising training  sessions to help you be more sustainable as part of our calendar and on request.

Human Resources

Developing your Human Resource skills and knowledge is vital to ensure that your organisation is a good employer, complies with legislation and recruits and retains the right staff. We provide a range of HR training sessions to help you apply HR best practice as part of our calendar and on request.

Train the Trainer

Developing your training skills and knowledge will help to improve the quality of the training you deliver both internally and externally and encourage you to be more creative in your approach. We provide TQUK accredited programmes as part of our training calendar as well as for individual organisations on request.

Data Protection

It's important that your organisation is aware of the legal provisions of data protection law, and can handle personal data fairly and securely. We have developed guidance on GDPR and delivered advice to the community, voluntary and social enterprise sector, and have worked together with the Information Commissioner's Office on a number of issues. We can provide training to ensure that your board, staff and volunteers know how to meet their responsibilities.

Updates

Bursaries for ILM Level 3 and Level 7 until 31 March 2024

Thanks to funding from the Department for Communities, we are delighted to offer bursaries for our ILM Levels 3 and 7 in Leadership and Management to organisations in the voluntary and community sector. 

QUB Students available for internship

Could your charity benefit from Summer student support for 4 or 8 weeks? QUB's Summer 2024 funded Student Internship Programme will give extra support to your organisation during the Summer of 2024.

Developing leaders - succession planning

Succession planning has never been more important. Recruiting staff with the skills and experience you need is proving so difficult at present. 

Learning that makes a difference to Leadership

Since September 2020 153 people have participated in our ILM level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and the learning has made a real difference to their leadership practice.

Communication training series 2023-24

We are delighted to be working with a range of partners to deliver a Communication Training Series over the next few months.

The key to creating change

We are still a long way off discovering our brains' full potential - there is so much for us to tap into to make life and work easier, happier and less stressful. The key to creating change is becoming more aware of how our brains work.

First ever census of VCS adult learning provision in NI launched

On 8 September 2023 the first ever NI census of adult learning provision, delivered in connection with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector in NI was launched in the Long Gallery in Stormont

NICVA looks ahead with Future Thinking Series

Much of this year has been about looking back.

Looking back and rightly recognising the impact and contribution of our sector to The Good Friday Agreement and the lasting peace which has followed.

Digital Month - October 2023

As part of our Future Thinking Series, we are excited to be working with partners to deliver a series of digital workshops and seminars in October 2023.

NICVA and The Wheel launch the IFI Transforming Local Leadership Programme

On 15 June NICVA and The Wheel launched the new International Fund for Ireland (IFI) pilot programme - Transforming Local Leadership, with two information sessions for all IFI funded organisations.

roisin.kelly@nicva.org's picture

Roisin Kelly

Skills Development Coordinator

Team

Dawn Love Skills Development Officer dawn.love@nicva.org's picture
Roisin Kelly Skills Development Coordinator roisin.kelly@nicva.org's picture
Sandra Bailie Head of Organisational Development sandra.bailie@nicva.org's picture

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I have developed the skills, knowledge and confidence to build a formalised training package to roll out to staff across NI, I have no doubt this will influence and improve their practice.

Participant on our TQUK Level 3 Award in Education and Training

This was really very helpful training and I’ve taken a lot of ideas away that I will be able to use. The handouts are really good and will help me to recall all that was done.

Participant on a conflict management skills training session