NICVA’s ILM Level 5 Leadership and Management programme has been supporting VCSE leaders to do just that - building confidence, strengthening leadership capability and equipping participants with practical tools they can apply immediately in their roles.
Programme Impact at a Glance
The distance travelled by learners throughout the programme is clear:
- 82% of participants now rate their leadership skills as high or very high — up from 0% at programme start
- 91% report high or very high leadership knowledge, compared with just 10% at baseline
- Low confidence was eliminated entirely, with 72.7% of learners now feeling confident or very confident
- Participants reported tangible improvements in addressing real workplace challenges, including:
- Conflict resolution (72.7%)
- Adapting to change (63.6%)
- Communication with teams (54.5%)
From Learning to Leadership in Practice
At the outset, learners highlighted common people-management challenges such as motivating staff, managing conflict and responding to constant change. By the end of the programme, participants clearly demonstrated how learning had translated into practice - improving communication, strengthening team cohesion and approaching difficult conversations with increased confidence and clarity.
Notably, some areas - including communication and workload balance - were not initially recognised as development priorities. By programme completion, learners increasingly identified these as critical leadership skills, reflecting heightened self-awareness and a more rounded understanding of effective leadership.
Learners’ Voices
The depth of impact is echoed powerfully in participants’ own words:
“It has strengthened my leadership skills, particularly in strategic thinking, decision-making, and managing teams effectively. It has increased my self-awareness, confidence, and ability to communicate and adapt in different situations.”
“I feel much more confident leading my team. I can deal with conflict and change more effectively and apply what I’ve learned straight away.”
“I have gained confidence in myself. I feel more able to lead and manage my team, and I feel ready to take on more challenges.”
“It’s helped me to be much more aware of how I approach my leadership style and how I communicate with my team.”
Developing Leaders Who Make a Difference
NICVA’s ILM Level 5 programme is about more than gaining a qualification. It supports leaders to grow into confident, reflective and capable practitioners who can make a meaningful difference within their organisations and, ultimately, within the communities they serve.
Find out more about NICVA’s leadership development programmes: Training Calendar
