Developing Your Skills

Accredited programmes of learning and development   -

Volunteering Management , a Professional Development Award at SCQF* level 8 - this award consists of three Higher National Units

1. Policy & Practice,
2. Evaluating and Improving Professional Practice and
3. Leadership and Management in Volunteering.

Applications being taken now for  April 2009. 

Managing Volunteers a Customised Award, at SCQF* level 7 - a selection of customised unit topics are available for this award. Candidates are required to complete two topics to achieve this award. Topics range from -

• Developing Diversity in a Volunteer Programme
• Health & Safety and Risk Management in Volunteer Programmes
• Motivation, Retention and Development of Volunteers
• Managing Youth Volunteering
• Creating Positive Volunteer Staff Relations
• Developing Volunteer Portfolios

Coordinating Volunteers, Customised Award, at SCQF* level 6, five unit topics are studied within this award, candidates are required to study all units to achieve this award.
Units are

1. Planning Strategically for Volunteer Involvement
2. Effective Volunteer Recruitment
3. Matching Volunteers to Roles and Tasks
4. Increasing Volunteer Effectiveness through Training and Development
5. Supporting and Supervising Volunteers

Applications being taken now for April 2009.

*SCQF, Scottish Credit Qualification Framework

VDS Learning Opportunities are one day learning events to enable people working with, coordinating and managing volunteers to develop their skills in the coordination and management of volunteers. All VDS Learning Opportunities are aligned with the Management of Volunteers National Occupational Standards and the Investing in Volunteers quality standard. 

VDS Learning Opportunities from the Intermediate and Advacned Programmes can form part of the learning for the accredited SQA Customised Awards, Coordinating Volunteers and Managing Volunteers. Individuals can attend any of the learning opportunities without registering for the formal accredited Customised Awards. VDS also work with a range of Volunteer Centres to deliver learning opportunities across Scotland.

For information and bookings for learning opportunties contact hazel.mcalpine@vds.org.uk




Learning Opportunities available with VDS from April 2009 are  -

Intermediate Programme of non accredited learning to be delivered from Stirling -

1   April 09              Planning Strategically for Volunteer Involvement
13 May 09              Effective Volunteer Recruitment
10 June 09             Matching Volunteers to Roles and Tasks
19 August 09          Increasing Volunteer Effectiveness through Training and Development
24 September 09    Supporting and Supervising Volunteers

Advanced Programme of non accredited learning to be delivered from Stirling

3 Novemebr   09             Motivation, Retention & Development of Volunteers
1 December  09              Managing Youth Volunteering
15 December 09             Developing Volunteer Portfolios    
20 January    10              Health & Safety and Risk Assessment in Volunteer Programmes
3 February    10              Developing Diversity within a Volunteer Programme
17 February  10              Creating Positive Volunteer Staff Relations

This two day learning opportunity will equip participants to develop skills in the facilitation of learning and training in a volunteering setting. This will be a participative event where individuals will be supported to develop their facilitation skills for learning and training through individual and group activities.
Participants will:
• Explore the meaning and definitions of training and of facilitated learning
• Develop an understanding of adult learning
• Develop knowledge and skills to enable participants to plan, prepare and evaluate learning opportunities
• Be introduced to a range of learning methods and techniques
• Develop skills to enable participants to deliver a learning session within a supportive environment

This VDS learning opportunity is aligned wit the Management of Volunteers National Occupational Standards 2008. 
 
Date:   4th & 26th March 2009 at Stirling

Cost:    VDS Members £180

              Non-Members £200

Bookings are now being taken for this two day learning event, contact hazel.mcalpine@vds.org.uk