Leadership Learning Opportunities
We know that it can be tricky to prioritise your own learning and development as a leader or manager within the VCSE sector.
Our roles often involve spinning lots of plates, juggling responsibilities to deliver on our mission, ensure our organisation or group’s sustainability and to support others within the team. It can be hard to make the time and also find the budget for our own development. On the other hand, learning opportunities can be incredibly beneficial – giving us an opportunity to step back and gain perspective, find new tools and approaches to support our work and develop our organisations and build valuable relationships and networks. There are a range of learning opportunities and resources available to support your continuing professional development as a leader within the VCSE sector, including some which are available at low or no cost. We share a few of these below and other opportunities can also be found on the VCSE Workforce Hub Personal Development page.
10GM VCSE Workforce Development Project Open Online Workshop Recordings
10GM’s Open Workshops are an opportunity to develop your understanding of key aspects of leadership and workforce development. Each workshop features speakers from Greater Manchester’s VCSE sector, sharing their experiences of leadership, and successes and challenges in nurturing and supporting their workforce. These workshops provide a valuable learning space for VCSE staff; reflecting the strengths, joys and challenges of working in GM’s VCSE sector and creating opportunities for peer learning.
Recordings include:
- Using Data to Drive Decisions
- Building Inclusive Cultures
- Leading with Values
- Personal wellbeing and Resilience as a Leader
Greater Manchester Moving/Macc/10GM Systems Leadership Workshops
Systems Leadership is all about amplifying a model of leadership that’s not about managing, but about how to make things happen, across sectors, in a collaborative way. It is designed to help you lead when you don’t have positional power, levers to pull, or a large budget to wield.
We can all help people live more active lives. Everyone has a role to play: volunteers, communities and the paid workforce
- Some people like to be active by going to the gym or taking part in organised sports.
- Some want to walk on streets that feel safe and welcoming.
- Some people want to reduce their car use and travel by public transport more.
- Others want to play with their children or friends in a park that is well looked after
We can make a real difference together when we understand each other’s experiences.
We’re creating opportunities to come together to learn new skills and share our ideas. These are open to anyone who feels like moving matters to you or your work.
NCVO: Navigating Succession Planning in Charities Webinar
This free webinar will help charities navigate the opportunities and challenges of leadership succession. Gain practical tips on how you can prepare for effective leadership transitions.
By the end of the event, you’ll:
- understand why succession planning matters
- know the key features of good succession planning
- find out about opportunities and challenges of succession planning
- know where to go for further support.
The Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership
The Open University’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership provides a range of free learning opportunities and resources to help you develop and strengthen your leadership practice in the voluntary sector. Their current offer includes online courses on developing leadership practice and collaborative leadership and opportunities to join online leadership learning clubs to connect with and reflect on your learning with other leaders.
NHS North West Leadership Academy
The NHS North West Leadership Academy provides a range of free resources for health and social care leaders and managers including videos, podcasts and webinar recordings, on leadership topics, including systems leadership and transformational leadership.
Their podcast, Leadership Live, explores a range of subjects including authentic leadership, leading high performing teams, creating a coaching culture and more.
They also offer a range of events and workshops and events for leaders and managers in health and social care.
NHS Leadership Academy Mary Seacole Leadership Development Programme
This programme is designed for first time leaders in healthcare. It is open to applicants form the VCSE sector if your organisation has a health/care focus, however, it is designed primarily for an NHS audience, so you may find that some of the content or examples are geared towards NHS contexts.
The programme is for people who are in a ‘formal’ position of leadership with responsibilities for people and services, and are able to relate what they are learning to a workplace. You must be able to commit to a minimum of 5 hours of study per week.
NHS Leadership Academy Edward Jenner Programme
This programme is designed for anyone aspiring to their first leadership or management role within the health and care sector within the next 1-2 years. This programme is for people looking to build a strong foundation of leadership skills that can help enhance your confidence and competence in your role. The programme has been designed to offer flexibility as a suite of online short courses.
It is open to applicants form the VCSE sector, if your organisation has a health/care focus, however, it is designed primarily for an NHS audience, so you may find that some of the content or examples are geared towards NHS contexts.
The World of Work Project CIC
The World of Work Project delivers one, free, online seminar each month, open to anyone. Seminars last about an hour and cover a range of different topics relating to leadership, management and workforce development.
Coaching for leaders
There are a range of organisations, including several CICs within Greater Manchester, who offer coaching for people working or leading within the VCSE sector. You can find further information about a range of coaching providers within Greater Manchester on the VCSE Workforce Hub Personal Development page.
InStep UK Leadership Lunch and Learn: Make wellbeing the heartbeat of your organisation
This 60 minute session will explore how to place wellbeing at the heart of your organisation. This session is cohosted with Investors in People
Please note that these sessions are open to all businesses and organisations within Greater Manchester and are not VCSE sector specific.
To book your place email: [email protected]
Instep Leadership Support Programme
Instep are helping organisations across the Greater Manchester city-region to develop
their leadership capacity and support their future growth aspirations. This has been made possible thanks to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority securing funding to deliver UKSPF projects, which forms part of the Government’s wider Levelling Up Agenda.
Instep’s Leadership Support Programme enables employed individuals to create a bespoke pathway to strengthen their effective leadership skills.
NHS Leadership Academy Foundation in Systems Leadership
On this five-week course from the NHS Leadership Academy, you’ll explore systems leadership, learn why it’s important in health and care, and develop new capabilities to implement it. You will also recognise where you may already be operating as a systems leader while developing new approaches.
This programme is open to anyone working in health, care, local authorities and voluntary organisations who would like to explore what system leadership means. Whether you’re new to health and care, an aspiring leader at the start of your journey, or interested in finding out more about cross-sector collaboration, you’re the perfect candidate.
NHS North West Leadership Academy 360 Degree Feedback Tool
The 360 Degree Feedback Tool is designed to give you insight into other people’s perception of your leadership abilities and behaviour. The process includes getting confidential feedback from line managers, peers and direct reports. This can be helpful to highlight strengths or areas for development.
Access to this tool is offered by the NHS North West Leadership Academy as part of their Healthcare Leadership Model. Once feedback is compiled a report is developed. An accredited feedback facilitator will work with you in a dedicated feedback session to help you interpret your report.
Learning and Development for Trustees
Trustees play a key role in many VCSE organisations and in some organisations where there are no paid staff, we know that trustees may carry significant responsibilities in terms of leadership and management. Getting on Board offers a range of support to people to become effective charity trustees, particularly those who are currently under-represented on trustee boards. They offer high quality, free training for trustees, to help people grow and develop in their trustee roles and provide governance to VCSE organisations.