Subject: Free training for charities: overcoming scepticism and fear
Good evening,
I'm new to the site and relatively new to this sector.
We've always contributed a significant amount to charities (10 - 20%) and, this year, we hope to continue but with a tie-in with the Train To Gain scheme (which will exist for the next 18 months).
The net result is that we can offer our training programmes at zero cost. The private sector cost is £1500.
However, the amount of scepticism we face is becoming a frustrating problem 
Secondly, because its part-funded by Train To Gain (we also give a £500 donation to make it zero cost) there is a perception of a large amount of bureaucracy. The reality is that the government, credit to them, has reduced this to 3 short forms. Is £1500 of free training not seen valuable enough?
Any thoughts on overcoming scepticism and the perception of red tape highly appreciated.
Many thanks
Carl Duncker
This comment was last edited on Feb 12, 2010
This comment was last edited on Feb 12, 2010
Hi Carl
You might have seen some response if you had added some information to your post to enable users to see what you are offering. So who are 'we', for example, and what kind of training are you offering? That might help people make a more considered response and maybe offer useful advice.
My own perception in general of the Train to Gain programme is that it offers very low-level training which is irrelevant to our staff, though I realise that this is based in fact on very little information. So enlighten us!
This comment was last edited on Feb 12, 2010
Hi Carl,
I think it is a common misconception that if something is free or low cost, it won't be of a high quality. Another problem I have come across where training is free or very cheap is that people sign up but don't turn up on the day - I guess because they haven't paid they figure they're not losing anything...Sorry, no ideas of how to get round this! As Mark says maybe you need to tell us more about the benefits?
Best
Stella
This comment was last edited on Feb 12, 2010
Thank you for the feedback. Already, I can see some areas where we need to alter the message.
Mark - we are completing a site purely for this project. It's 80% complete at http://www.nfpacademy.co.uk. It's interesting that Train To Gain is perceived to be low quality. I can see that as, traditionally, its NVQ level and delivered by a wide number of providers of variable quality.
However, this funding is uniquely for senior leaders and managers - not for employees or volunteers. It's accessed through a specially created Leadership and Management Advisory Service within Train To Gain. It was created as a response to the downturn to enable leaders of organisations manage their way out of the downturn and contribute to growth. Charities are included within its scope.
So I can see that we need to emphasise the level of the training and who it is for.
Stella - thank you for your feedback. You're right. It's a common human response. And this is the difficulty because we want it to be zero cost to the charities. In the private sector, however, this is not a cheap programme. It is a high-end training programme for senior managers and leaders. It is lead by very capable facilitators who are coaching at senior level within global organisations - and they don't come cheap!
With the funding of £1000, and our contribution of £500 required to access the £1000, we have a £1500 3-day programme at zero cost.
We'll look at having a stronger message regarding the content and level - with the funding as a further benefit.
Thank's for your input - it's provided the clarity I needed.
This comment was last edited on Feb 12, 2010
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