Training and Development

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Training and development for voluntary and community organisations


We offer a regular programme of training and development events to help voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations strengthen their skills and knowledge. See below for details on our current and upcoming training.
 

NCVS Training Programme 2025-2026

Our training is delivered by experts and builds on the latest policy issues affecting the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. This includes new legislation briefings and essential skills development for staff, trustee and volunteer development.

We have added new dates for the 2025-2026 programme (April 2025 to March 2026). If you don't see the course you need, please bookmark this page and check back, as we will be adding new sessions soon, including a new course about how to approach a fundraising strategy.

As part of our 150th birthday celebrations, we’re making our regular training free to attend this year! Our present to you is that there is no charge to attend our courses listed below between April 2025 and March 2026. Terms and Conditions apply, which you can view when making your booking.

You can also subscribe to our fortnightly NCVS e-bulletin to receive updates when new courses are available.

All sessions currently take place online via Zoom. If you have training needs not covered in our programme, please get in touch – we'd love to hear from you.
 

Browse NCVS training courses by category below:

 

Looking for more training and development opportunities?

In addition to the NCVS-led training courses featured on this page, you can explore further learning and development opportunities throughout our website:

  • Social Enterprise – tailored training and resources for social entrepreneurs.
  • 'Meet the...' Series – a new series of workshops and events bringing sector experts directly to you!
  • Practice Development Unit (PDU) – learning opportunities and skills development around severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD), including a suite of e-learning modules.
  • Events and Training – browse a wider selection of events, workshops, training sessions and networking opportunities.

 

Skills for running an organisation

 

Being a Trustee: what does it mean?

This online training covers the basic information that all trustees should know.

Wednesday 14 May 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Tuesday 30 September 2025, 6:00pm- 8:00pmBook here
Tuesday 10 February 2026, 12:00pm- 2:00pmBook here

Fire Warden and Fire Marshal Training

This online training takes you through the basics of being a Fire Warden/Fire Marshal and will prepare you to carry out this very important role.

Tuesday 29 April 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Wednesday 24 September 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Wednesday 21 January 2026, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here

How to Take Minutes

Learn the basics of taking effective minutes in this online training – and make note taking easy.

Tuesday 3 June 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Monday 3 November 2025, 6:00pm- 8:00pmBook here

Introduction to Health & Safety and Risk Assessments

This online training will teach you the basics of health and safety, and explain the process of carrying out a risk assessment in your organisation.

Wednesday 16 April 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Tuesday 16 September 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Wednesday 14 January 2026, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here

Trustee Refresher: Being Better

This online training will refresh your knowledge as a trustee, update you on current issues, improve your personal skill set and help you develop your role for the benefit of your organisation.

Monday 19 May 2025, 6:00pm- 8:00pmBook here
Wednesday 15 October 2025, 6:00pm- 8:00pmBook here
Tuesday 17 February 2026, 12:00pm- 2:00pmBook here

Skills for leaders of volunteers

 

Addressing the Barriers to Volunteering

Identify barriers to volunteering and develop ideas to minimise and remove them during this training, to ensure your organisation isn’t missing out on great volunteers.
This session is the last of our 2024/2025 season where we are still charging a small registration fee.
Cost: £10 per participant

Tuesday 25 March 2025, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here

Advanced Volunteer Leadership

This online training, previously called “How to be a Better Leader of Volunteers”, takes you beyond the basics of managing and supporting volunteers and will explore some of the real-life issues that you’re facing as a Leader of Volunteers.

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Thursday 28 August 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Tuesday 25 November 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Wednesday 25 February 2026, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here

Assessing the Impact of your Volunteer Programme

This online training takes you beyond the basics of managing and supporting volunteers and will challenge you to consider the difference that volunteers make to your organisation.

Wednesday 11 June 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Thursday 4 September 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Wednesday 3 December 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Tuesday 10 March 2026, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here

Dealing with Conflict in your Volunteer Programme

In any group of volunteers, there’ll be occasional disagreements, personality clashes and conflicts. Although these are hopefully rare events, this updated, online training will prepare you for when they occur.

Thursday 24 April 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Wednesday 16 July 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Tuesday 7 October 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Thursday 29 January 2026, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here

Essentials of Volunteer Management

Start your journey into the exciting and rewarding world of volunteer leadership with this online training that explores the volunteer journey from start to finish.

Tuesday 8 July 2025, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here
Thursday 2 October 2025, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here
Tuesday 13 January 2026, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here
Wednesday 4 March 2026, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here

Introduction to Volunteers and the Law

Although the law has little to say about volunteers and volunteering, what it does say is important. This online training will help you develop an understanding of some of the legal requirements that relate to your volunteering programme.

Thursday 8 May 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Wednesday 6 August 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Tuesday 11 November 2025, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here
Thursday 12 February 2026, 10:00am- 12:00pmBook here

Writing Opportunities to Attract Volunteers

Are your volunteer opportunities struggling to attract people, or people with the right interests and skills for your organisation? This online training will teach you how to enhance your volunteer role descriptions and make them stand out.

Wednesday 30 April 2025, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here
Wednesday 2 July 2025, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here
Tuesday 14 October 2025, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here
Tuesday 27 January 2026, 10:00am- 11:00amBook here

Support for social entrepreneurs

See our Social Enterprise page for workshops and training available through the Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) project. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) project is a collaborative partnership between NCVS and Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory.

 

Other training options

There are additional options for skills development outside of our training course sessions. 
Take a look at the full range of Events and Training offered by NCVS. This includes networking events, and learning opportunities provided by the Practice Development Unit.