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Training materials of interest to community activists, development workers, trustees, etc.

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The resources held at Libraries are:

 Consultation, Participation & Engagement

Act by Right A skills workbook developed by The National Youth Agency designed to develop young people’s knowledge and skills to take effective action and make change happen.
Changing Places – Young People & Community Action A practical handbook for active citizenship and community involvement with case studies, tips, advice and information to encourage and support young people to set up and run their own projects.
Spice It Up – children and young people’s involvement in decision-making Practical tools and ideas for engaging children and young people, showing a fun way to deal with serious issues.
Consultation through Creativity A toolkit showing how to use the arts to consult people about serious issues, in a ring binder with templates etc. & 2 case studies from Staffordshire

Managing Meetings

The Minute Takers Handbook Guidance on how to produce accurate, brief & clear minutes.

Group Dynamics

Development through Diversity A step-by-step toolkit for community organisations that want to develop diversity within their own organisation as well as within the wider community.
Making People Welcome A sourcebook divided into 4 sections: illness & disability, religion, nationality, demographics giving details e.g. of what foods would not be suitable etc.
A Class Divided The teacher who conducted the unique experiment where a class of children took turns at being underdogs because of their eye colour, repeats the experiment with adults 15 years later, with a very similar effect. A powerful picture of how discrimination operates.

Managing Projects

The Complete Fundraising Handbook Fundraising principles and strategies, sources of funding and fundraising techniques
The Complete Guide to Creating & Managing New Projects Includes project management, monitoring & evaluation.
DIY Guide to Powerful Publicity Provides the copywriting training and information you never had!
Practical Monitoring & Evaluation A practical “how to” guide to monitoring & evaluation for voluntary organisations.
Tried & Tested Ideas for Local Fundraising events Aimed at people wanting to raise money in their local community, and is designed to help volunteers and first-timers in fundraising. Also equips readers with the practical and legal knowledge to run fundraising events with maximum success.

Mentoring/Networking & Building Skills

Building Practitioners Strength: Reflecting On Community Development Practice Different perspectives & ways of looking at what we do.
Community Development & Networking Analyses the development and use of networks to achieve community development aims. Networks’ crucial role in building up people's sense of community are explored
A Practical Guide to Mentoring: How to help others achieve their goals Pretty much what it says in the title!
Setting Up For Success Written especially for voluntary & community organisations to show how they can develop & grow – covers getting & keeping members, managing budgets, planning, developing policies & projects, decision making etc.
Skills in Neighbourhood Work Explains the skills, knowledge and techniques needed by community workers and others to work effectively in and with communities.

Confidence Building

How to develop self-confidence & influence people Lots of advice on public speaking.
The Quick & Easy Way to Effective Speaking Good public speakers are made not born & this book shows you how to develop the skill.
Weekend Confidence Coach Full of ideas on how to become calm, self-assured & stress free.

Working with Groups

A Better Place to Live - a guide to community groups on local action for sustainable development An excellent little book about ways to improve the place where you live, using a sustainable development approach to environmental, social or economic projects that benefit local people.
The Charity Treasurer’s Handbook A practical guide for charity trustees especially ones who have no formal accounting knowledge or have a little but are new to the voluntary sector
Good Practice Guide for Everyone who works with volunteers. Packed with information & advice for everyone who works with volunteers
The Good Trustee Guide

Provides comprehensive information about a trustee’s role and guidance on developing an effective trustee board.. Covers things like strategic planning, risk management, developing and reviewing the board’s work and more
Health & Safety Handbook Step by step guide to health & safety for the voluntary sector.
Just about Managing A comprehensive introduction to good management for everyone who has responsibility for organising, coordinating or making decisions about a voluntary organisation, team, department or project.
It’s Our space – a guide for community groups working to improve public space Intended to help anyone involved in a public space project for the first time. It gives examples of great outdoor spaces led by community groups and highlights lessons from their experiences
Managing Your Community Building Information on all aspects of running a community building and advice on good practice.
More Than Swings & Roundabouts – Planning for outdoor play A practical guide to creating and improving play opportunities for children & young people.
Neighbourhood Play Toolkit A CD-ROM for local groups working to increase access to good play opportunities for children and young people in their neighbourhoods. Topics include making groups work, productive meetings, involving young children and the community, audit, funding, insurance, design, health & safety and working with the media
Recruiting Volunteers Practical advice and creative ideas to help you recruit the people with the skills that you need.
Voluntary but not amateur Explains the law as it relates to voluntary sector organisations, warns of changes, and makes suggestions for good practice

 General

OCN Taster Packs. Each pack is designed to be used as part of a taster training session. Topics include involving people; skills for representing your community; managing meetings; contributing to meetings; report writing; presentation skills etc.