Pro Bono O.R. Christmas message

As the end of 2016 draws near, we are writing to thank you for being a Pro Bono Volunteer. Whatever level you have been involved at - whether you have completed a Pro Bono project, or put your name forward but not been selected, or are still waiting for a suitable project to come along - we appreciate your willingness to volunteer your time and expertise. The OR Society’s Pro Bono initiative is only possible because you and others like you offer your commitment.

Over the last year, we have completed 24 projects, representing a total of 135 person days, for charities as varied as Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive: for example “the volunteers were very dedicated and committed to the project skills gap in our team so added great value for data/insight-driven decisions” and “the work has allowed us to step back and take a bold decision in the way forward. One that we hadn't anticipated.” And we know that the volunteers who have been involved have generally been excited and inspired by the experience.

The scheme has been beneficial not just for the charities who have benefited directly, and for those volunteers who have had the chance to take part, but also for the visibility of O.R. itself. The Pro Bono O.R. initiative has been publicised widely in third sector discussion fora, publications, and by word of mouth. It is visible not just to charities, but to their trustees and other supporters whose day job is in other sectors of the economy, and to other specialist volunteers through our collaboration  with organisations such as DatakindUK (an equivalent initiative in the Data Science area) and the Government Statistical Service. And we are particularly proud that in this last year, we have spawned similar initiatives from INFORMS and APDIO, our US and Portuguese sister societies, respectively.

So whatever your involvement has been so far, we do hope that you will continue to stay involved during the coming year, and to keep in touch with Pro Bono’s successes and opportunities.

Wishing you a very merry festive season, and all the best for the New Year

Ruth Kaufman (OR Society President) & Felicity (Pro Bono O.R. Project Manager)

New projects with Sense, Home Start and Inclusion North #Volunteers required

Please find details of three new projects below with Home-Start Hampshire, Sense (London) and Inclusion North (Leeds). I have provided a brief summary and then attached a detailed project scope.  

Home-Start

Project summary:

Project: Mapping the gaps: to explore available data on the needs of parents and children and on service provision.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days. There is almost certainly scope for more if the volunteer wants to do more, so the volunteer should confirm scope, deliverables and time commitment at the initial meeting.

Location: Hampshire RG24 8AG. Mix of onsite and remote working

Please read project scope  and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Wednesday 4^th January.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

The Home-Start in Hampshire consortium, in common with all individual Home-Start schemes, believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play a key role in giving their children the best possible start in life and in helping them to achieve their full potential.

Main activities of the organisation: 

·         Communicating in a variety of ways to individual schemes and to all schemes in Hampshire about external and internal developments

·         Assessing the changing needs of families and children in communities across Hampshire  

·         Fundraising

·         Monitoring

·         Planning and considering strategic options

·         Marketing and promotion

Sense

Project summary:

Project: Estimates of the population who have a combined sight and hearing impairment by local authority and CCG

Time commitment: approx. 10 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer(s) in the light of information gathered at their first meeting.

Location: This project can be carried out remotely.

Please read project scope  and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Wednesday 4^th January.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

Sense is a national charity that supports people who are deafblind, have sensory impairments or complex needs, to enjoy more independent lives.

Main activities of the organisation: 

We provide information and advice, offer a wide range of flexible services and campaign passionately for the rights of the people we serve.

Inclusion North

Project summary:

Project: Support Northern-based learning disability charity to monitor and report progress against business plan objectives.

Time commitment: approx. 3 days, although though this will need to be checked by the volunteer(s) in the light of information gathered at the first meeting

Location:  Remote working would be preferred, but may be beneficial if volunteer can attend annual away day on Thursday 2^nd February 2017 at Wortley Hall near Barnsley.

Please read project scope  and if you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return to me along with your CV by midday on Wednesday 4^th January.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

We promote the inclusion of people with learning disabilities, their families and carers. We want people with learning disabilities to have good lives. We support our Members in helping people to get the lives they want.

If you would like to volunteer on a project but are not able to commit to the full time requirement please let me know as it may be possible to pair you up with another analyst.  Lastly if you would like to work on a project as part of a pair or with the support of a mentor please indicate on your application and we try to facilitate this. 

I look forward to hearing from you and once again thank you for your help and support.

For further information about the scheme please visit: http://www.theorsociety.com/Probono