Projects with Royal Air Force Museum and Hoxton Health

Pro Bono O.R. – enabling managers to make more effective decisions

Pro Bono O.R. is a scheme operated by The OR Society that places professional analysts in short term projects with third sector organisations in the UK. 

Projects require skilled professionals who work in operational research, analytics or related professions.  If you have the skills required for a project, we’d love to hear from you.

Please find details of two new projects below that we are seeking a volunteer(s) for:

Royal Air Force Museum

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: To educate and inform the public and members of the Royal Air Force about:

• The history and traditions of the Royal Air Force and
• The role of the Royal Air Force in relation to the armed forces of the realm, other air forces and aviation generally in particular, but not exclusively, by collecting, conserving, preserving, managing, exhibiting and storing documents, items, artefacts and other materials in the collection.

Main activities of the organisation:  An education charity that tells the story of the Royal Air Force through exhibitions, events, outreach with the local community, school programme, volunteering and maintaining the national collection relating to the Royal Air Force.

Project summary:

Project: “RAF museum: Measuring volunteering impact” - To understand how to measure volunteering impact at the RAF museum in order to develop a volunteering strategy.

Time commitment: Up to 5 days

Location:  London, NW9 5LL. Up to one day at the museum itself – this could include a kick-off meeting and workshop to understand the role of volunteers now and going forwards.

Please read the 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 Monday 7^th March.

Hoxton Health

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: Holistic care for older people in Hackney at low cost

Main activities of the organisation:  Complementary therapies and supported exercise classes for older people

Project summary:

Project: Transforming Hoxton Health: To aid the trustees and staff to develop a mission statement and identify ways of measuring impact of Hoxton Health.

Time commitment: Approx. 5 days

Location:  London, N1 5LZ.  Much of the time would have to be on site though it will be possible to access computer-based information remotely.

Please read the 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 Monday 7^th March.

Please note all these projects are suitable for an individual, pair or team of analysts. 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 with the support of a mentor please do specify in your application and I can try to arrange this. 

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch: felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com or 0121 233 9300

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/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx

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JEC Professional Services is offering 5 free days consultancy a to 3rd Sector organisation

John Eary, a pro bono O.R. volunteer, set up JEC Professional Services 5 years ago to provide informed, impartial advice on new ways of working. To celebrate this anniversary, and to encourage the take up of new ways of working, he is offering 5 free days of his consultancy time, excluding travel expenses at cost. This offer is open to registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations.

Click this link Free consultancy for New Ways of Working for more information.

Further information about agile working can be read on John's LinkedIn blog 

Three new projects requiring YOUR help

With the good news about Pro Bono O.R. spreading and the fantastic outcomes of projects being shared, the request for support is increasing. We currently have three organisations that have requested support.

The projects require the help of professionals who work in operational research, analytics or related professions.

You can find details of all the projects below. 

Nb. All projects are suitable for an individual, pair or team of analysts. 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 with the support of a mentor please do specify in your application and I can try to arrange this.

IMARA CIC

Information about the organisation:

Imara CIC provides early intervention support to a yearly average of 100 new individuals (child victims and their safe family members) after a disclosure of sexual abuse. 

Main activities of the organisation: 

·         Trauma Care Worker Legal

·         Trauma Care Worker Therapist

·         Trauma Care Worker Advocate

Our service provides a systemic approach to all safe family members, recognising that the impact affects everyone.

Project summary:

Project: Evaluating Impact: To help IMARA assess their impact and cost-effectiveness, building on previous work by New Philanthropy Capital.

Time commitment: Min. 5 days

Location:  West Bridgford, Nottingham (Mix of remote and on-site working).

Please read the 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 2^nd March.

Disability Law Service

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: To challenge the poverty and inequality disabled people face by securing equal access to legal rights and entitlements

Main activities of the organisation: 

·         To ensure that disabled people have access to high quality, specialist legal services.

·         To improve awareness and understanding of the legal rights of disabled people and the range of legal and advice services available to them.

To challenge discrimination and exclusion by enforcing and strengthening laws that protect the opportunities, choices and legal rights of disabled people.

Project summary:

Project: Evaluation of our MS project in order to better understand a) the outcomes for our service users with MS and b) more about the experience of using our service. This evaluation will help us to both promote the service to new funders and partners, but also to identify areas for service improvement. 

Time commitment: Approx. 6-10 days dependent on approach

Location:  This project can be carried out remotely. (London, Vauxhall)

Please read the 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 2^nd March.

Transformational Cornwall

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: Focus on supporting anti-poverty work across Cornwall

Main activities of the organisation: 

·         1:1 bespoke support

·         Meet the Funders (MTF) programme

·         Follow-up workshops in response to identified need

Project  summary:

Project: Develop a clear quantitative and qualitative picture of current areas of poverty and deprivation in Cornwall and their nature

Time commitment: Approx. 5-7 days

Location:  Truro, TR4 9NH (mix of remote and on-site working)

Please read the 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 2^nd March.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch: felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com or 0121 233 9300

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/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx

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Making a real difference makes it all worthwhile #volunteer #ORblog

I really enjoy managing the Pro Bono O.R. scheme and I see the value in the scheme for the volunteers, the organisations and the volunteers employers.

Everyday is different and rewarding in a different way. Some of the best days are when I receive feedback from the organisations who have received support. Today I got some feedback from the latest project we completed with PiP (Pursuing independent Paths)

The project with PiP was 'Understanding the effectiveness of training and development'. If you missed the case study slide you can view it here.

The feedback given by the Director and Accreditation Worker at PiP really encouraged me and put a smile on my face. It's fantastic to hear the value carrying out a pro bono project can make.

What went well?

"The volunteer grasped the concept of what we needed very quickly after a couple of initial phone conversations. We now have a working tool that is bespoke to our organisation’s needs. Importantly it is a very straightforward tool to use and user friendly for those with little Excel knowledge. We have already begun using this tool in live review meetings and grant applications."

What difference will this make to your organisation?

"We have a tool that allows us to measure student progress (individual or group) in quantifiable terms over the course of a year and present this information visually in a variety of graphs. Crucially, it also measures status quo, which is crucial to our beneficiaries and service.

Previously we have been relying on qualitative data such as verbal feedback or written observations.

This in turn is a way of monitoring and evaluating the organisations’ effectiveness in achieving three of our core outcomes.

We can present this data for students, parents and carers, and donors to see if they are achieving goals, internally for monitoring goal appropriateness and consistency, and externally in grant or commission applications and project monitoring."

Any final thoughts?

"THANK YOU SO MUCH - great match of your skills and our need. Staff awareness, and ownership of, impact and quality has increased as a result of this project."

For more information about the scheme, to see who we've worked with, read example case studies and to request support please visit: www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx

You can also connect with me via twitter (@FMcLeister) or LinkedIn

New projects with The National Autistic Society

Pro Bono O.R. – enabling managers to make more effective decisions

The National Autistic Society have requested support for two projects.  Please see the details below:

National Autistic Society

Information about the organisation:

Providing information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a better world for people with autism.

Main activities of the organisation:  http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/about-us/impact.aspx

Project summary:

Project 1: Analysis of surveys and “intelligence”: Analysis of existing client data from surveys and social media to build a better understanding of autistic people’s needs.

Time commitment: Approx. 5-6 days

Location:  London (EC1V 1NG). Some on-site time to agree project requirements and to access current sources of data. Most work can be done off-site.

Please read the 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 Monday 15^th February.

Project 2: Analysis of helpline capacity and demand: Data collection and analysis of helpline demand and capacity to identify ways to improve resource allocation.

Time commitment: Approx. 6-8 days over 2-3 months, depending on the length of time required for data gathering to understand current performance.

Location:  London (EC1V 1NG). Some on-site time to agree project requirements and to develop data collection approaches with staff. Most work can be done off-site.

Please read the 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 Monday 15^th February.

These projects are suitable for an individual volunteer, pair or team of analysts.  If you would like to work on a project with the support of a mentor please do specify in your application and I can try to arrange this.  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.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch: felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com or 0121 233 9300

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/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx

Follow me on  twitter       LinkedIn