New Pro Bono OR Project: Citizens Advice North Lancashire

Citizens Advice North Lancashire Project

Data Analysis of Demand for Services

Project:

To analyse data concerning the services provided, with the ultimate intention of providing help to more effectively match volunteers to clients

Project description:

Citizens Advice North Lancashire are concerned to more effectively match the supply of volunteers with the demand from clients.  To achieve this, it is envisaged that two projects may be necessary.  The first, which is the project proposed here, is to understand the patterns of demand for advice in the areas of welfare, debt and housing etc. It is hoped that this may lead to a project in which the data is used to give advice on how best to organize the services provided.

Time commitment:  10 days.

Location: It is expected that much of the data required can be provided from the national Citizens Advice database, Casebook.  At the premises an initial discussion with the Operations Manager, and observation of one of the two centres at Lancaster and Morecambe would be required (perhaps 0.5 days), and a closing presentation/discussion of the results would be expected (0.5 days). 

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to amy.hughes@theorsociety.com by Wednesday 5^th December.

The OR Society fully supports equal opportunities. As such, we welcome applications from the partially sighted or blind, or those with disabilities.

Information about the organisation: 

Citizens Advice North Lancashire offers free, confidential, up to date information and advice to those living, working or studying in Morecambe, Lancaster, Heysham and the surrounding area. Their service aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and equally to improve the policies and practices that affect peoples lives. 

For further information about Citizens Advice North Lancashire, please visit http://www.northlancashirecab.org.uk or email adamg@northlancashirecab.org.uk

For further information about the Pro Bono OR scheme, please visit:www.theorsociety.com/Probono  or email ProBonoOR@theorsociety.com

New Pro Bono OR Project: Project Girl Foundation

Project Girl Foundation
Impact Measurement and Business Planning

Project:

To help new charity Project Girl Foundation develop a solid basis for future Impact Measurement through developing a framework based on Theory of Change, and a business plan to see it through the first 18-24 months of operations

Project description:

It is anticipated that the work will include:

1. Impact measurement: the volunteer should work with the trustees to establish an outline Theory of Change and use that to identify sensible outcome measures and how they should be used to assess the charity’s impact.

2. Improve the robustness of the short-term business plan: help the trustees to review their activities to make sure they are confident that these are the right activities, that each has a reasonable time frame, clear purpose and target outcome; and review the resource plan to make sure resources (in particular finance) will be available when needed. A spreadsheet model of high-level financial inflows and outflows over time is likely to be useful, to enable exploration of ‘what-if’ questions such as whether or not certain grants are received, or the future financial commitment implied by steps such as buying trucks or employing staff.

Skills required: workshop facilitation; financial modelling; knowledge of impact measurement/theory of change or ability rapidly to get to grips with that; business or project planning

This may suit two volunteers, dividing the work between them. Please say when applying, if you are only interested in doing one or the other part of the project. 

Time commitment: 

Initially 5 days: 

• 2-3 days to produce high-level Theory of Change and recommended measures, and
• 2-3 days to review business plan and provide simple spreadsheet

If more detailed work is needed, that can be arranged by the volunteer(s) or a follow-on project can be specified

Location: The project needs some face-to-face time with trustees, estimated at 1-2 hours for initial meeting to decide exactly what is to be done; 2 x 2-3 hour workshops to review Theory of Change and business plan respectively; and 2 hours for reporting at the end. The volunteer can work remotely for the rest of the time.

NOTE: If all trustees are to be involved, the meetings may need to be in the evening rather than during the working day in London, SW9 6EX

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to amy.hughes@theorsociety.com by Monday 19^th November.

The OR Society fully supports equal opportunities. As such, we welcome applications from the partially sighted or blind, or those with disabilities.

Information about the organisation: 

The Project Girl Foundation aims to transform girls’ education and empower them by providing them with sufficient skills and resources to enrich their lives and the lives of their families. The Foundation To empower girls from poor and deprived areas in rural Nigeria via education by building schools, providing effective family planning, teaching and implementing self-reliance and continuous professional development for all teaching staff.

For further information about the Project Girl Foundation, please visit www.projectgirlfoundation.com or email info@projectgirlfoundation.com

For further information about the Pro Bono OR scheme, please visit: www.theorsociety.com/Probono  or email ProBonoOR@theorsociety.com