New Pro Bono OR Project: Humraaz Women's Refuge

Humraaz Project

Creating an Organisational Strategy and Business Plan for Humraaz (a women’s refuge) including risk assessment for the new outreach centre

Project:

Humraaz require support with developing a robust organisational strategy and business plan, including a risk assessment for their new outreach centre.

Project description:

Humraaz provides temporary refuge for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) women and their children who have suffered, or are at risk of suffering, domestic violence, abuse, and/or forced marriage. This is delivered through advice, support and accommodation. The charity has started an Outreach Centre: a community space for women in the community to access services such as coffee mornings, education, IT and DIY courses. The charity are now attempting to move into new territories; from running refuges to working in the community.

There are two strands to this project, each of which can be undertaken separately by an individual/group, ideally with one volunteer working on all aspects to ensure continuity and avoid duplication in effort.

1) Developing an organisational strategy and business plan:
Humraaz would like to develop an organisation strategy that is underpinned by a business plan that enables us to achieve our strategy. This may involve seeking input from stakeholders i.e. staff, volunteers and board of trustees. The OR volunteer would structure and facilitate these discussions and provide support to the charity to develop and write a strategy. This is something we have not done previously. However, the need for a strategy and business plan is critical at this point of the charity’s development.
Experience of soft OR methods or facilitation skills would be useful, also to assist with drafting the strategy. Humraaz has limited core capacity and any support is welcome.

2) Risk Assessment of Outreach Centre: 
Traditionally the charity has operated a safe refuge accommodation with a confidential address not known to the public. Starting an Outreach Centre may introduce new risks to the charity such as a public address, and women with mental health or physical needs attending the activities/coffee mornings. The OR volunteer would need to undertake a risk analysis to understand what these risks might entail, through consultation with the charity’s staff and volunteers, as well as discussion with other charities providing similar services.

Time commitment: 
Developing a Organisational Strategy & Business Plan: 3-5 days
Risk Assessment of Outreach Centre: 3 days

Location: 1-2 visits to the Blackburn office may be required for each project strand, but these are limited (to potentially a few hours). The organisation is willing to work flexibly (e.g. via teleconference or video conference).  All other work can be done remotely

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 1^st April.

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: 

Humraaz helps hundreds of women affected by domestic violence every year. We support women to move from crisis to safety and independence. With a philosophy of mutual self-help and empowerment, we aim to support and assist women and children to recover from the trauma of violence and abuse. We assist women to regain their strength in order to be able to make their own decisions about what is right for them in their lives

For further information about Humraaz please visit http://www.humraaz.co.uk/or email Firoza Mohmed at Firoza@humraaz.org.uk

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