Pro Bono O.R. is recruiting a skilled volunteer for a project with Hackney CVS looking at strategic planning #ORblog

Pro Bono O.R. is looking for a skilled volunteer to assist hackney CVS to plan its strategy for 2106 and beyond.

Please find details of a new project below.  

Hackney CVS (Hackney Council for Voluntary Service)

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:  We are the umbrella / infrastructure body for the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Hackney. As a responsive charity Hackney CVS believes that the voluntary and community sector plays a critical role in tackling poverty and disadvantage by working with key stakeholders to address local inequalities.

We strive to challenge oppression and prejudice, to promote diversity and to work towards a society where full equality for all is a reality.

Project summary:

Project: To develop a new strategic plan for 2016 onwards in the face of a challenging external environment.

Time commitment: 4 days

Location:  Dalston, Hackney, London E8 2LY (3 days in office, one from home)

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 20th July 2015.

This project is 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 arrange this.  Lastly, if you are interested in working on a project but cannot meet the deadline specified please do register your interest in the first instance before the deadline.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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

Kind regards

Felicity McLeister

O.R. Pro Bono Project Manager

(Mon, Tue & Wed)
Direct Tel +44 (0)121 234 7826, Main Tel +44 (0)121 233 9300

If you are not already a member of The OR Society and are interested in joining please visit https://www.theorsociety.com/ or send an email to carol.smith@theorsociety.com

Additionally you may be interested in becoming a member of our Third Sector Special Interest Group (ORiTS). For more details visit:  https://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/SpecialInterest/ORThirdSector.aspx

Other webpages that may be of interest:

http://probonoor.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx
http://www.LearnAboutOR.co.uk
http://www.ScienceofBetter.co.uk

One click away from skilled volunteering #ORblog

Skilled volunteering is a fantastic way to use the skills you already have to make a real difference to third sector organisations.

Whether its a few hours or a few days, both the organisation and the volunteers benefit from volunteering.

To see what some of our volunteers have to say please read these two articles written by volunteers who worked with RSPCA and HARCVS:

Volunteer experience article RSPCA
Volunteer experience article HARCVS

To see the who we've worked with and the types of projects we've completed please visit: case studies

Signing up to become a #ProBonoOR volunteer only takes a couple of minutes but could have a long term impact on both yourself and the organisation(s) you work with http://ow.ly/Or0Mq 

Please share and get in touch for further information felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com 

Please follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn for further information and updates.

Pro Bono O.R. is skilled volunteering for individuals with operational research/analytical experience.  Please note projects can be carried out individually, in teams and with a mentor if required.

For information on other skilled volunteering organisations please visit:
Career Volunteer or Reach Skills

Share the good news #ProBonoOR #ORblog

The success of the Pro Bono O.R. scheme has been can be largely attributed to two things, firstly our amazing volunteers and secondly those that endorse the scheme in order to help more organisations hear about the work we do and be able to sign up for support.

Today I would like to thanks NACVA for publishing an article promoting the scheme and HARCVS who have given high praise for the work pro Bono O.R. carried out for them. https://twitter.com/ChiefExecHARCVS/status/608536394198331392

To continue the success of this great scheme that is making a real difference to UK based third sector organisations please consider signing up to become a volunteer here as well as telling others about the scheme.  Third sector organisations can benefit from a wide range of operational improvements through Pro Bono O.R., including efficiency improvement, business planning, options appraisal, impact measurement, strategic planning/review, process improvement, data analysis etc.  Whatever the aim, O.R. can offer the flexibility and adaptability to provide objective help.

For further infomation please visit the webpage or contact me at felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com

A big thank you to all our volunteers #volunteersweek #ORblog

As we start Volunteers Week I'd like to say a huge thank you to all the Pro Bono O.R. volunteers without whom the Pro Bono O.R. scheme would not be possible.

We have over 300 registered volunteers across the UK, of whom over 100 have applied to work on projects and 54 have completed or are currently working on projects.

Since September 2013, we have completed 18 projects and are currently working on a further 16.

For details of the projects we have worked on please visit: Pro Bono O.R. webpage

Here is what some of the organisations we've worked with have to say:

Springboard

The work is already supporting our planning and development for next year and allowing us to focus our thoughts and decisions on the places of most importance for our organisation. It has helped us to come up with new solutions already.

(CEO)

Crimestoppers

We've benefited hugely from your work and support in all areas of the project, and from an organisational perspective you've enabled us to take a highly professional approach to increasing the efficiency of our charity.

(Performance Manager)

The Cardinal Hume Centre

We valued the opportunity to work collaboratively and without doubt benefited from the analyst’s expertise and commitment to the project.

 (Operations Director)

The Dachshund Breed Council

Brilliant – it makes the predictions of risk visible. This will be so useful.

(Lafora Screening Co-ordinators)

HARCVS

I'm really pleased with the report and it will be very useful indeed for forward planning and to support our Big Lottery bid.

 (CEO)

Here is what some of our volunteers have to say:

"It’s a chance to make a difference, practice getting to the heart of a problem quickly, meet some very dedicated people and use techniques which you might not in your every day job"

"Being a volunteer was a great way to make a real difference for an organisation with people that were clearly passionate about what they do. At the same time I've added some interesting people to my network and expanded the breadth of projects I've undertaken on my CV"

"Working as a pro bono volunteer is a great way to contribute some professional expertise to some truly worthwhile causes.  The Third Sector is full of people who feel passionately about their Mission, so working with them is invariably a positive learning experience"

"I've really enjoyed working with third sector organisations and found the staff extremely positive about the contribution we make"

I have thoroughly enjoyed my role promoting and managing the scheme and look forward to the impact the scheme will have during the rest of 2015.

To find out more please follow me on twitter, LinkedIn or send an email to felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com 

Improving employability through skilled volunteering #ORblog

'Skilled volunteering is essentially lending your expertise to benefit a charity. Skilled volunteering has a huge positive impact for charities and boosts volunteers’ professional experience, improves employability and extends your professional network. In a survey that LinkedIn carried out with professionals, 40% stated that when they are evaluating candidates, they consider volunteer work equally as valuable as paid work experience.'

This is an exert from a great article on Yahoo news about skilled volunteering. To read the full article: Everyone has a skill to share, even if they don’t shout about it… why not volunteer? Please click here

Skilled volunteer analysts required for several projects across the UK #ProBonoOR #ORblog

Pro Bono O.R. is currently recruiting volunteers for several projects.  Please take a look and read the project scopes to see if you would be able to help.  Please get in touch if you require any further information.

C Change Scotland

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: Support people to live the lives they choose regardless of age or circumstances

Main activities of the organisation: Change Scotland is a supported living organisation that provides individually tailored person centred support to people that want a better life.

Project summary:

Project 1: Evidencing the local economic community benefit and wider economic impact of our practice of local recruitment and use of community resources.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days

Location:  Glasgow (Mix of onsite and remote working)

Project 2: Identifying the real cost reductions of transforming individualised services and the economic and social benefits to the individual, community and society.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days

Location:  Glasgow or Aberdeen (Mix of onsite and remote working)

Please read the detailed project scope (1)/ detailed project scopel (2) 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 1^st June.

Please note the following projects have previously been advertised and are due to close this Wednesday.  If you haven’t yet applied but are interested please do get in touch.

Extra Care

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: To provide better lives for older people in high quality affordable homes.

Main activities of the organisation: Care and housing provider.

Project summary:

Project 1: To develop a customer requirements and satisfaction measurement process that can be used to inform what the service provides, to whom and when.

Time commitment: approx. 6-9 days (see project scope for a breakdown)

Location:  Mix of onsite (Birmingham, B31 2FR) and remote working.

Project 2: To analyse demand for the Fitness Suite service so that opening hours are better matched to customers' needs (with a view to increasing usage and therefore revenues).

Time commitment: approx. 6-9 days (see project scope for a breakdown)

Location:  Mix of onsite (Birmingham, B31 2FR) and remote working.

Please read the detailed project scope (1)/ detailed project scope (2)/ 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 20^th May.  

Oxfordshire Advocacy

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: To provide a free, confidential and independent advocacy service.

Main activities of the organisation: Advocacy support delivered by trained volunteers and part time staff.

Project summary:

Project: To review how they measure outcomes of advocacy cases and thus their effectiveness, impact and outcomes.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days

Location:  Initial meeting in Oxford, then home based.

Please read the detailed 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 20^th May.

Please specify on your application which project you are applying for.

These projects are suitable for an individual, a pair or a team of analysts.  If you would like to work on the project but cannot commit to the required time please do get in touch as I may be able to pair you with another analyst.  Additionally if you would like to work on a project with the support of a mentor please do specify in your application and I can arrange this.  Lastly, if you are interested in working on a project but cannot meet the deadline specified please do register your interest in the first instance before the deadline.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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

Kind regards

Felicity McLeister

O.R. Pro Bono Project Manager

(Mon, Tue & Wed)
Direct Tel +44 (0)121 234 7826, Main Tel +44 (0)121 233 9300

If you are not already a member of The OR Society and are interested in joining please visit https://www.theorsociety.com/ or send an email to carol.smith@theorsociety.com

Additionally you may be interested in becoming a member of our Third Sector Special Interest Group (ORiTS). For more details visit:  https://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/SpecialInterest/ORThirdSector.aspx

Other webpages that may be of interest:

http://probonoor.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Probono/Probono.aspx
http://www.LearnAboutOR.co.uk
http://www.ScienceofBetter.co.uk