Pro Bono project- Sustainability through management transformation

Please find details of a new project below with Brandon Trust.  I have provided a brief summary and then attached a detailed project scope.  

Brandon Trust

Project summary:

Project: Sustainability through management transformation – Helping Brandon Trust design a lean, efficient, fit-for-purpose management structure to lead and deliver vital services in the context of falling social care budgets.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting

Location: Bristol

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 23^rd March.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

Brandon Trust exists to improve lifestyles, opportunities and to deliver greater independence for people with learning disabilities. The Trust’s central focus is on places to live, life skills, jobs and educational opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities. 

Main activities of the organisation: 

Residential homes/supported living, residential nursing and care homes, enterprises, outreach services, employment services, day center’s supporting children

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. 

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

New projects with NIDAS and EBP South #costrecoverymodel #dashboard

Please find details of two projects below with NIDAS (Midlands) and EBP South (remote or Portsmouth).  I have provided a brief summary and then embedded a link to a detailed project scope.  

NIDAS

Project summary:

Project: Activity analysis & cost recovery model: Develop a high-level process model of the organisation that can be used to capture where staff spend their time. For frontline delivery activities, quantify the proportion of costs that are recovered.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting

Location: Nottinghamshire (a lot of the work could 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 22^nd February.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

Area of benefit: Survivors of current or historic domestic abuse

Our core purpose is our fundamental reason for being

 To keep people safe | emotionally and physically

Main activities of the organisation: 

Support and advocacy, 1-1, group, specialist programs

EBP South

Project summary:

Project: Develop Performance Dashboard - EBP would like help to develop a Performance Dashboard to be used for internal management and Board Reporting.

Time commitment: approx. 4 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting

Location: Portsmouth (could 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 22^nd February.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

For the Public Benefit, to advance, promote and assist in the effective education and development of young people and adults in order to develop their individual capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding in subjects of educational value including career and life skills together with collaboration with local businesses and business organisations in England and Wales in such ways as the charity Trustees think fit.

Main activities of the organisation: 

Work Experience placements; Mentoring programmes for young people linked to volunteers from business; employability programmes in schools; enterprise activities; career inspiration events; careers guidance and education.

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  

Four Pro Bono projects requiring volunteers

Please find details of four projects below with Home-Start (Hampshire), Inclusion North (Leeds/Remote), Fulham Good Neighbours (Fulham), Partnership for Young London (Remote working) 

Please feel free to pass on the anyone who might be interested.  

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 18^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

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 18^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.

Fulham Good Neighbours

Project summary:

Project: Assessing the impact of Fulham Good Neighbours

Time commitment: approx. 5 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer(s) in the light of information gathered at their first meeting.

Location: Fulham, SW6 7QT.

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 18^th January.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

Our aims are to enable elderly, disabled and vulnerable people to:

-          Live independently and to contribute to society,

-          Help overcome isolation and loneliness,

-          Be at the heart of the local community.

Main activities of the organisation: 

Fulham Good Neighbours support mainly older people, including those with dementia, with practical tasks at home such as basic DIY, gardening, and decorating. We do what any good neighbour would: collect medication, escort to appointments, accompany shopping and take care of pets to name just a few of our free services delivered by over 50 volunteers, many of whom are older people.

Partnership for Young London

Project summary:

Project: Vision for Young Londoners: To develop a brief for a data modeling exercise of the needs and issues of young people across London, looking at both existing and projected trends aiming to influence regional youth policy in the future.

Time commitment: approx. 10-15 days, although though this will need to be checked by the volunteer(s) in the light of information gathered at the first meeting

Location:  This project can be carried out remotely however desk space is available is preferred.

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 18^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. 

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  

Some interesting reading

Happy New Year to all my readers.  

To start of the year I thought I'd share with you a couple of interesting articles I've come across.

'The rise of the arm chair volunteer' was published by Nesta.  Being able to offer more flexible volunteering opportunities that can be carried out remotely is something more charities are realising the benefit of.  88% of UK adults have internet access at home and most are likely to have a personal laptop or tablet from which they could carry out voluntary work.  Additionally the number of people working from home is increasing and is a trend that shows no signs of slowing.  Taking all this into account charities can benefit by tapping into this rise of  'arm chair volunteering'.

Here at Pro Bono O.R. we always look to identify if projects or parts of projects can be carried out remotely.  We have found this increases the volunteer pool, as volunteers are able to support charities not in their locality or even in their own country in some cases.

Centre for Aging Better have published a report looking at what the scientific evidence says about the effects of volunteering for those in later life - defined variously as 50+, 55+ or 60+ depending on which research paper is being reviewed.

There are many ways in which you can volunteer your time, 'Other Pro Bono Support' on our website lists a variety of organisations which offer pro bono support and who require volunteers.  Additionally if you have analytical/operation research skills and would like to volunteer your time to Pro Bono O.R., please do get in touch.

 

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  

Free IMPACT magazine. Issue 4 includes how Operational Research is being used to help not-for-profit organisations

IMPACT magazine is a free bi-annual publication produced by The OR Society.  It is packed with real-world examples of how to use analysis to make better decisions. It‘s full of thought-provoking articles and it‘s FREE.

The fourth issue contains the usual eclectic mix of stories of analytical work making an impact in a variety of organisations, including how Operational Research being used to help

not-for-profit organisations. In South Africa, Shout-it-Now, which is involved in

HIV counselling and testing, used simulation to help them contribute significantly

to reducing the rate of new HIV infections. In the UK, Bloodwise, a specialist blood

cancer charity, took advantage of the OR Society’s Pro Bono scheme, which provided

a volunteer analyst to help it understand better the various audiences with which it

seeks to engage. Details of the scheme are found in the article.

If you missed the first three issues, electronic copies are available at https://issuu.com/orsimpact

For future issues of this free magazine, please subscribe at

http://www.getimpactmagazine.co.uk/

Gaining strategic insight - latest complete #ProBonoOR project

Last year two #ProBono O.R. volunteers who worked for GORS (Government Operational Research Service) started a project with St Michael's Fellowship.

The charity wanted to be able to gain strategic insights from its data.  The two volunteers spent 18 days over a period of 10 months working with St Michael's Fellowship to achieve this outcome.

Below is a case study slide that summarizes the project.

For more information about Pro Bono O.R. visit: www.theorsociety.com/probono 

New Pro Bono projects with Save the Rhino and Form the Future

Pro Bono O.R. is currently recruiting for 3 new projects with Form the Future and Save the Rhino.  Below is a brief outline of the projects and a link to detailed project scopes.

Please do get in touch if you require any further information.

Form the Future (1)

Project summary:

Project: Process improvement: Reviewing Form the Future’s two main service delivery processes, to help them move to an online system.

Time commitment: approx. 4 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting

Location: Cambridge, CB4 2HY. 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 Monday 21^st November.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

To help young people learn about the world of work and prepare them for employment

Main activities of the organisation: 

Link schools and businesses to help young people understand the world of work. We run career and employability skill related events at schools, we undertake Health and Safety Checks for Work experience and run a mentoring programme.

Form the Future (2)

Project summary:

Project: Impact and performance measures: enabling Form the Future to understand, measure and report their impact and effectiveness

Time commitment: approx. 3-4 days, though this will need to be checked by the volunteer in the light of information gathered at their first meeting.

Location: Cambridge, CB4 2HY. 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 Monday 21^st November.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

To help young people learn about the world of work and prepare them for employment

Main activities of the organisation: 

Link schools and businesses to help young people understand the world of work. We run career and employability skill related events at schools, we undertake Health and Safety Checks for Work experience and run a mentoring programme.

Save the Rhino

Project summary:

Project: Analysis of fundraising data: SRI wishes to understand where its return on investment to raise unrestricted income is greatest and where it should focus its activities on growing

Time commitment: approx. 5-6 days, although though this will need to be checked by the volunteer(s) in the light of information gathered at the first meeting. 

This project would be suitable for a small team of volunteers who could then, perhaps look at more data, or carry out more in-depth analysis.

Location: London, SE1 4PR. 0.5 day on-site for kick-off meeting. Most of the analysis can be done 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 Monday 21^st November.

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives:

     Raising funds to protect and increase rhino numbers and population distribution in African and Asian range states

     Facilitating the exchange of technical support and information between rhino conservation stakeholders
     Ensuring that local communities in key rhino areas benefit from employment, capacity building, education, outreach and the sustainable use of natural resourcesDeveloping and delivering behaviour-change campaigns to reduce the demand for rhino horn in consumer countriesRaising global awareness of the need for urgent action on rhino conservation

Main activities of the organisation: 

Fundraising through trusts and foundations, companies, events, donations, campaigns, membership and merchandise

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