Mapping support to social enterprises

Pro Bono O.R. supported Greenwich Social Enterprise Partnership (GSEP) in order to to ensure that local social enterprises get the right support. 

The volunteer spent 3 days in total on the project and said: 'The workshop generated some really good insights from the attendees, and a common understanding of their organisational purpose. I also enjoyed working with the lead client - he was very positive and enthusiastic.'

The volunteer who was on on maternity leave whilst carrying out the project added 'this allowed me to keep my hand in. I was really pleased to have helped generate something that was used straight away - it gave me a confidence boost.'

Details of the project can be seen in the case study slide below.For more information about Pro Bono O.R. please visit www.theorsociety.com/probono

Two #ProBonoOR projects that can be carried out remotely

Please find details of a new project below. 

VfMH - Volunteers for Mental Health

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: The relief of illness, poverty and distress in the British Isles or in any country wheresoever such illness, poverty or distress shall arise as a result of war, civil commotion, civil unrest, persecution or discrimination. The promotion of social inclusion for those at risk of exclusion through institutionalisation, mental health need and learning disability, residing in Romania; in particular by raising public awareness and supporting the development of community based services

Main activities of the organisation:  See project scope

Project summary:

Project: Organisational modelling for UK based charity operating in Romania – Undertake research examining the best future operating model and business case proposition for a UK charitable organisation operating in Romania

Time commitment: approx. 20-30 hours

Location:  Remote

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 20^th June.

We are still looking for a volunteer for the following project

miKind Online

Information about the organisation:

Charitable objectives: Provide a platform with Online Global Interactive Map of community projects worldwide. Bring together communities worldwide and provide website features that facilitate knowledge and info sharing, collaborations and partnership opps.

Main activities of the organisation:  Social - Creating, Developing and Running online global community platform. Enterprise – Global Partnership Service at community level.

Project summary:

Project: Global partnership analysis of miKind registered NGO’s: miKind wants to develop analytics that will enable them to understand and better serve the different communities they work with.

Time commitment: approx. 5 days

Location:  Remote

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 Thursday 9th June.

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   

Follow me on  twitter       LinkedIn

Pro Bono and Software

Guest blog from Jon Tecwyn, Department of Energy and Climate Change

I have recently joined the steering committee for the Pro Bono O.R. scheme – a project which partners O.R. analysts with third sector organisations to provide free consultancy for a range of operational improvements and strategic planning projects. Projects generated so far have ranged from dog modelling to simulating shift patterns, measuring impact to supporter donation process mapping.

A variety of analytical and modelling techniques have been used so far, including:

·       discrete event simulation,

·       statistical analysis/data mining,

·       forecasting,

·       process modelling,

·       system dynamics.

My first suggestion as part of the committee was that we should provide O.R. analysts partaking in projects with an evolving list of software / tools which may help to solve different types of problem. These tools could be useful not only for those working on our 3^rd sector projects but OR Society members looking to develop their all-round “O.R. toolkit”.

The list so far includes 14 tools across a range of areas:

·       Statistical analysis (e.g. PSPP, R)

·       Data visualisation (e.g. Vizable)

·       Programming languages (e.g. Python, Ruby)

·       Databases (e.g. PostGres, PostGIS)

·       Simulation (SimPy)

·       Mapping software (e.g. MapsData)

 MapsData: Mapping car crashes in the UK

(Source: http://www.mapsdata.co.uk/wp-content/themes/inquiron/images/accident-heat.jpg)

The list is ever-evolving and we would welcome further contributions or to hear about any tools or software you have successfully used in the past. Ideally the software should be free to use. The list can be accessed here 

Please email any suggestions to felicity.mcleister@theorsociety.com.

If you want to find out more about volunteering for a project more information on the scheme is available here: http://www.theorsociety.com/probono