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NCVO Third Sector Foresight runs a series of events to allow network members to meet and share knowledge and experiences. This page is where you can read all about forthcoming events, and make sure they're in your diaries, as well as learn about what happened at past events.

"First class training"

Val Johnson, Voluntary Action Kirklees

Through their partnership with NCVO Third Sector Foresight, RAISE are running 'Making sense of your environment', two bite-sized morning workshops with a follow up day aimed at leaders of infrastructure and umbrella organisations.

"Really useful - made us think outside the box and think about the external world" - previous course delegate

Date: Tuesday 7 July and Tuesday 4 August 2009
Time: 9.30am - 11:30 am
Follow up workshop: Wednesday 7 October 2009

To book a place on this training please click here

A one-day workshop aimed at development workers or information officers - 'Understanding the External Environment'

Date: Monday 20 July 2009
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Follow up workshop: Wednesday 7 October 2009

To book a place on this training please click here

For more information about the workshops, or the RAISE and NCVO Third Sector Foresight partnership, please contact Abby Lee on 01483 885271 or email abigail@raise-networks.org.uk

Why should I come on this training?

Read a case study of how Val Johnson, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Kirklees, used the training.

The value of strategic analysis has been mentioned by Chief Executives in the Yorkshire and the Humber region as letting them:

"offer better services for our beneficiaries"

"increase our success rate in terms of income generation"

"enhance our influencing ability and therefore increases our impact"

If you are able to help the organisations you support with this, these are just some of the benefits they may enjoy!

If you want to get a taste of strategic analysis, please have a look at the NCVO Third Sector Foresight website pages.

RAISE are working with Third Sector Foresight at NCVO who lead the change workstream, funded by Capacitybuilders’ National Support Services Programme. See www.improvingsupport.org.uk which brings together resources, evidence and good practice to help third sector support organisations.

To receive monthly updates including details of any events join the NCVO Third Sector Foresight network from the Third Sector Foresight website.

Past events and Leading Lights seminar reports

We run a series of Third Sector Foresight Leading Lights seminars and an annual conference to allow network members to meet and share knowledge and experiences.

Climate change and the VCS

On 5 March, Stephen Hale, director of Green Alliance and Dr Nicholas Watts from London Metropolitan University led the debate on what climate change means for the voluntary and community sector.

We shall be putting follow up from the seminar up here shortly.

X and Y? The implications of a changing workforce for the VCS

This event took place on 18 November. We will be putting follow up from the seminar up on our website shortly. Watch this space!

Past events without seminar reports

New evidence and trends on the size, scope and dynamics of the UK voluntary sector
Are voluntary organisations relevant in a digital age?
Independent Income: Cutting edge or cutting out?

Alive and Kicking: creating successful strategies

11 December 2008

This highly successful event, run with the NCVO Strategy and Impact team, was for key people involved in organisational strategy and decision-making for their organisations. The day covered big picture trends to watch out for, to tips on involving more people, all helping delegates develop successful organisational strategies.

Download the opening plenary by Kate Lee, Red Cross.

The impact of an economic slowdown on the VCS

22 July 2008

This seminar helped VCOs explore the implications of a 'credit crunch' for their organisations. The emphasis was on how to prepare for changes through more effective strategic planning and thinking.

Download the speaker presentations. Keith Hickey presentation
Peter Hahn: Rebalancing the UK economy (913 KB)
Read the insights that came out of the seminar discussions and add your own.
You may also be interested in this news report, posted by Karl Wilding, NCVO Head of Research.

The impact of migration on the VCS

8 April 2008

The seminar explored how migration might impact on various areas of the VCS such as, for example, funding and policy. There were three presentations on the subject, followed by group discussion.

Read the seminar report.

The future of citizenship

17 January 2008

The seminar explored how notions and definitions of citizenship might change in the future. A presentation by the Henley Centre Headlight Vision based on a report produced for the DCA on the future of citizenship in 2026 provided the background to the seminar. The report also contains four potential scenarios for how notions of citizenship in the UK might change in 2026; these were the subject of our discussion.

Read the seminar report.
Join in a discussion about what impact these scenarios might have on your organisation on our new website.

The impact of new technologies on the VCS

15 November 2007

This seminar featured a series of short presentations from a panel of ‘experts’ followed by delegate discussion on the implications of new technologies in key areas for VCOs such as: fundraising; membership; campaigning; and public service delivery.

Read the seminar report.
Read an initial summary and discussion of the day or add your own thoughts on our new website.

Futures for civil society: ideas, implications and action

17 July 2007 - Third Sector Foresight annual conference

This event discussed possible futures for civil society and identified actions we can take to diminish possible future threats and take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Download the conference report (PDF 354 KB)
Listen to Phil Hope, Geoff Mulgan and Kierra Box discuss the future of civil society.

From scanning to planning

21 February 2007 - at the NCVO Annual conference

This session explored the skills and processes involved in scanning the external environment, analysing the impact of external trends and constructing future scenarios.

Download the presentation (PDF 111 KB)

Picture this: Foresight and scenario planning in practice

23 January 2007 - with the Performance Hub

This seminar explored the challenges and benefits of scenario planning and other future visioning exercises in practice.

Read the seminar report

Compete or collaborate? A strategic choice

16 October 2006 - with the Performance Hub

This seminar explored how VCOs make strategic decisions about their relationships. It also looked at the ethics and perceptions of competition and collaboration in the VCS.

Read the seminar report

The implications of local government reform for the voluntary and community sector

6 September 2006

This seminar explored the implications of local government reform for the voluntary sector.

Read the seminar report

To drift or set anchor? Long term strategies to steer you through the funding environment

6 July 2006 - with the Performance Hub

This seminar explored how voluntary and community organisations can be strategic in spite of a challenging funding environment.

Read the seminar report

Looking from the Inside Out: Annual Third Sector Foresight Conference

20 June 2006

This conference looked at changes in the VCS operating environment and helped participants to understand external trends, their implications and consider strategic actions.

Read the conference report.

Whose strategy is it anyway? The costs and benefits of involving stakeholders

15 May 2006 - with the Performance Hub

This seminar debated the value, benefits, costs and risks of involving stakeholders in developing strategy.

Read the seminar report

Blended value and social investment - new approaches to VCS funding

3 April 2006

This event explored the blended value proposition – the idea that all organisations produce a blend of economic, social and environmental value, in relation to VCOs and social investment.

Read the seminar report

The implications of the Pensions Commission report for the voluntary and community sector

27 January 2006

This event looked at the demographic challenge facing the UK, the recommendations of the Pensions Commission and the implications of pensions' reform for VCOs.

Read the seminar report

Strategy renewal during periods of growth

17 October 2005 - with the Performance Hub

This strategy seminar discussed strategy renewal or the evolution of an organisation during periods or growth.

Read the seminar report
Read Ian Williams' background paper

Changing regulation and perceptions of risk

29 September 2005

This seminar looked at how the avoidance of blame shapes regulation and risk management and VCS attitudes and experiences of regulation.

Read the seminar report

The changing economic landscape

14 March 2005

This seminar looked at the impact of economic trends on citizens, consumers and VCOs and discussed the outlook for the public finances after the 2005 election

Read the seminar report
Read the presentation by speaker Terry Athaide (Chief Economist for the Future Foundation)

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Past events without seminar reports

New evidence and trends on the size, scope and dynamics of the UK voluntary sector

21 February 2006 - at the NCVO Annual Conference

This session presented findings from the 2006 Voluntary Sector Almanac, a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the economic characteristics of UK voluntary organisations. It looked at how current trends point to future challenges and opportunities for voluntary and community organisations. It discussed the changing relationship between the government and the voluntary and community sector.

Are voluntary organisations relevant in a digital age?

21 February 2006 - at the NCVO Annual Conference

A panel of speakers debated how ICT is changing the relationship between citizens and voluntary and community organisations, presenting a range of challenges and opportunities for the sector.