HYNDBURN and RIBBLE VALLEY CVS
Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) acts as a leading link between the council, the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), representative groups and residents; supporting and encouraging social and economic regeneration involving both the voluntary sector and the community and against a backdrop of changes to the law, policy and society’s needs.
It works with a range of partners in the planning, development and delivery of initiatives in response to Government policy among which feature: activities to tackle social exclusion, health inequality and long term unemployment. The CVS is also active in leveraging fund to the voluntary sector in the area through grant-making bodies like the Big Lottery Fund, charitable trusts and central government programmes.
The organisation plays a major role in offering high-quality, affordable training to staff and volunteers among charitable and community groups right across the area.
The Challenge
HRVCVS identified a need with a number of voluntary sector bodies locally for training in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. It had successfully secured funds through the NSPCC for safeguarding children training and was keen that this should take place in a community setting – with ease of access for local staff and volunteers.
The Athena Solution
We delivered a number of creative and interactive courses designed specifically for people working within a voluntary organisation structure including: Safeguarding Children Level 1 & Level 2, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Level 1, Independent Safeguarding Authority, and Working with Hard to Reach Groups. The resulting training ensured attendees attained National Minimum Standards in practices for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
Course content directly reflected scenarios that can occur within the sector enabling participants to gain a realistic perspective of safeguarding, their roles and responsibilities within the child and vulnerable adult protection processes.
The Outcome
Jill Stazicker, said: “I was looking for a local company – and noticed The Athena Programme office in Clitheroe. CVS are based in the Ribble Valley and I wanted to make sure that in providing the training we supported the local economy.”
She continued: “The feedback from the training was good. On the one occasion that a participant would have liked to have seen different elements in a course we were pleased that Athena was prepared to be flexible about changing the course content. I found dealing with the Athena team fine ” Lucy was very friendly. I would recommend their training.”
