News & Events

Target Audience

Anyone wishing to pick up some productivity tips in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook. Prior knowledge of Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365 is essential.

Prerequisite

The training will be in the New version of Outlook, as the Classic version will have no support from April 2026.

Outline

In this course you will learn productivity tips from the following Microsoft programs:

Outlook

• Cleaning up your inbox
• Scheduling emails in advance
• Creating simple rules
• Using email templates

Word

• Working with styles
• Contents pages
• Cover pages
• Watermarks

Excel

• Cleaning data
• Separating text from within a cell
• Locking cells
• Displaying data visually

PowerPoint

• Using slides from another presentation
• Changing fonts throughout the entire presentation
• Working with images and shapes
• Using the presenter view

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Microsoft Teams. This session will be recorded and the recording will be circulated to participants on completion.

Target Audience

This course will be beneficial for chairs of boards, CEOs, senior managers leading executive teams, officers engaging in community outreach, education/training workers, and staff leading meetings.

Outline

Effective facilitation can lead to clearer focus and purposeful action. In this workshop you will be introduced to methodologies, tools and techniques to design and deliver engaging events and meetings, as well as some tips for overcoming facilitation challenges. You will also have a chance to think about what is working in your own facilitated sessions, and what can be improved.

Methodology

Delivered online via Zoom.

Target Audience

New Board Members, Directors, Charity Trustees of non-profit organisations.

Outline

A comprehensive induction is an important first step in ensuring that new Board Members, Directors and Charity Trustees have the understanding needed to carry out their roles, responsibilities and obligations effectively. This workshop aims to form part of that induction process.

Below is an outline of the topics covered:

• Governance Overview
• Board Members’ Roles and Responsibilities
• The Chairperson
• Board Relationship with CEO/Staff
• Company Limited by Guarantee – Directors
• Charity – Charity Trustees
• What more to expect from a Board Induction

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

Board Members, Chairpersons and CEOs of non-profit organisations.

Outline

• Roles and responsibilities – Board, CEO, Chair
• Governance vs. Management
• Division of responsibilities
• Communication between CEO and Chair (Board)
• HR sub-committee (CEO Selection, Review, Remuneration, Succession Planning)
• CEO role in relation to the Board
• CEO performance appraisals – how to conduct appropriately
• Board only sessions
• Code of conduct
• Board evaluation (its value and purpose)
• Board Dilemmas

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

Managers and staff, responsible for data protection of charities and not-for-profits.

Outline

This training course is designed to engage management and staff of charities & non-profits, helping them understand the requirements of the GDPR and how to become compliant with a set of policies and procedures. These are presented in a practical and accessible manner, with templates provided to the attendees

1. The fundamentals of the GDPR

• The key principles of the GDPR
• Legal basis for processing
• Data Subject rights

2. Required policies, procedures, and records

• Data Protection Policy
• Data Protection Officer needed – Yes/No?
• Data Inventory
• Data Retention Policy
• Information Security Policy
• Records of Processing Activities (ROPA)
• Data Protection Notice for website (privacy statement)
• Procedures for handling individual’s rights
• Data breach handling procedure
• CCTV Policy (may be optional)

3. Other requirements (e.g. Data Protection Impact Assessments – DPIA)

Methodology

Delivered virtually, via Google Meet. A copy of the slides will be provided as well as a link to download the templates.

Target Audience

Managers and Board Members responsible for Data Protection.

Outline

This interactive workshop will provide the participant with an easy-to-understand background on the GDPR as well as giving a clear grasp of their organisation’s obligations under the legislation.

1. Introduction:

• What is data protection and why is it important?
• What is the GDPR and how does it apply to charities and not-for-profits?
• The key principles of the GDPR.
• The benefits of GDPR compliance.

2. Data subject rights
3. Data protection obligations for charities and not-for-profits:

• Lawful basis for processing personal data.
• Data protection by design and by default.
• Data security.
• Data breach reporting.
• International transfers of personal data.
• Required policies, procedures and records.

4. The Data Protection Commission (DPC):

• What is their role?
• What actions can they take?
• What proceedings have they taken?

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Google Meet. A copy of the slides will be provided as well as a link to download more detailed guidance on data protection.

Target Audience

Are you a Board member of a voluntary or community group? Are you unsure of what is expected of you? Do you want to ensure your organisation is governed in accordance with good practice?

Outline

This session will demystify Board members’ roles and responsibilities and give you tools to enhance your contribution and the effectiveness of your Board. It outlines the purpose of the board as a whole in relation to governance and management. We then examine the specific roles of individual board members and in particular, their legal responsibilities and duties under the Charities Act (2009) and the Companies Act (2014). The workshop will finish with a discussion on typical problems arising within boards and some practical solutions to deal with them.

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

Trustees, Chairs, CEOs, and those responsible for governance in their Charity.

Outline

The Charities Governance Code explains the minimum standards you should meet to effectively manage and control your charity. This workshop will walk you through the requirements of the code including actions and evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

• Non-Profit Organisations: Executives, Marketing Teams, Social Media Managers
• Freelancers: Those who work with Non-Profits
• Students: Studying marketing or Non-Profit management
• Consultants: Specialising in Non-Profit sector

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Module 1: Understanding Social Media Landscape
   • Popular Platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok
   • Audience Demographics
   • Case Studies: Successful Non-Profit Social Media Campaigns
3. Module 2: Setting Objectives and KPIs
4. Module 3: Content Strategy
   • Types of Content: Educational, Inspirational, Call-to-Action
   • Content Calendar
   • Tools for Content Creation
5. Module 4: Audience Engagement
6. Module 5: Analytics and Reporting
   • Tools for Analytics
   • Metrics to Track
   • Reporting and Insights
7. Q&A and Wrap-up

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

Non-profit staff in operations, communications, fundraising, administration, and governance roles who need to understand the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with using AI in their work. Particularly relevant for anyone with responsibility for AI tool selection, data handling, safeguarding, communications sign-off, or organisational policy. Suitable for attendees who already use AI tools informally, and for those whose organisations are now being asked by funders, boards, or regulators to demonstrate they are using AI responsibly. No legal or technical background required.

Outline

1. Why This Matters for Non-Profits

• Why AI compliance and ethics have moved from “nice to have” to a governance issue
• Funder expectations and the shifting regulatory landscape
• Safeguarding obligations for organisations working with children or vulnerable adults
• The reputational stakes of getting AI wrong in a sector built on trust
• What “responsible AI use” actually means for a non-profit

2. The EU AI Act Explained

• Plain-English walkthrough of what the Act is and who it applies to
• The risk-based approach at the heart of the legislation
• The four risk categories — unacceptable, high, limited, and minimal
• Examples drawn from non-profit contexts: CV screening, chatbots on service websites, AI-generated campaign imagery, eligibility assessment tools
• Key enforcement dates already in force and what’s coming next

3. Ireland’s Enforcement Architecture

• The AI Office of Ireland (Oifig IS na hÉireann) and its coordinating role
• The 13+ sectoral regulators with enforcement responsibilities in their own domains
• Ireland’s graduated enforcement pathway — investigation, contravention notice, prohibition notice, adjudication, High Court confirmation
• The public sector fine cap of €1 million and what it means for charities delivering public services
• The Provider vs Deployer distinction and why most non-profits are deployers with real obligations under Article 26

4. Ethics in Practice

• Bias and fairness in AI outputs
• Transparency with service users and donors
• Consent and data protection when feeding information into AI tools
• Sensitivities specific to non-profit work: client data, case notes, beneficiary imagery, communications about vulnerable groups
• Worked examples of where organisations have got this wrong
• Key questions to ask before using AI in a given situation

5. Building an AI Policy for Your Organisation

• Mapping AI usage across the organisation
• Classifying risk and assigning responsibility
• Setting principles and planning oversight
• Embedding the policy through staff training, procurement checks, and an AI system register
• A clear policy framework attendees can adapt rather than a template to copy

6. Q&A and Next Steps

• Open questions
• Resources for staying current as the law evolves
• Signposting to further support

Methodology

Delivered via Zoom.