News & Events

This course will be delivered again 9th March 2027.

Target Audience

This workshop is suitable for learners who have completed a Canva beginner-level course or who already use Canva regularly and wish to advance their skills.

Workshop Content

This workshop provides an in-depth exploration of Canva’s intermediate and advanced features, focusing on branding, content planning, and professional design workflows. Participants will develop practical skills in maintaining brand consistency, applying colour and typography principles, creating engaging video and presentation content, and producing documents at scale using bulk design tools. The course also introduces accessibility features to ensure designs are inclusive and user-friendly. Throughout the training, learners will leverage Canva’s AI tools to streamline content creation and enhance creativity, equipping them with the skills needed to produce high-quality designs across multiple platforms is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.

Topics covered during the workshop include:

  • Canva Branding Kit
  • Canva Colour Wheel
  • Canva Content Planner
  • Linking Canva account to social media accounts
  • Typography and Text Apps
  • Creating and Editing Videos
  • Creating Presentation
  • Document Design
  • Creating Emails/Newsletters
  • Bulk Create Design
  • Canva Translate
  • Accessibility Features
  • Canva AI Tools
    • Canva AI 2.0 (or newest version)
    • Magic Write
    • Magic Studio
    • Magic Media

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

Anyone seeking practical tips for using AI with Excel files.

Outline

In this short course the following will be covered:

  • Overview of using AI with your Excel file
  • Analysing data
  • Explaining formulas
  • Creating formulas to do something
  • Guidelines on writing the prompts to help do this including how to save the prompts to use again

Methodology

  • Delivered virtually via Zoom.
  • GiraffePad will be the platform used to hold the Zoom link/training materials/recording.

This course will be delivered again 6th May 2027.

Target Audience

For current or aspiring leaders and managers in not-for-profit organisations e.g. Board officers, CEOs/Managers, team leaders, project managers. 

Outline

Section 1: The strategic environment for high performance 

·        Setting clear vision and objectives for the organisation
·        Effective leadership and team development and management 

Section 2: Managing performance 

·        Understanding performance management
·        Being clear on what and who we are measuring
·        Setting and agreeing performance indicators
·        Monitoring performance 

Section 3: Communications and conversations 

·        Dealing with motivation
·        What makes for good communications
·        How to plan and manage for performance improvement
·        Structuring the performance conversation
·        Giving feedback

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

Individuals or organisations interested/involved in setting up and running a small non-profit organisation, or supporting others doing the same.

Outline

This online course will be delivered over 2 weekly Zoom sessions as per the details below. For privacy reasons, these sessions will not be recorded, so please make sure to attend both sessions if possible.

Module 1: (Tues 24 November, 10am – 1pm)

Establishment of a Group

  • Setting up a community group
  • Deciding on the Legal Structure
  • Writing Your Constitution
  • Recruiting Volunteers

Running of the Group

  • Committee Roles
  • Running a Meeting
  • Agendas/Minutes

Module 2: (Tues 1 December, 10am – 1pm)

Making Decisions

  • Conflict of Interest
  • Code of Conduct
  • Communication with members of group

Legal Duties

  • Regulatory Responsibilities
  • Charity/Tax & Bank Accounts
  • Succession Planning

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience

Anyone seeking hands-on training and practical tips for integrating Copilot Chat with Microsoft 365 apps, an essential resource for anyone looking to optimise their workflows and stay ahead with Microsoft’s latest AI tool. Copilot Chat is free with a Microsoft Business 365 subscription, i.e. an Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint annual subscription, but not a home or family subscription. The session does not include training on the paid Copilot licence for Copilot within Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Outline

This course provides hands-on training with Copilot Chat, demonstrating its core capabilities such as information retrieval, document drafting, and project management support. Participants will learn how to:

  • Create drafts for documents like policies, procedures and guidelines
  • Create outlines for PowerPoint presentations
  • Create images in different styles and sizes for social media and PowerPoint presentations
  • Create summaries and action items from the transcript of a Teams meeting
  • Use ready made Microsoft Agents to help you work smarter with Copilot

Methodology

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

Target Audience

For everyone dedicated to an Irish charity – whether you are a valued staff member, a manager, a CEO, or a voluntary charity trustee – a clear understanding of Protected Disclosures is fundamental. It underpins good governance, builds public trust, and ensures full compliance with vital whistleblower legislation.

Join us for this essential online introduction, providing clear insights into Protected Disclosures within the unique context of Irish charities.

Outline

  • The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended): Grasp its direct relevance and applicability to your role and your charity’s operations.
  • Key Definitions: Clearly identify what constitutes “relevant wrongdoing” and who is considered a “worker” under the Act.
  • Disclosure Channels: Learn about the proper procedures for making and receiving disclosures, both internally and externally.
  • Whistleblower Protections: Understand the crucial safeguards in place for individuals who speak up.
  • Charity Obligations: Discover the fundamental responsibilities of charities in developing effective policies, establishing reporting channels, and supporting those who make disclosures.
  • Best Practices: Explore strategies to cultivate a robust “speak up” culture that benefits your entire organisation.

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience 

For small and medium sized non-profit organisations, community, voluntary, charitable & social enterprise registered in the Republic of Ireland.  Board members and managers: people with responsibility for human resources. 

Aim 

To assist participants in being able to deal with situations that may cause anxiety, discomfort or stress. 

Outline 

Difficult situations are inevitable, and can occur without warning, or, in some organisations, regularly. Having a strategy prepared which helps us to respond rather than react will help both parties achieve a satisfactory (win-win) outcome. The session will be highly interactive, with group work and pairs exercises designed to enable participants maximise their learning. 

Duration 10am – 4.00pm

Methodology 

In-person, Carmichael Centre, Dublin 7.

Target Audience

Those who are responsible for keeping the financial books and records of the organisation.

Outline

Ensuring accurate financial record-keeping is a fundamental part of any organisation.  This course will seek to explain the accounting cycle and the role of bookkeeping within that cycle including a discussion on the key books and records your organisation needs to keep to ensure it is fully recording its financial transactions.

Methodology

In-person training, in Carmichael Centre, Dublin 7.

Target Audience

Board Members, HR Subcommittee, CEO, Deputy CEO and Senior Management.

Outline

This single, focused workshop is designed to help the Board and senior management initiate a structured and professional approach to leadership succession. It will create shared understanding, assess current vulnerabilities, and outline clear next steps to ensure smooth leadership transition and organisational continuity. The objectives of this workshop are:

  • Establish the strategic and leadership context for transition. 
  • Identify organisational risks and opportunities linked to leadership change. 
  • Explore resource-based scenarios (reduced, steady, expanded). 
  • Clarify leadership roles and responsibilities for key senior positions. 
  • Agree next steps for documentation, mentoring, and communication.

Methodology

Delivered virtually via Zoom.