I shall be running the course for Exeter CVS on Wednesday 3rd November, and they are also organising training events for Devon’s district-based CVSs so I will be in Tavistock on 27th January 2011, in Teignbridge on 2nd March, and in Torridge on 19th April.  Click here for booking details for Devon & Exeter-based voluntary and community organisations.

Click here to book for “Ten Steps to the Perfect Funding Bid” on Tuesday 7th December at Poundbury, Dorchester.  £60.

Click here to book for “Cracking the Corporate Coffers” on Wednesday 19th January 2011 at Winterborne Whitechurch.  £80.

Book online for these course, and choose cheque or credit card at the checkout.  No booking fee.   Booking is through Gold Hill Tickets, the secure online bookings page for Shaftesbury & Gillingham Tourism Services.  The system will provide a receipt, and your ticket will be sent by post.  A course programme and details of how to find the venue will be sent by email or post nearer the course date.

You may think that this is not a good time to be approaching businesses for sponsorship or donations. In fact, approach them in the right way, and this couldn’t be further from the truth.   The emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility and the desire to become more closely involved with local initiatives are powerful reasons for a business to become more involved. 
 
This one-day course, run by charity fundraiser Tamara Essex and business-to-business telemarketing specialist Margaret MacKenzie, will help voluntary and community organisations to: 
 
* Clarify what they can offer a business. 
* Understand how to identify the most appropriate business prospects for their organisation. 
* Develop the skills needed to make an effective first approach. 
* Negotiate a good deal. 
* Raise their profile. 
* Give added value to their corporate donors. 
 
Tamara, who has a long track-record as a fundraiser, has teamed up with Margaret MacKenzie from the Swan Company Ltd, a relationship driven telemarketing business. Together they offer a unique opportunity to learn some great telemarketing techniques that will set you on the road to building long-lasting, symbiotic relationships with corporate donors. 

*  TOP TIPS FOR TENDERING - guiding you through Local Authority tendering.   Tuesday 2nd November.  £80.  Poundbury, Dorchester.  Online booking available shortly.

If your organisation wants to be better placed to win tenders for commissioned work, this highly practical course is for you.  You will learn how to write a strong tender that gets noticed, and understand better what commissioners are seeking.  You will also explore what your organisation must do to ensure it is ‘fit for purpose’.   For this course Tamara is working with Lin Whitfield, an expert in commissioning and tendering   www.linwhitfield.co.uk 

*  TEN STEPS TO THE PERFECT FUNDING BID – another opportunity to book onto Tamara’s popular course on effective bid-writing to charitable trusts and foundations.   Tuesday 7th December.  £60.  Poundbury, Dorchester.  Online booking available shortly.

With corporate and community fundraising tougher than ever in the current financial climate, bids to the Lottery and to charitable foundations are more and more essential. But they are receiving higher numbers of bids than ever, so how do you ensure that YOUR bid rises to the top of the heap and avoids the waste paper bin?

Successful bid-writer Tamara Essex is dropping out of professional fundraising so is willing to share her secrets. This highly practical and enjoyable day will leave participants more confident and more skilled in writing the “perfect” funding bid, and armed with an invaluable resource pack.   The course is a wise investment for both experienced and inexperienced fundraisers, whether paid or voluntary, as well as for community workers based in Local Authorities or similar.

“If only all training days were this good – Brilliant!”   “I think one could do a degree in funding – to fit this course into one day is amazing!”   - Shaftesbury Arts Centre, 21^st April 2010

Course is aimed at all voluntary & community organisations likely to be tendering to deliver local authority / NHS services.

Information is on the VISTA website:    http://www.vistaproject.org.uk/courses.php?mode=cdetail&course_id=409

and on the Funding Central website:  http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/eventview.aspx?RF=RSS&WCU=DSCODE%3dOTSEVENT%2cEVENTID%3d260-E457%2cRF%3dRSS

The new date is Tuesday 20th July, and it will be taking place at Dorset Advocacy, Jubilee Court, Paceycombe Way, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3AE.  The day starts at 9.45 with coffee and registration and will finish at 4.30pm.

Every delegate will go away with a complete resource pack that includes invaluable information such as the “Ten Steps” booklet, lists of charitable trusts and foundations, and the secret list of reasons applications are turned down by the Lottery!

If you would like to come along, the cost is only £60 per person and you can book now at

Shaftesbury Tourist Information Centre – 01747 853514  or online at www.goldhilltickets.co.uk

The website also plays host to her very popular fundraising blog, by providing links to the most recent posts.  Why not have a look today to see just what Tamara is up to.