The Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations (Acosvo) project has been awarded £358,810 from the Big Lottery Fund
Fifty third sector organisations in Scotland are being offered the chance to undergo an online assessment that will show them areas where they can improve.
The Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations (Acosvo) has teamed up with Chief Officers Third Sector (CO3) in Northern Ireland to offer charities, voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises free access to an online diagnostic tool, called the Core Capacity Assessment Tool (CCAT).
The joint Path to Impact project has been awarded £358,810 from the Big Lottery Fund, meaning 50 organisations in each country can benefit.
We hope to learn from the groups who participate, so that funders and the sector as a whole can learn, adapt and develop how we work together
The tool uses a 146 question survey which measures an organisation’s effectiveness in relation to leadership, management, adaptability and technical capacity.
It should be filled out by senior staff and the results will be used to identify specific strengths and weaknessess, with a personalised report and a tailored programme of support provided for each organisation.
The project will also run workshops and one to one support for the groups that take part to help them understand and address the findings of the assessment and share learning within the sector.
Pat Armstrong, chief executive of Acosvo, said: “Path to Impact offers an exciting opportunity for third sector leaders to increase the effectiveness of their own organisations and make a valuable contribution to developing the capacity and sustainability of the sector as a whole.”
Jackie Killeen, Scotland director Big Lottery Fund, said: “These kinds of diagnostic tools have the potential to make a big difference, helping organisations to understand their strengths and areas for improvement so they can be effective in their work and make the best of their funding.
“We hope to learn from the groups who participate, so that funders and the sector as a whole can learn, adapt and develop how we work together."
For further information on the proposal and/or to register your interest visit acosvo.org.uk/path-impact.
