Community Training and Consultancy Service

Potential exists for a North Down and Ards community training and consultancy practice to be established which would provide the following services:

· Community training
· Capacity building
· Mediation services
· Community relations training
· Health and drugs training and information
· Disability training
· Community research and strategic planning

The practice would initially concentrate operations in the North Down and possibly Ards areas, but could expand to provide services on a regional basis.

It is proposed to establish the business as a company limited by guarantee with the board of directors being made up by representatives of local agencies and groups.

The following organisations could possibly nominate an individual to act as a representative on the board of directors:

North Down Local Strategy Partnership
Ards Local Strategy Partnership
North Down and Ards Institute
North Down Borough Council
Wellnet
North Down Community Network
Omnibus Partnership
Women's Aid
Any other appropriate agency

The company would operate as a commercial consultancy service but would also provide reduced fee rates for particular disadvantaged clients on an individual case by case basis, for example for local tenants who might require a mediation service, etc.

Any surpluses made through the operation of the business would be ploughed back into reduced training and consultancy fees for the local community and voluntary sector. The practice would be managed by a training and consultancy manager who would carry out some training and consultancy work, but would primarily drive the business and source associate trainers and consultants form within the local community and statutory sectors. Community and statutory agency trainers and consultants would be paid for their time on an agreed associate rate.

The North Down Community Sector Training Needs Analysis document recommendations state that there is the potential for a dedicated post to co-ordinate and deliver training within North Down. The possibility therefore exists to apply for funds to the North Down and perhaps Ards LSPs in order to secure a coordinating post for the proposed company.

Three main training and consultancy fields would constitute the initial business markets for the company during the first two years of operations as follows:

North Down and possibly Ards community sector training - as detailed within the North Down Community Sector Training Needs Analysis document. Potential exists for the company to apply for funds through the North Down and possibly Ards LSPs in order to fulfil the local community training needs.

Mediation/Health/Drugs, etc. training and information for local communities - purchased by statutory sector agencies such as Ulster Hospitals Community Trust, NIHE, PSNI, North Down BC, Ards BC, etc.

Income Generating Mechanism

General community training and consultancy contracts - individual consultancy and training contracts are regularly commissioned by a wide range of bodies, agencies and groups, and it would be possible for the Practice to compete with private sector consultancies for specific contracts.