Booking open for ‘Community Anchors: Fit For Purpose’ – 4th June 2009

Booking is now open for the ‘Community Anchors: Fit For Purpose‘ conference on Thursday 4th June where we will be discussing whether in these uncertain financial times will Community Anchors really be ‘fit for purpose’?

This one day conference is aimed at practitioners, researchers and policy makers passionate about the role of Community Anchors in bringing change to their communities.

Throughout the day there will be the opportunity to discuss and debate the current issues surrounding the sustainability and future of Community Anchors, as well as hearing from a range of key practitioners and researchers in the sector.

This event is hosted by the Bromley-by-Bow Centre, Community Links, Toynbee Hall and the Centre For Institutional Studies at the University of East London.

Speakers

Graham Fisher – Chief Executive, Toynbee Hall
Milla Gregor – Evaluation and Research Manager, Toynbee Hall
Stephen Thake – London Metropolitan University
Rob Trimble – Chief Executive, Bromley by Bow Centre
Alice Wallace – Centre for Institutional Studies, University of East London
Max Weaver – Chief Executive, Community Links

Conference Themes

How do we know that Community Anchors are viable institutions? This workshop will look at the theme of how we measure our social impact. Milla Gregor from Toynbee Hall will be discussing how they have developed their social impact measurement.

How can Community Anchors become sustainable institutions? Stephen Thake, London Metropolitan University, will be presenting this workshop and discussing the financial sustainability of Community Anchors in light of the current financial crisis.

How can Community Anchors contribute to the overall social improvement and well-being of a locality? This workshop will look at how the issues of partnership, competition and local relationships with community groups can ensure Community Anchors have a greater impact than they might otherwise have had.

… other speakers to be confirmed soon.

Choose ‘Other Payment Options‘ on the booking page to pay by invoice.

Introduction to Social Impact Measurement – Free E-Book

We are spending a lot of our time talking about measuring social impact at the moment and although most organisations agree that the current monitoring that they are doing doesn’t tell the full story of the impact they are having there is still a lot of confusion about what Social Impact actually is.

To help answer some of these questions and help organisations get started measuring their own social impact we have launched a new FREE e-book called Measuring Your Social Impact: A Practical Approach.

As part of the download process we are asking people to help us measure our own social impact – and in particular the impact our free e-book has on their understanding of social impact.

You can download your copy here.

Bev has also written a post on her blog – For More Than Profit – on Our Approach to Social Impact Measurement and how we believe that any organisation, whatever their size, can and should be measuring their social impact – so head over there and have a read of what we think about Social Impact Measurement.

Measuring Your Social Impact – A Practical Guide

Here at The Tool Factory we have been thinking a lot about measuring social impact in Third Sector organisations.

If we can provide proof of how we are changing people’s lives then funders will love it.

We are running half-day training courses on an Introduction to Social Impact for organisations who are interested in learning how to start measuring their social impact.

As part of that course we have also put together a free e-book that will introduce you to a practical approach to measuring your social impact in your organisation, without having to spend lots of money. There are plenty of practical examples and all of the terms are explained in detail.

We are just making the final finishing touches to the e-book which will be available from next week. If you would like us to send you a copy just drop us an email at freeresources@thetoolfactory.com

If you would be interested in the half-day training course – an Introduction to Social Impact Measurement – please contact bev@thetoolfactory.com

The Tool Factor blog is back up and running again

After a long break we are back up and blogging.

We’ll be announcing all our latest course, products and offers here on the blog so come join us and make sure you are up-to-date on what is going on.

Our first announcement is our new phone number – (0845) 273 3834. They’ll be news later this week

Social Impact Tracker Launched

How long do you spend writing your funder’s reports each quarter and at the end of each year? Wouldn’t you rather spend more time actually delivering your services to your clients?

What about measuring the impact you have on your clients? How easy do you find it to measure and report on your social impact?

As you know, here at The Tool Factory our aim is to make your lives easier. We spend our time developing tools and resources that help you do a great job in achieving your vision – and saving you time and money in the process.

That’s why we are really excited about our Social Impact Tracker tool – which we launched yesterday at Charity Fair.

Social Impact Tracker is the first monitoring database that measures your social impact. So not only does it keep track of everything your clients do and are involved in but it also creates funders report and reports on how well you’ve done at achieving your social aims – all at the touch of a button.

You enter your vision, mission, aims and objectives, decide on what you will monitor and what questions you will ask. Then over the year you enter your data as you would normally.

That’s when it gets interesting. Rather than spending time going through files trying to find all the relevant spreadsheets and reports to pull together for the funders … you just press the reporting button and the software does it all for you.

We think that’s worth a look. Check out our website at the end of the week for more information on how you can get a look.

Free Business Audit Tool from Work On The Business

In exchange for your help with some research (it will take just 5 minutes) Work On The Business are offering a free simple business audit tool

A message from Nicola at Work On The Business:

“I am doing some research at the moment as I am trying to increase the amount of work I am doing with leaders working in social enterprise. I wanted to ask if you could take five minutes to answer the 11 questions below to help me focus what I can offer. In return for your time I will send you a FREE business audit tool to help you determine some possible areas of focus for your business growth, if you can get your answers back to me in the next 7 days. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.”

If would like to complete the survey for Nicola please email me at bev@thetoolfactory.com and I’ll forward it to you.

Work On The Business also has some great workshops coming up in June and July. We’ll be attending their Your and Your Business Workshop – why not come along and join us. Visit their website to find out more.

Designed by The Tool Factory: ACEVO Launch Full Cost Business Planner

On 23rd and 24th June ACEVO are launching their new Full Cost Business Planner software developed in partnership with The Tool Factory.

It is two years since ACEVO introduced its national programme in Full Cost Recovery (FCR) and launched the irfirst electronic FCR template.

The Tool Factory has been working with ACEVO since September last year writing the new version which includes a version of The Tool Factory’s own Business Plan Writer software so now you can write your Business Plan and include your Full Cost Recovery calculations and reports.

The Full Cost Business Planner is a much more advanced version of the original FCR template with some great improvements allowing organisations to cost multiple projects ensuring all overheads are allocated consistently and appropriately.

Come and join us at the launch events:

- 23 June 3pm-5pm, Leeds

- 24 June 6pm-8pm, London

For more information and a booking form follow this link – FCR Launch Events Flyer

Voice08 – come along and say hi!

The Tool Factory will be exhibiting at Voice08 in Liverpool on the 26th and 27th February.

If you are attending the event do come and visit us on Stand 9 and get an exclusive look at our new product that we will be launching at the event.

As well as exclusive discounts on our products you could also win £50 Amazon vouchers if you enter our prize draw.

Tools For Co-operatives – What Do You Think?

We are working on a version of Business Plan Writer designed specifically for Co-operatives and we need you help.

If you are a co-operative or you support co-operatives we would love your input to find out what features and content would be the most use to you and the co-operatives you support.

We would be really grateful if you could complete our short survey – it’ll take you just 5 minutes. You can access the survey by clicking on this link.

The Tool Factory is attending the Co-operative Futures event this weekend and we are running a session on developing tools specifically for co-operatives. We’ll put the results of the survey and the feedback we get at this event up on the blog for everyone to see.

We are looking forward to seeing what you have to say.

The Tool Factory On Tour

2008 is off to a flying start here at The Tool Factory as we are preparing to launch some new products in the first half of this year.

We will be visiting a number of events this year so if you are planning to attend any of the following do come and say hello. Look out for our prize draws as well. Here at The Tool Factory we love giving things away – last year we gave away ipods and vouchers for a well-known online bookstore. This year we’ve got even more great prizes.

JANUARY

25th – 27th – Future Co-operatives Residential Workshop – we will be previewing the prototype of Business Plan Writer: Co-operatives Version at the workshop with the aim of getting feedback from those working alongside co-operatives.

29th – Citizen’s Advice North Regional Conference – Bev will be running a workshop on social enterprise at this event which is to be held in Preston.

FEBRUARY

26th – 27th Voice08 – this year at Voice08 we will be celebrating one year since the launch of Business Plan Writer: Social Enterprise Version. We will also be launching a new product at the event – more of that at a later date.

MARCH

13th – ACEVO’s Spring Conference “The Business of Charity” – Bev has been invited to speak at ACEVO’s Spring Conference as part of the panel on “Business Development – Driving Growth and Overcoming Market Competition”.

APRIL

25th – 26th – Social Entrepreneur Show – after a very successful two days at the Autumn Social Entrepreneur Show we are returning to the event in April.

JUNE

27th – 29th – Co-op Congress – we will be returning to Co-op Congress again this year ready to launch Business Plan Writer: Co-operative Version.