Welcome to the Elements Training Portal, a dedicated e-learning space for members of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Elements has been developed by, North Tyneside VODA, Connected Voice and Northumberland CVA who have been working together since 2019 to help VCSE organisations and groups. The partnership has now been extended to include, Community Action Northumberland, Durham Community Action, Inspire South Tyneside, Sunderland VSA. This partnership addresses challenges like limited capacity and geographic barriers by offering high-quality eLearning. Access is available anytime, anywhere with an internet connection.

All courses on the portal are free, available to everyone and typically take less than an hour. If you are new to the Elements Training Portal, you’ll need to set up a personal login. After completing a course, you can download a certificate to confirm your achievement.

More new courses available soon!

Our training courses contain public sector information from The Charity Commission - GOV.UK licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

 










Available Courses


We are currently developing additional content.

An Introduction to the Roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer

This introductory course is designed to help you learn more about what it means to be a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary or a Patron or President of an organisation. The course will explore these roles in detail and will also cover the role of a Trustee in general, as well as answer the question of who can be a Trustee.

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Inclusive Volunteering Practice

This training is designed to support VCSE organisations in creating more inclusive and accessible volunteer programs and is especially relevant to Volunteer Managers and Coordinators. We’ll explore key topics, including the benefits of volunteering, motivations for diverse groups, and how societal barriers can prevent some individuals from volunteering. This training aims to help organisations assess and enhance their practices to ensure they are welcoming and inclusive for everyone. Topics include: - Benefits and motivations of volunteering - Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion - Engaging diverse communities - Common barriers and solutions - Creating inclusive volunteer programs Please be aware that the information in this training session was accurate at the time of its release (January 2025). Best practices may change over time so we encourage users to verify the accuracy and relevance of the content to ensure it aligns with current standards.

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Volunteers and the Law

An Introduction to Volunteers and the Law is designed for organisations working with volunteers and provides a comprehensive overview of the key legislation and regulations when doing so. You will gain a better understanding of your responsibilities in maintaining a safe environment for volunteers and others, as well as the critical role that policies and procedures play in effective volunteer management. This training covers a wide range of essential topics, including volunteer policies, insurance requirements, safeguarding processes, health and safety regulations, and risk assessments. Please note, this training does not offer legal advice. Please be aware that the information in this training session was accurate at the time of its release (January 2025). Laws, regulations, and best practices may change over time so we encourage users to verify the accuracy and relevance of the content to ensure it aligns with current standards, laws and requirements.

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Setting up a Charity

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the process of setting up a charity in the UK, led by North Tyneside VODA's Governance Advisor, Rebecca Williams. You'll learn how to determine if a charity is the right option for you and you'll gain insights into the key steps involved. We will cover: o Whether setting up a charity is the right option for you. o Where setting up a charity is the best fit for you o Finding your Trustees o Choosing a charity structure o Choosing a name for your charity o Deciding and writing your charity’s objects o Creating a governing document o Registering with the Charity Commission o We will also look at further resources to help with charity set up

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Cyber Security

This Elements course explores the risks charities and voluntary organisations face from cyber threats and provides practical steps to protect against online criminals. Topics include understanding cyber attacks, the importance of cyber security, identifying risks specific to charities, and effective protective measures. You will also learn how to respond to cyber incidents and access helpful resources. There will also be a selection of quizzes to reinforce your learning.

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Understanding Climate Change and Taking Action in Your Organisation

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Children and Young People's Safeguarding

An Introduction to Children and Young People's Safeguarding covers the four types of child abuse, signs and indicators of abuse, risks outside the home, when and how to report safeguarding concerns, and resources for further training.

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Volunteering

Hannah Barugh

Hannah Barugh

FREE

Getting to Grips with your Charity Governing Document

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

Introduction to Good Governance

Essential training for new and existing Trustees

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

An Introduction to Good Fundraising: Success with grant applications

This introductory session is aimed at people who are new to making funding applications, but will also be a useful refresher for anyone who already has some experience. We hope that, by taking you through the key steps in describing your work, this session will improve your likelihood of success with grant applications.

Keith Hardy

Keith Hardy

FREE

Adult Safeguarding Essentials

Safeguarding couse for volunteers, trustees and staff in the VSCE

Jennifer Mars

Jennifer Mars

FREE

Understanding your Charity's Finance

This course will go over the financial responsibilities of charities, records, the legal requirements and how to present your accounts.

Jennifer Mars

Jennifer Mars

FREE

With thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund