Charity volunteers, staff members and trustees will be given the opportunity to develop their skills at a series of workshops at a Charity Fair to be held on the November 25 and 26. The event is being organised by the Isle of Man Council of Voluntary Organisations (CVO), the umbrella organisation for charities and voluntary organisations across the Island. The Charity Fair, supported by the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Economic Development and the training organisation CPD (Corporate Personal Development), runs over two days at the St John’s Mill Centre, Mill Road, St John’s. Workshops will be held on Friday November 25 from 2.15 pm to 4.45 pm and 5.30pm to 8pm. On Saturday November 26 they will run from 10.15am to 12.45 pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. Each session will comprise of five workshops providing practical advice and help on a wide range of topics affecting third sector organisations, including fundraising, governance, finance, event organisation, publicity, writing reports and recruiting trustees and volunteers. David Gawne, Communications Director at the Isle of Man Council of Voluntary Organisations, said: “The current economic climate brings many challenges to the sector but at the same time offers considerable opportunities, provided it positions itself appropriately. The increased professionalism of the sector has been recognised in many quarters but we must ensure that we continue to show ourselves as such and training events like this demonstrate and emphasise the sector’s commitment to being well governed and managed. After all, we are in the same position as any other sector in this respect. The Charity Fair programme has been designed and costed to offer something for everyone. ” The Fair boasts an impressive list of contributors who will be leading the workshops and who between them have a wealth of experience in their respective fields. They include Ian Cooil, Manx Blind Welfare Society; Mary Doyle, Hospice Isle of Man; Mark Payne, CPD; Dr Peter Slinger, Safety Net; Helen Summerscales, Isle of Man Advertising; Karen Davies, Crossroads Caring for Carers; John Knight, Michelle O’Malley and Mark Eastham, The Children’s Centre. In addition there will be the opportunity to engage in discussion with representatives of funding bodies. David Gawne added: “Generous funding from the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Economic Development has enabled the CVO to offer this opportunity at significantly reduced rates with a pricing option designed to attract a wide range of organisations. We urge all charities and voluntary groups to support the Charity Fair and take advantage of this opportunity.” Workshops can be booked separately or per day, and the best value package, an ‘Organisational Passport’, entitles one organisation to send representatives to a choice of four workshops over the two days. This costs just ?40 and includes refreshments and one buffet meal each day - additional meal vouchers may be purchased. A copy of the full programme with pricing options is available through the CVO and CPD. Organisations which are members of the CVO will receive a ?5 discount on the price of the Organisational Passport. For more information, or to apply for places, call the Isle of Man Council of Voluntary Organisations on 678212, email cvo@manx.net, or Mark Payne, Learning Consultant at CPD, at markpayne@thechildrenscentre.org.im - ENDS -