Time is running out for charity volunteers, staff members and trustees who want to book places at a series of workshops later this month. The workshops are being held as part of the Charity Fair event on November 25 and 26 which 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. 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. 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 book 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 -