This funded programme has now ended. The information on this page is retained to provide an overview of the programme and training delivered. Courses and funded places previously offered through this programme are no longer available.
Social Enterprise Kent delivered the funded training strand of Thanet District Council’s wider Community Champions Programme, supporting voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations working across Thanet.
Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the training was designed to strengthen skills, organisational resilience and confidence across the local VCSE sector. Course topics were informed by local sector mapping and feedback, helping ensure the programme responded to the practical challenges facing charities, social enterprises and community organisations.
Between September 2024 and March 2025, SEK delivered 15 face-to-face training sessions, supporting 65 people from 38 unique organisations and generating 97 training bookings.
Status: This funded programme has now been completed.
The training formed one strand of Thanet District Council’s wider Community Champions Programme, which brought together local organisations to provide training, leadership development, funding and volunteer support, networking and other capacity-building opportunities for Thanet’s VCSE sector. SEK’s role focused on providing practical training and skills development for local organisations.
15 Training sessions delivered 65 Individuals trained
38 Unique organisations supported 97 Total bookings
15 Organisations new to SEK Training 4.8/5 Average participant evaluation
All training was delivered face to face in Thanet, primarily from SEK’s Margate training venue, with the programme designed around the needs of local VCSE organisations
Rather than starting with a fixed programme of courses, the training offer was developed around needs identified through local sector mapping and feedback. SEK used its experience of working with charities and social enterprises to shape these priorities into practical half-day training that senior staff, managers and trustees could fit around the demands of running their organisations.
Existing SEK training was adapted where appropriate, while provision such as HR for Charities was developed specifically for the programme and the needs of the VCSE audience.
The programme attracted people with significant responsibility for local organisations, including CEOs, Directors, Heads of Business Development, Community Connectors and Programme Managers.
Participants represented charities, education, support services, recreation, arts and other voluntary and community organisations, creating opportunities for learning to extend beyond the course content through discussion, networking and shared experience.
“Gained great insight into measuring social impact and how I can implement that into my role.”
“Excellent content and really interactive. Very well prepared.”
“The networking with other organisations and the knowledgeable trainer really stood out.”
Participant feedback showed that the training was expected to support practical changes within organisations as well as individual skills development.
83% said the training would help them develop better organisational practices, including areas such as strategy and governance.
63% identified increased business and leadership knowledge as an expected impact.
27% identified safeguarding jobs within their organisation as a potential impact.
23% identified engagement with a new local network of community leaders.
Participants also reported increased knowledge, improved organisational practices, new connections with other VCSE leaders and plans to explore new markets or funding opportunities.
The programme demonstrated how locally delivered, funded training can support wider capacity building within the VCSE sector. By providing relevant training without a cost barrier, organisations were able to develop skills in areas including finance, governance, strategy, HR, impact measurement and business development while also building relationships with other local organisations.
The programme contributed to UKSPF priorities around non-financial support for VCSE organisations, safeguarding jobs, improving engagement and supporting growth of the local social economy.
The Thanet Community Champions Training Programme 2024–25 has now been completed and these funded training sessions are no longer available.
This page remains available as a record of SEK’s contribution to the programme and the training delivered to support VCSE organisations across Thanet.