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North East expertise has played a major role in strengthening the management skills of volunteer managers in Europe.

For the past two years, PNE Development, part of the Newcastle and Gateshead based social enterprise, the PNE Group, has led a consortium of partners from Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Turkey to strengthen volunteering in these countries.

Supported by Leonardo Transfer of Innovation funding, PNE and its European partners have provided training in the management of volunteers to over 70 managers from voluntary organisations, ranging from children’s charities to domestic violence schemes. Designed by PNE and delivered by its partners, the training equipped managers with the skills and resources to implement the policies, procedures and processes needed to manage and develop their volunteers more effectively.

Tracey Moore of PNE Development said, “The voluntary sector in our partner countries is not as well developed and supported as it is in the UK. As a result, there was considerable demand for places on the courses, and the number of managers we have trained has far exceeded our targets.

“The 71 managers who received the training are now enabling hundreds of people to maximise the impact they are having through their voluntary work.”

One of the organisations to benefit from the programme is the CEGA Foundation in Bulgaria, a non-profit organisation working to improve disadvantaged communities. Emil Metodiev of CEGA Foundation said, “As a result of the programme, we have been able to review many of our policies and procedures regarding the management of our volunteers. We are sure that the improvements we’ve made will enhance the performance of our youth network.”

Tracey Moore said, “2011 is the European Year of Volunteering and it’s especially pleasing that PNE has contributed to this by exporting our voluntary sector expertise which we’ve acquired over the past 15 years, through our work with over 2,700 people and around 1,800 voluntary and community sector organisations.”

Those interested in developing their career by achieving a management qualification online should contact PNE Development at development@pne.org or call 0191 438 7999.