Supporting learning for the Voluntary & Community Sector and Social Enterprises

Glossary

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Click one of the letters above to advance the page to terms beginning with that letter.
a
AACSsearch for term
Adult Advancement and Careers Service
Accountabilitysearch for term
Means by which individuals and organisations report their actions and are answerable to others for what they have done.
Accountable Body search for term
An organisation that is held accountable for the spending of a significant amount of public funds.
ACEVOsearch for term
Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations
ACLsearch for term
Adult and Community Learning
Action Plansearch for term
A formal agreement between a tutor and learner setting out what will be achieved with target dates
AGMsearch for term
Annual General Meeting
Aimsearch for term
General statement outlining what the trainer hopes to achieve during a training session or programme of training.
Aim (Overall)search for term
The overall aim is the same as the Mission.
Aims (Specific)search for term
Particular changes or differences the project or organisation plans to bring about for its users.
ALIsearch for term
Adult Learning Inspectorate. Former inspectorate for adult learning, now merged with Ofsted
AP(E)Lsearch for term
Accreditation of Prior (Experimental Learning)
Assessmentsearch for term
The process of making judgements about the extent to which a learner's work meets the assessment criteria of a unit, or any additional assessment requirements of a qualification
Assessment methodssearch for term
Instrument chosen to assess a given outcome e.g written test, skills test, observation of learner performance, reports and questioning.
Assessment recordssearch for term
Documents used to record the outcome of an assessment, e.g an organisation proforma or observation report.
Assessorsearch for term
The person making a decision as to a candidate's competence.
Asylum Seekersearch for term
Person fleeing state persecution/violence in their country, seeking refuge and safety in another country
Audit search for term
Independent, objective assurance activity.
b
Baselinesearch for term
A measurement that is taken at the start of an initiative, usually in statistical terms, e.g. number of people in a local area who are unemployed. The initiative can then be measured as to how effective it has been at impacting the baseline measure.
BASISsearch for term
Building and Sustaining Infrastructure Services. Big Lottery Fund prorgramme which funds third sector infrastructure organisations
BASSACsearch for term
Bristish Association of Settelements and Social Action Centres. A membership network of multi purpose community organisations
Benchmarksearch for term
A standard of achievement that a project has already achieved, which it can compare with other achievements (of its own or of other projects).
Benchmarkingsearch for term
Systematic comparison of performance and processes. E.g.:  measuring what you do  comparing your organisation to others  identifying gaps in performance – ‘fail’ points where the expectations of internal or external customers are not met  looking for new ways of reducing those gaps by learning from others  putting the new ideas into practice  reviewing the benefits of what you have done.
BERRsearch for term
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Best Valuesearch for term
A central government policy that seeks to get local authorities to continuously improve their performance.
Big Lottery Fundsearch for term
The name of the lottery money distributor. It is the result of merging the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund.
BISsearch for term
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
BLFsearch for term
Big Lottery fund. Distributes National Lottery money to support voluntary and community groups
BME (or BMC or BOME)search for term
Black and Minority Ethnic,or Black and Minority Communities, or Black and Other Minority Ethnic
Breach search for term
Used to describe a Compact undertaking that has not been followed (most likely through lack of awareness or misunderstanding than being deliberate) and which can be remedied through the compliance procedures.
BSLsearch for term
British Sign Language
BTEGsearch for term
Black Training and Enterprise Group
c
CABsearch for term
Citizens Advice Bureau
CAFsearch for term
Charities Aid Foundation. An independent charity providing products and services to charities in the UK and internationally.
Capacity search for term
All the resources available to an organisation, including people, money, equipment, expertise and information.
Capacity Buildingsearch for term
Empowering activity that strengthens the ability of VCOs to build their structures, systems, people, and skills so that they are better able to:  define and achieve their objectives  engage in consultation and planning  manage projects  take part in partnerships, social enterprise and service delivery.
Capacitybuilders search for term
A sector-led agency at arm's length from government, responsible for managing ChangeUp funds, strengthening accountability and sector ownership of the ChangeUp programme, and ensuring its benefits to frontline organisations.
CEOsearch for term
Chief Executive Officer
CESsearch for term
Charities Evaluation Service
CFOsearch for term
Co-Financing Organisation. Public Sector intermediary organisation
ChangeUpsearch for term
A policy and funding initiative designed to support the infrastructure of the voluntary and community sector.
Charity Commissionsearch for term
The body that regulates registered charities in England and Wales.
Children's fundsearch for term
A central government fund designed to support projects that undertake work with children.
CICsearch for term
Community Interest Company
CIFsearch for term
Common Inspection Framework. Informs all Ofsted inspections. Sets out the judgements inspectors will make and principles that apply during inspections of Further Education and skills providers.
CIOsearch for term
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Citizenshipsearch for term
The central government policy designed to promote people becoming good citizens – being active in their local community through volunteering etc. Citizenship education is now compulsory for young people in secondary schools.
City Academysearch for term
A government initiative designed to promote new schools being developed through partnerships between central government, a local authority and a sponsor organisation (which could be a private sector company, voluntary sector organisation or faith group).
Civil Renewal search for term
A government initiative to increase citizen’s participation in their local community and also their democratic engagement.
Community Chestssearch for term
A fund aimed at providing small grants of up to £5000 to community groups in deprived areas.
Community Cohesion search for term
The aim of various community cohesion initiatives are to appreciate and celebrate diversity between people in local communities, promote understanding and reduce hostilities.
Community Development search for term
Building active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect. It is about changing power structures to remove the barriers that prevent people from participating in the issues that affect their lives. It promotes the active involvement of people through sharing power, skills, knowledge and expertise.
Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) search for term
A fund to help community and voluntary sector groups get involved in decisions about how public services are delivered in their area.
Community Empowerment Networksearch for term
A structure designed to ensure that Local Strategic Partnerships in all neighbourhood renewal areas do engage effectively with the community.
Community Fund search for term
A former lottery distributor fund that has now been merged into the Big Lottery Fund.
Community Group search for term
A group of people with a common cause, often neighbourhood-based but may focus on a single issue for campaigning or self-help. Community groups are likely to be small, local, informal, unfunded and volunteer-run rather than employing staff. The blanket term for these groups is the community sector, which forms by far the largest part of the voluntary and community sector.
Community Interest Company (CIC)search for term
An organisation wishing to become a CIC must have aims and undertake activities that are ‘for the benefit of the community’. This means it exists to benefit the wider community rather than for individual private gain or to promote the interests of a small group of people. CICs are designed to be businesses governed by company law so they cannot register as charities.
Community Learning Chest (CLC) search for term
A fund aimed at providing small grants to assist individuals or groups in accessing learning in order to be involved in regeneration activities. Only available in the most deprived areas.
Community Networksearch for term
Same as Community Empowerment Network (CEN) but not in one of the 88 most deprived areas.
Community Strategysearch for term
Sometimes called the Community Plan, this is the key local document led by the council, reflecting needs and aspirations identified by local people and agreed between agencies through the Local Strategic Partnership. In setting out the vision for the area’s future, the Strategy must by law also include the needs and plans of the sector. A Local Compact should explicitly underpin the sector’s involvement in the community planning process.
Compact search for term
An agreement between a public sector body and the voluntary sector. Following the development of a national compact, local authorities, health authorities and other public sector agencies are developing local compacts stating how they will work in partnership with voluntary sector groups.
Compact Championsearch for term
An official tasked to promote the Compact in their government department. Locally, departments of public bodies, partnership boards and voluntary organisations may have Compact champions to promote the Local Compact and help drive implementation.
Compact Groupsearch for term
Locally, this may be known as the Local Compact Steering Group, Monitoring, Management or Implementation Group and is responsible for taking the Local Compact forward. Nationally, Compact Voice includes members representing the sector’s diversity, supported by staff based at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Company Limited by Guaranteesearch for term
A company limited by guarantee does not have shares or shareholders, and cannot distribute profits. Instead it has members, who may pay a subscription and are each liable for a limited sum if it is wound up (the guarantee). The members elect a board, or committee, or directors, and can remove them but the board has day-to-day control.
Competencesearch for term
Ability to do something to a set agreed standard, normally measured by undertaking an observable process or producing a final product (see assessment methods)
Compliance search for term
A Compact always includes undertakings (commitments, promises) on both sides and sometimes joint ones too. Compliance is about following and carrying out these undertakings along with the mechanisms (such as mediation or the Ombudsman) for resolving disagreements or alleged breaches.
Comprehensive Performance Assessments (CPA)search for term
Comprehensive Performance Assessment was introduced in 2002 and is designed to support councils to deliver improvements in services to local people. CPA looked at how well the councils deliver their services, for example education, social care and housing. It also considers how well the council is run as this will impact on how they will deliver their services in the future.
Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)search for term
Treasury review of public sector spending across all Whitehall departments to plan expenditure over the next three years.
Connexionssearch for term
Statutory agency providing advice and support for people aged between 13 and 19.
Constitutionsearch for term
An agreement between the members about what the organisation is for and how it should run – the written rules. It regulates the organisation’s dealings with other people and other organisations.
Consultation search for term
A two-way process by which an organisation (typically a government department or local public body) seeks views to check whether proposals are right and supported, gauge their impact and identify alternatives before decisions are made. This means options can be properly appraised in advance of policy or service changes or new laws being made. The Compact Consultation Code sets the framework for genuine, meaningful and timely consultation with the sector.
Core Costssearch for term
An organisation’s central costs including administration, rent and some staff salaries.
Core Funding search for term
Funding needed to meet Core Costs.
Cost-effectiveness search for term
Comparison of costs and results.
Council for Voluntary Service (CVS)search for term
A local charitable organisation whose purpose is to support and help develop voluntary and community action in its area. A range of names can be used including those that omit council but include Community Action or Voluntary Action alongside the place name.
CPDsearch for term
Continuous Professional Development
Critical Path Analysissearch for term
Logical sequence of steps needed to go through to complete a task.
CTLLSsearch for term
Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Qualification for teachers of adults
Culturesearch for term
Behaviour and belief patterns found within an organisation are called organisational culture.
CVSsearch for term
Council for Voluntary Service
d
DBISsearch for term
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (formerly DIUS)
DCSFsearch for term
Department for Children, Schools and Families
DDAsearch for term
Disability Discrimination Act
Diagnostic assessmentsearch for term
The assessment methods used to discover strengths and weaknesses in a learners work and determine future action
Diagnostic meetingsearch for term
A meeting to determine the present level of skills and knowledge of a learner, and, normally, to determine a future programme for further development.
Diversitysearch for term
This can refer to the huge variety of organisations in the sector arising from their scale, location and what they do or to society generally in relation to people having different social and cultural backgrounds, languages and beliefs, etc.
DTLLSsearch for term
Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Qualification for teachers of adults
DWPsearch for term
Department for Work and Pensions
e
E-learningsearch for term
Electronic learning - learning which is supported or enhanced through the application of information and communication technology.
E-learning onlinesearch for term
Electronic learning via an internet or intranet.
ECMsearch for term
Every Child Matters
Education Action Zones (EAZ)search for term
Local clusters of schools in deprived areas receiving special Government grants to work together to raise and maintain education standards.
EHRCsearch for term
Equality and Human Rights Commission. Replaces the commission for Racial Equality, Disabililty Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission. The Commission is the independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain.
Empowerment search for term
The process of enabling people to take responsibility for themselves and helping them to make decisions about their lives.
Enterprise Zones search for term
Designated zones in deprived areas where businesses can get certain exemptions to encourage them to locate themselves there.
ESFsearch for term
European Social Fund.
ESOLsearch for term
English for Speakers of Other Languages.
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)search for term
European funds that are targeted at specific disadvantaged regions.
European Social Fund (ESF) search for term
European funds are designed to support programmes aimed at promoting enterprise and employability, as a way of reducing social exclusion.
Evaluationsearch for term
Gathering information to give a measure of the effectiveness of the training which has been delivered.
Evaluationsearch for term
Using information from monitoring and elsewhere to make judgments on the performance of an organisation or project.
External Verifiersearch for term
Appointed to ensure that all assessments undertaken within centres are fair, valid, consistent and meet the required standards.
f
Faith Groupsearch for term
These often reflect ethnic diversity. Whilst worship, is central for most faith based groups, many run community services and represent community interests. As such they are eligible for funding and should be involved in Local Compact development.
FAQssearch for term
Frequently Asked Questions
FCDLsearch for term
Federation for Communit Development Learning
FEsearch for term
Further Education
Feedbacksearch for term
Written or oral information given to learners regarding their progress.
First Tier Organisation search for term
See Frontline Organisations
Floor Targetssearch for term
Minimum standards set by the government for improvements in deprived areas, covering five areas: unemployment, crime, education, health and the environment.
Formative assessmentsearch for term
On-going assessment carried out throughout a programme of learning.
Frontline Organisationssearch for term
VCOs working directly with the public, or particular target groups or communities.
Full Cost Recoverysearch for term
Full costs are the direct costs of your project or service plus a relevant portion of organisational overheads. The process by which voluntary groups delivering public services are expected to be able to cover all their costs (including a proportion of Core Costs).
Futurebuilderssearch for term
A £125m fund designed to assist voluntary sector groups (through a mix of grants and loans) who wish to deliver public services
g
Generic Infrastructure Organisations search for term
Organisations which support all frontline VCOs in a particular geographical area. See also Specialist infrastructure organisations
Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR)search for term
The justification that must be provided by religious organisations who wish to designate a specific post as being one which requires the post-holder to be drawn from the organisation’s faith basis.
GOSEsearch for term
Government Office for the South East
GOSWsearch for term
Government Office for the South West
Governance search for term
The systems and processes concerned with ensuring the overall direction, effectiveness, supervision and accountability of an organisation
Government Offices in the Regions (GO)search for term
An office of central government in each region with responsibility for applying/administering certain central government policies in the region.
Guided learning hourssearch for term
The number of hours of teacher-supervised or directed study time required to teach a qualification or unit of a qualification.
h
HEsearch for term
Higher Education
Health Action Zone search for term
Partnerships between the NHS, local authorities, community and voluntary sector groups aimed at tackling health inequalities.
Health Compact search for term
A term used in a very few areas for a Local Compact between typically just the Primary Care Trust and the sector prior to agreeing separate Compacts involving another public body or drawing up one involving all of them.
Healthy Living Centresearch for term
A network of centres across the UK promoting health and healthy lifestyles in deprived areas.
HLFsearch for term
Heritage Lottery Fund
Holistic reportsearch for term
A written statement reflecting a candidate's experience.
Housing Association search for term
Non profit landlords providing housing to people in housing need. Housing Associations registered with the Housing Corporation are given the official title – Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).
HSEsearch for term
Health and Safety Executive
Hubs search for term
These no longer exist, except the Worksforce Hub. They were Hubs of expertise that had been established nationally, linked to six key voluntary and community sector infrastructure issues:  Finance  Governance  ICT  Performance  Volunteering  Workforce These have no been replaced by National Support Services (NSS) workstreams.
i
IAGsearch for term
Information, Advice and Guidance
Ice breakerssearch for term
Fun and light-hearted ways of introducing learners to each other.
ICTsearch for term
Information and Communications Technology
IDeAsearch for term
Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government
IfLsearch for term
Institute for Learning. The professional body for teachers and trainers
IiPsearch for term
Investors in People
ILPsearch for term
Individual Learning Programme (see also Action Plan)
ILTsearch for term
Information and Learning Technology - the use of information and communication technologies to support learner activities.
Impact search for term
Broader or longer-term effects of a project’s or organisation’s outputs, outcomes and activities.
Improving Support search for term
Improving Support, funded by Capacitybuilders, is a communications initiative to bring together signposting, resources and learning for third sector organisations from the NSS workstreams. See www.improvingsupport.org.uk for more information.
Indicator search for term
Measure of achievement. See also Performance indicator
Infrastructure search for term
The physical facilities, structures, systems, relationships, people, knowledge and skills that exist to support and develop, coordinate, represent and promote front line organisations, thus enabling them to deliver their missions more effectively.
infrastructure organisationsearch for term
An organisation which offers support to voluntary and community groups and/or social enterprises. Also referred to as umbrella or support organisations.
Infrastructure Organisations search for term
Often called ‘Second tier’ or ‘Umbrella’ organisations, they support frontline VCOs.
Initial Assessmentsearch for term
A way of ascertaining learning styles. Assessment methods used to discover strengths and areas for development in a learner's work and determine future action. A means of measuring a learner's ability, eg a literacy test.
Internal Verifiersearch for term
Appointed by a centre to ensure that all assessments undertaken within the centre are fair, valid, consistent and meet the requirements of the standards.
Internetsearch for term
Worldwide computer network
Intranetsearch for term
An organisation's own network
ISOsearch for term
Infrastructure Support Organisation
ISPsearch for term
Internet Service Provider
ITsearch for term
Information Technology - the computer infrastructure, hardware and software used to process data and deliver information.
j
JSAsearch for term
Job Seekers Allowance
k
KPIsearch for term
Key Performance Indicator. Measure set to monitor progress against objectives.
l
LAsearch for term
Local Authority
LAAsearch for term
Local Area Agreement. An agreement between a local authority and its partners and government around outcomes, indicators and targets for work in that geographical area
LEAsearch for term
Local Education Authority
Learning Outcomesearch for term
A statement of what a learner can be expected to know, understand or do as a result of a process of learning.
Learning Stylesearch for term
Particular way in which an individual prefers to learn e.g visual, aural, kinesthetic
Legislation search for term
A body of laws
Levelsearch for term
An indication of the relative demand, complexity and/or depth of achievement, and/or the autonomy of the learner in demonstrating that achievement.
LGBTsearch for term
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
LIOsearch for term
Local Infrastructure Organisation
LLUKsearch for term
The Sector Skills Council (SSC) for lifelong learning in the UK
Local authority/Local councilsearch for term
The locally elected body responsible for government in a county, city or district and which can also mean parish and town councils, all of which should all be signed up to a Local Compact.
Local authority/Local councilsearch for term
The locally elected body responsible for government in a county, city or district and which can also mean parish and town councils, all of which should all be signed up to a Local Compact.
Local Compactsearch for term
A Compact, modelled on the national Compact, designed and agreed to by public bodies and voluntary and community organisations for a local or county area.
Local Government Association search for term
The organisation that represents local councils in England and Wales.
Local Infrastructure Organisationsearch for term
Local Infrastructure Organisation
Local Strategic Partnership search for term
Initiative in every local authority to develop partnership working between public agencies, voluntary groups and business and to more effectively deliver public services.
LSCsearch for term
Learning and Skills Council. Body which oversees planning and funding of post 16 education, training and skills. to be replaced in 2010 by Skills Funding Agency and Young People's Learning Agency
LSISsearch for term
The Learning and Skills Improvement Service. New body (2009), formed from CEL (Centre for Excellence in Leadership) and QIA (Quality Improvement Agency) to develop excellent and sustainable FE provision across the sector.
LSPsearch for term
Local Strategic Partnership. Overal strategic partnership with representation of public services, community and voluntary sector/social economy, private sector. Usually covers a local authority area.
m
Match Funding search for term
The process by which certain funders will only fund a percentage of the total costs of a project (e.g. 50%) and require the remainder to be matched with income from other funders or in-kind donations.
Memorandum and Articles of Association search for term
Companies limited by guarantee have a legal document called the Memorandum and Articles of Association instead of a constitution.
Mentoringsearch for term
Mentoring is the long term passing on of support, guidance and advice. In the workplace it has tended to describe a relationship in which a more experienced colleague uses their greater knowledge and understanding of the work or workplace to support the development of a more junior or inexperienced member of staff. This comes from the Greek myth where Odysseus entrusts the education of his son to his friend Mentor.
MEPsearch for term
Member of the European Parliament
Micro-teachingsearch for term
Delivery to peers in a learning setting
Milestone search for term
A well-defined and significant step towards achieving a target, output, outcome or impact, allowing one to track progress.
Mission search for term
The broad effect the organisation or project wants to have, why it exists. A summary of the overall difference it wants to make.
Monitoringsearch for term
Monitoring is about collecting information that will help you answer questions about your project. It is important that this information is collected in a planned, organised and routine way. You can use this information to report on your project and to help you evaluate.
Moodlesearch for term
Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Open source e-learning software platform designed to help educators create online courses.
MPsearch for term
Member of Parliament
Multi-mediasearch for term
The use of various types of equipment to present text, graphics, video, animation and sound in an integrated way.
n
NASsearch for term
National Apprenticeship Service
National Compact search for term
The national Compact is an agreement between the voluntary and community sector and government to improve their relationship for mutual advantage. Local Compacts aim to do this locally between the sector, councils and other local public bodies.
National Compact search for term
The national Compact is an agreement between the voluntary and community sector and government to improve their relationship for mutual advantage. Local Compacts aim to do this locally between the sector, councils and other local public bodies.
National Occupational Standards search for term
Describes what a person needs to do, know and understand in a job to carry out the role in a consistent and competent way.
National Support Service (NSS) workstreams search for term
Funded by Capacitybuilders, each workstream will provide resources, evidence and good practice to help infrastructure organisations improve what they can deliver to the frontline. The nine workstreams cover:  Campaigning and advocacy  Marketing and communications  Equalities and diversity  Income generation  Leadership and governance  Modernising volunteering  Performance management  Collaborative working  Responding to social change
National Support Service (NSS) workstreams search for term
Funded by Capacitybuilders, each workstream will provide resources, evidence and good practice to help infrastructure organisations improve what they can deliver to the frontline. The nine workstreams cover:  Campaigning and advocacy  Marketing and communications  Equalities and diversity  Income generation  Leadership and governance  Modernising volunteering  Performance management  Collaborative working  Responding to social change
NAVCAsearch for term
National Association for Voluntary and Community Action
NCVCCOsearch for term
National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations
NCVOsearch for term
National Council of Voluntary Organisations. Overall umbrella body for voluntary organisations with a strong focus on national voluntary organisations/charities
NCVYSsearch for term
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services. National agency to support local umbrella organisations that support young people's organisations in the voluntary sector
NEETsearch for term
Not in Education, Employment or Training. Refers to young people under 19.
Neighbourhood Renewal Areasearch for term
One of England’s 88 poorest local authority areas receiving substantial extra government funding in which there must be sector involvement in policy and project delivery, along with a Local Strategic Partnership
Neighbourhood Renewal Areasearch for term
One of England’s 88 poorest local authority areas receiving substantial extra government funding in which there must be sector involvement in policy and project delivery, along with a Local Strategic Partnership
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) search for term
Funding that is available in each of the governments designated 88 most deprived areas.
Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (NRS)search for term
The government’s overall plan for regenerating disadvantaged areas.
NESsearch for term
National Employer Service
New Deal for Communities (NDC) search for term
An initiative designed to provide intensive financial support to regenerate relatively small geographic areas
New Deal for Communities (NDC) search for term
An initiative designed to provide intensive financial support to regenerate relatively small geographic areas
New Opportunities Fund (NOF) search for term
A former lottery distributor fund that has now been merged into the Big Lottery Fund.
New Opportunities Fund (NOF) search for term
A former lottery distributor fund that has now been merged into the Big Lottery Fund.
NIACEsearch for term
National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
NOMSsearch for term
National Offender Management Service
NOSsearch for term
National Occupational Standards.
NVQsearch for term
National Vocational Qualification. work-related, competence-based qualification based on national occupational standards (NOS), which reflect the skills and knowledge needed to do a job effectively, and show that a candidate is competent in that area of work.
NVQsearch for term
National Vocational Qualification
o
Objectives search for term
The areas of activity or overall practical steps a project or organisation plans to accomplish its aims.
Ofqualsearch for term
Regulator of qualifications
Organisational Development search for term
Development and reinforcement of organisational strategies, structures and processes for improving an organisation's effectiveness.
Organisational Developmentsearch for term
Development and reinforcement of organisational strategies, structures and processes for improving an organisation's effectiveness.
OTLsearch for term
Observation of Teaching and Learning. Planned observations of teaching sessions as part of on-going quality monitoring.
OUsearch for term
Open University
Outcomes search for term
The changes, benefits, learning or other effects that result from what the project or organisation makes, offers or provides.
Outputs search for term
The products, services or facilities a project or organisation offers or provides to its users.
p
Partnershipsearch for term
Normally used in relation to a formal partnership body, often accountable to a board that may be responsible for delivering a government funding programme. Can be used to describe an approach to working together.
Pathwaysearch for term
A route to the achievement of a qualification
Pedagogysearch for term
Tutor centred learning
Performance search for term
The extent to which a VCO achieves its mission and furthers its cause.
Performance improvement search for term
Achieving one’s mission more effectively; achieving better outcomes, and becoming a better quality organisation.
PQASSOsearch for term
Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations. Process by which organisations can evidence that their systems operate to a good standard. Development and owned by CES.
Primary Care Trust (PCT)search for term
A local statutory organisation, often called the PCT, with wide responsibility for the delivery of health services through GP surgeries, clinics and centres. Further information: http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/
Primary Care Trust (PCT)search for term
A local statutory organisation, often called the PCT, with wide responsibility for the delivery of health services through GP surgeries, clinics and centres. Further information: http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/
Private Finance Initiative (PFI) search for term
Government initiative to develop large capital projects initially financed by the private sector and then leased back to the public sector.
Private Finance Initiative (PFI) search for term
Government initiative to develop large capital projects initially financed by the private sector and then leased back to the public sector.
Procurement search for term
The process by which public sector bodies purchase services from both private and voluntary sector organisations. Central Government is increasingly interested in local authorities and other agencies procuring services delivered by voluntary organisations (including faith groups) instead of delivering those services directly
Procurement search for term
The process by which public sector bodies purchase services from both private and voluntary sector organisations. Central Government is increasingly interested in local authorities and other agencies procuring services delivered by voluntary organisations (including faith groups) instead of delivering those services directly
PTTLSsearch for term
The Award in preparing to teach in the lifelong sector (previously referred to as a 'passport' or 'initial award'.
Public Bodiessearch for term
All local statutory public sector organisations including the local authority; primary care trust, other health trusts, emergency services, learning and skills councils, colleges, connexions, etc. The national public sector comprises government, non-departmental government bodies (NDPBs) and various other statutory bodies. All public bodies operating at national or regional level should comply with the national Compact and any local branches (e.g. job centres) should also be involved in Local Compacts. (See also Statutory bodies).
Public Bodiessearch for term
All local statutory public sector organisations including the local authority; primary care trust, other health trusts, emergency services, learning and skills councils, colleges, connexions, etc. The national public sector comprises government, non-departmental government bodies (NDPBs) and various other statutory bodies. All public bodies operating at national or regional level should comply with the national Compact and any local branches (e.g. job centres) should also be involved in Local Compacts. (See also Statutory bodies).
Public Lawsearch for term
Public law is the set of legal principles governing the exercise of power by public authorities. Public law remedies are those procedures by which citizens can challenge the fairness or legality of their decisions. They include judicial review in the High Court, and also non-court based procedures, such as ombudsmen schemes and complaints procedures.
Public Service Delivery search for term
Where a voluntary or private sector organisation delivers a service that is paid for by a public sector body.
q
QCFsearch for term
Qualification and Credit Framework
QTLS Frameworksearch for term
Qualified teacher learning and skills framework
Qualification and Credit Frameworksearch for term
Designed to provide an inclusive and flexible regulated framework containing units and qualifications that recognise a wide range of quality assured learner achievements.
Qualitative Informationsearch for term
Information about the nature of the thing someone is doing, providing or achieving.
Quality standards search for term
A set of statements about the quality of a service that can be verified and measured as part of monitoring and evaluation processes.
Quango search for term
Acronym for ‘Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation’. These are part of central government but operate at arm’s length from it. Examples include the Charity Commission and Health and Safety Executive.
Quango search for term
Acronym for ‘Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation’. These are part of central government but operate at arm’s length from it. Examples include the Charity Commission and Health and Safety Executive.
Quantitative Information search for term
Information about the number of things someone is doing, providing or achieving, or the length of those things, or the number of times they happen.
Quick Wins search for term
A term used to refer to relatively cheap and easy initiatives that have a significant impact.
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RDAsearch for term
Regional Development Agency
Regenerationsearch for term
The process of improving disadvantaged or hard pressed areas.
Regional Assembly/Chamber search for term
A regional body in each of the 8 English regions (except London) which scrutinises the work of the Regional Development Agency. In London, this is done by the Greater London Authority.
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) search for term
The agency within each of the 9 English regions, Scotland and Wales that promotes economic growth and regeneration.
Registered Charity search for term
Organisations that have charitable purposes can register with the charity commission to become a registered charity, a legal status strictly governed by charity law.
Resources search for term
The things a project or organisation draws on to carry out its activities. These include concrete things such as people, equipment, money and services you need. It also includes invisible things such as time, morale and knowledge.
Ring Fencing search for term
The process by which money within a larger fund is kept aside for a specific purpose.
Risk Analysis search for term
Systematic assessment of the threats or vulnerabilities which may affect any aspect of VCO’s business, including the likelihood of occurrence, potential severity of impact and mitigation measures needed.
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S-TSsearch for term
Skills - Third Sector. New National Body to be launched September 2009 to support the workforce development in the third sector.
SARsearch for term
Self Assessment Report. Required report for all providers of government funded training. Links to Common Assessment Framework.
Second Tier Organisations search for term
See Infrastructure Organisations
Sector Skills Councilsearch for term
Body responsible for formulating and reviewing occupational standards for a specific sector across the UK, and supporting the development of Units and qualifications based on these standards. Employer-led, independent organisation licensed by government.
SFAsearch for term
Skills Funding Agency. Oversees the distribution of funds to the FE sector for adults and skills and manages performance of FE colleges
SfLsearch for term
Skills for Life. Also known as Basic Skills. Refers to skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT.
Single Regeneration Budget search for term
A regeneration fund which has now been merged into the Single Pot that provided specific communities with multi-year regeneration funds.
SKiLDsearch for term
Skills and Knowledge for Local Development. NAVCA project which supports development workers in infrastructure organisations
Skills analysissearch for term
Breakdown of a task/job into its component skills (sometimes known as task analysis)
Skills-Third Sectorsearch for term
New national body to be launched September 2009 to support workforce development in the third sector.
Skypesearch for term
Software application that allows users to make voice calls over the internet.
SLAsearch for term
Service Level Agreement
SMARTsearch for term
Specific, measurable, achieveable, realistic, time bound
Social Capital search for term
The degree of social cohesion in communities. Refers to processes between people that establish networks, norms and social trust, and facilitate co-ordination and co-operation for mutual benefit.
Social Capitalsearch for term
The degree of social cohesion in communities. Refers to processes between people that establish networks, norms and social trust, and facilitate co-ordination and co-operation for mutual benefit.
Social Enterprisesearch for term
A business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners. Social enterprises can include; consumer cooperatives, mutuals, housing associations, trading arms of charities, worker and consumer co-operatives, community businesses, development trusts, social firms, intermediate labour market projects and social businesses.
Social Entrepreneurssearch for term
Individuals who are instrumental in setting up or running social enterprises
Social Exclusionsearch for term
The term used to describe people or areas that suffer from multiple disadvantage, e.g. in areas of unemployment, high crime, low incomes and poor housing.
Social Regeneration search for term
The term that differentiates social aspects of regeneration such as from economic dimensions of regeneration.
SORPsearch for term
Statement of Recommended Practice
Specialist Infrastructure Organisations search for term
Organisations which either support the organisations in a particular sub-sector or offer a particular area of expertise. See also Generic Infrastructure Organisations
SSCsearch for term
Sector Skills Council
Stakeholders search for term
People with an interest in the organisation. Includes internal stakeholders such as staff, volunteers, or management committee members, as well as external stakeholders such as users, funders etc.
Statutory Bodies search for term
Organisations created by Acts of Parliament which define their powers and duties.
Statutory Servicessearch for term
Services that a public sector body is required by law to deliver/provide.
Summative assessmentsearch for term
An assessment made to determine the final level of achievement. Often done by a final test or examination.
Sure Start search for term
An initiative that aims to improve children’s life opportunities by funding projects that work with parents and parents-to-be in deprived areas.
Sustainabilitysearch for term
Continuation of benefits after major assistance ends. The probability of longer-term benefits. Or, the process whereby an organisation moves from short term funding for their activities to more dependable funding.
Sustainable Communities Plansearch for term
The plan for developing urban areas in the UK that people will want to live in.
Sustainable development search for term
A process of development that allows economic growth without damaging the environment or natural resources.
SWRDAsearch for term
South West Regional Development Agency. RDA for the South West region
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Third Sector search for term
Generic collective name for charity, voluntary, non government and campaigning organisations.
Third Sector Review search for term
Looks at the role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration. The review takes a long-term view of what is needed for the sector to thrive over the next ten years. The Third Sector Review is part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Third Tier Organisation search for term
Infrastructure organisation which supports other infrastructure (or ‘second tier’) organisations.
TNAsearch for term
Training Needs Analysis (or Assessment). involves the systematic identification of the skills and knowledge required by an organisation/individual compared with an ‘inventory’ of existing skills and knowledge. A TNA enables the identification of training needs.
Train to Gainsearch for term
Government initiative providing funding and support to encourage employers to access training and qualifications for their workforces.
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ULNsearch for term
Unique Learner Number
Umbrella Organisationsearch for term
An organisation which provides support, information and advice to Voluntary and Community groups. Also known as "infrastructure organisations"
Umbrella Organisations search for term
Can refer either to membership bodies or federations, or more loosely to infrastructure bodies.
Unincorporated Association search for term
The law looks on an unincorporated organisation as a collection of individuals, which means it cannot in its own right:  hold property  enter into contracts  take part in a lawsuit.
Unincorporated Association search for term
The law looks on an unincorporated organisation as a collection of individuals, which means it cannot in its own right:  hold property  enter into contracts  take part in a lawsuit.
Unitsearch for term
A coherent and explicit set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria, with a title, credit value and level.
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VACSRsearch for term
Valid, authentic, current, sufficient, reliable
VARKsearch for term
Visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic
VCOsearch for term
Voluntary Community Organisation
VCSsearch for term
Voluntary Community Sector
VCSEsearch for term
Voluntary and Community and Social Enterprise
Vision search for term
The ideal state a project or organisation wants the world to be in. What the world will look like if the project or organisation is successful in achieving its mission and aims.
Voluntary and Community Infrastructure search for term
The support structures in place at a local, regional and national level for voluntary and community organisations.
Voluntary and Community Sectorsearch for term
The name used to describe organisations that are neither public or private sector. Voluntary organisations are typically larger and unlike community organisations may not be rooted in one individual local community.
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WEAsearch for term
Workers' Educational Association
White Paper search for term
Statement of policy issued by government. White papers often form the basis of new legislation, and are usually preceded by a consultative green paper.
Workforce Development search for term
The process of developing the skills and knowledge of paid staff, volunteers and trustees and board members, underpinned by good management and good employment practice. It also includes work to attract new people to work in the sector so it can flourish and grow.
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YOTsearch for term
Youth Offending Team
YPLAsearch for term
Young People's Learning Agency. Supports local authorities in the new role in commissioning and funding 14-19 provision