What are the benefits of CPD for Charities?

Charities and non-profit organisations are organisations set up to help people in need, make a difference in society and support specific causes. They are often considered a part of the third sector - being neither a government organisation nor private business seeking to make a profit.

Charitable organisations may cover a variety of different fields, and it’s important they have a skilled and well-trained workforce to be efficient and achieve their objectives. In this article, we discuss how charities operate and implement CPD, the benefits of CPD for charities and why CPD accreditation can help improve charity training.

How do charities operate and implement CPD?

Operating a charity usually requires multiple skilled workers who can navigate their field and ensure the organisation functions effectively. Training is a key aspect of a successful charitable organisation as it ensures workers remain competent and adaptable to changing circumstances. Furthermore, effective internal training systems can be crucial if the charity operates with temporary volunteers.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) participation can be a valuable means for developing the required skills within a charitable organisation. CPD is the term used to describe the learning activities professionals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities throughout their career.

Active CPD is an effective and often cost-effective way for charities to provide the high-quality training needed to be successful. Charitable organisations may encourage CPD participation within their workforce, while individuals may focus on their own CPD to develop skills that enable them to contribute and add value as employees or volunteers.

What are the benefits of CPD training for charity workers?

Many charities require their workers to participate in CPD regularly. Due to the diverse nature of charitable organisations, CPD training can help charity workers adapt and adjust to changing standards and contexts. Charities will also require a broad skillset, needing to meet the same requirements as any business or public sector organisation. Below are some examples of the benefits charity workers may receive from CPD training:

Stay up to date with trends and technology

New trends and technologies are continually emerging, providing strategies that can help charities or organisations achieve their missions more effectively. To stay up to date with relevant trends and technologies, charity workers can participate in regular CPD training. This can introduce charity workers to valuable strategies such as digital marketing or keep them informed about current government regulations or international legislation.

Introduce new skills

Charity workers often require a wide range of skills in to contribute effectively to their charity’s mission. CPD can help charity workers develop new skills and knowledge and fill any skills gaps. Individuals can focus their CPD learning on areas they need to improve or where there are skill requirements in their respective charity. Engagement in active CPD can ensure that professionals continue to offer value throughout their career.

Develop expertise

As well as increasing their range of skills, charity workers often benefit from developing expertise in a specific field. CPD can help individuals specialise in areas that are valuable to a particular charity, allowing them to develop a niche within the organisation and increase their contribution and worth.

Increase confidence at work

Increasing skills and knowledge can often lead to more confidence in the workplace. Charity workers who regularly participate in CPD training will build a greater understanding of their field and their role, which is likely to boost confidence. Confidence of workers can be key in operating an efficient charity as it encourages the workforce to feel self-motivated, creative and more comfortable introducing new ideas.

Build professional networks

Networking can be important for charity workers as it helps them better understand their field and learn from other peers and mentors. Networking can also help charity workers increase their professional opportunities within the charity and non-profit sector. CPD events bring likeminded individuals together and help professionals successfully network with others in their field.

Cost Effective

CPD encourages different forms of learning meaning effective CPD does not necessarily require huge financial investment. CPD values both structured learning (training courses, conferences) and unstructured learning (relevant books, articles). Charities that actively incorporate CPD can benefit from the blend of different learning options without incurring substantial costs – reading a relevant industry article will sometimes be as beneficial as a structured training course.

How can CPD accreditation improve charity training?

CPD accreditation is important for organisations that regularly train their workers or are interested in offering professional development services within the charity sector. CPD accreditation ensures that training is assessed to the highest standard - and offers assurance to professionals that they will get the most out of any learning. Offering CPD accredited learning also creates a discernible advantage from others in the market, providing a sign of quality and credibility.

The following are some examples of how CPD accreditation can improve charity training:

Meet industry standards

Accreditation can help providers meet industry standards, which is especially important in the charity and non-profit sector, where these standards can change rapidly. Charity training providers must also consider the specific industry requirements within their field to ensure relevancy.

Stay updated with evolving regulations

Similarly to the industry standards, laws and regulations regarding charities and non-profits are liable to change over time. It is important to meet the requirements and stay informed of any changes that do occur. CPD accreditation helps training providers incorporate any new laws and regulations, ensuring that training meets all required standards and guidelines.

Be recognised as an expert

When CPD training is accredited, it demonstrates a certain degree of competence and expertise as training has been independently reviewed and recognised. Accreditation for charity training informs delegates that the CPD is of a high standard and can therefore help an organisation to be seen as an authority in their field.

Ensure improved training quality

CPD accreditation involves constructive feedback on the nature of existing training. Learning is benchmarked against a proven assessment criteria to ensure that standards are met across key areas. Should any materials not meet the requirements to be approved, advice, feedback and recommendations can be offered to support and develop training.  This gives organisations the best opportunity to offer high quality and relevant training to a professional standard.

Help to attract better employees

As well as direct appeal to audiences and customers, CPD accreditation can also prove attractive to potential employees, making it easier to find the right individuals for job positions. A commitment to CPD in an organisation ultimately leads to higher staff retention rates, as employees feel there are opportunities to develop.

Where can I find CPD courses for charities?

Within the CPD Courses Catalogue, there are a range of courses for charities, as well as other beneficial CPD learning including educational events, eLearning programs, conferences, workshops and seminars – all of which have been formally CPD certified. To find out more about a particular CPD course listed on our website, complete an enquiry form and the details will be sent directly to the relevant CPD provider.

How to Become an Accredited CPD Provider

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing learning, as well as store your professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, go to the myCPD Portal page.