Advanced Education and Skills
November 15, 2013
Volunteer Work Supports Vibrant and Prosperous Communities
Government Provides Training Resources for Volunteer, Non-Profit Sector
The Provincial Government is continuing its support of volunteer and non-profit groups in Newfoundland and Labrador by providing online training resources which will enhance their ability to meet changing community needs.
“As a government, we recognize the role of the voluntary and non-profit
sector in this province, and its immense value to the social, economic and
cultural aspects of our communities. It is important that we support
volunteers and the many people employed through the sector, and ensure they
have the skills and training needed to offer their important programs and
services.”
- The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Office of
Public Engagement
The Provincial Government engaged the services of Bluedrop Performance Learning to customize a bundle of eight courses specific to the work and needs of the volunteer and non-profit sector. The courses will be delivered through the SmartForce NL platform, an initiative launched in 2011 between the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries and Bluedrop Performance Learning. Since 2011, the Provincial Government has invested over $2.7 million in training resources as part of SmartForce NL. The latest bundle of courses, which are free of charge, can be accessed by logging on to SmartForceNL.ca. Users simply have to create a log in and password, then choose courses they are interested in. A list of courses and further detail can be found in the backgrounder below.
“Newfoundland and Labrador was the first province to use SmartForce to
develop and deliver human resources training to small and medium-sized
enterprises. By partnering now with volunteer and non-profit groups,
communities will benefit from innovative training resources that might not
have been previously available.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills
Bluedrop Performance Learning is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based company which provides courseware and learning solutions for industry, business and government, and employs more than 120 people.
“I have always believed that access to skills and a path to
self-improvement can change the world. This project is a great embodiment of
this principle in action. It is terrific to support the thousands of
employees and volunteers in this sector that make our communities and people
stronger and more vibrant.”
- Emad Rizkalla, founder and CEO of Bluedrop Performance Learning
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to open and transparent government and to engaging youth, the volunteer sector, families and communities to build a vibrant and prosperous province.
QUICK FACTS
- Since 2011, the Provincial Government has invested over $2.7 million in training resources as part of the SmartForce NL initiative. To date, 26,000 courses have been accessed by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians on subjects like Excel, business/project management, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, and communications.
- Over 10,000 individual users from all areas of the province have registered on SmartForce NL and 945 businesses and non-profit groups have accessed training through the initiative.
- The bundle of courses specific to volunteer and non-profit groups in Newfoundland and Labrador is based on a training model developed by Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour and Advanced Education.
- According to the Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians report compiled in 2010 by Statistics Canada, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians volunteered nearly 35 million hours, or on average 155 volunteer hours per person, each year. It is estimated that there are approximately 5,000 organizations in the province and it is an important economic generator with approximately 23,000 employees (The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector in Atlantic Canada: Regional Highlights from the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations).
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Media contacts:
| Heather Maclean Director of Communications Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 697-4137 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
| Libby Carew Public Relations Bluedrop Performance Learning 709-725-7627 libbycarew@bluedrop.com |
BACKGROUNDER
Courses Available to Volunteer and Non-Profit Groups
The following is a list of the latest online courses available to volunteer and non-profit groups in Newfoundland and Labrador through SmartForce NL.
| Course | Description |
| What is a Non-Profit Organization? | Provides an overview of the province’s non-profit sector and its important contributions to communities. |
| What is Risk? | Provides organizations with an increased understanding of risk and how to identify possible risks within their organization. |
| Risk Management | Provides an introduction to risk management strategies and procedures for the non-profit sector. |
| Becoming a Registered Charity | Explores the risks, benefits and responsibilities associated with becoming a registered charity. |
| What is Social Fundraising? | Provides an overview of online fundraising tools available to the non-profit sector. |
| Getting a Handle on Good Governance | Provides an overview of the importance of effective board governance and associated resources for non-profit organizations. |
| Creating a Board That Works for Your Non-Profit | Provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of board members and outlines the characteristics of an effective board of directors. |
| Creating an Effective Non-Profit Policy Framework. | Provides an overview of key internal organizational policies for non-profit organizations. |
2013 11 15 11:30 a.m.