Leading north-east social care charity VSA launches ELEVATE, a new identity for its Learning, Training and Development offer, giving organisations and individuals the opportunity to develop their skills while helping to support people across the North-east.
The new ELEVATE programme brings together a range of readily available, classroom-based training courses delivered throughout Aberdeen, covering everything from first aid and mental health to dementia awareness, neurodiversity, equality and diversity, personal safety and trauma-skilled practice.
ELEVATE offers an additional benefit that sets it apart from many commercial training providers – profits from the courses go directly back into VSA to support its charitable work.
It means that organisations investing in the development of their people are also helping VSA to continue providing vital services and support to people across the community.
The new ELEVATE identity reflects VSA’s ambition to make its training offer more accessible and visible to organisations across the North-east, building on the charity’s extensive experience and expertise.
Josh George, People Director at VSA, says:
“We are delighted to launch ELEVATE and to open up more of VSA’s expertise and experience to organisations and individuals across Aberdeen and beyond.
“There are lots of reasons for businesses to invest in training – from developing their people and strengthening their skills to meeting workplace and professional requirements. With ELEVATE, there is an added benefit because every booking also helps to support our charitable work.
“The profits generated through our training programme are reinvested into VSA, helping us to continue making a difference to people and families across our communities.
“So, when you invest in your people through ELEVATE, you are also helping us to invest in people who need our support. It is a simple way for organisations to make their training budget go further.”
The current programme offers a wide range of classroom-based courses including:
- Dementia Awareness
- Emergency First Aid at Work
- Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
- First Aid
- First Aid for Mental Health
- Food Hygiene Awareness
- Learning Disability and Neurodiversity
- Palliative Care
- Personal Care
- Personal Safety
- Safer People Moving and Handling
- Training and Presentation Skills
- Trauma Skilled Practice
VSA also offers its BSS two-day Proactive Strategies Pathway, alongside bespoke training opportunities for organisations looking for courses tailored to the needs of their teams.
The programme is designed to cater for organisations across a range of sectors, as well as individuals looking to develop their own knowledge and skills.
One recent participant is Vicki from Fragile X Society, who has completed three VSA courses – First Aid for Mental Health, Training and Presentation Skills and Trauma Skilled Practice.
Speaking about her experience, Vicki says, “The type of courses themselves were just exactly what I was looking for.”
Her experience highlights the breadth of the programme and the value of providing accessible training opportunities for professionals working across the third sector and beyond.
VSA’s Training and Development team can also work directly with organisations to deliver training for their staff, providing a flexible option for employers looking to develop specific skills across their workforce.
Josh adds, “Whether an organisation needs to book a place for one member of staff, wants to develop a whole team or is looking for a specific training solution, we can help.
“ELEVATE is about more than simply delivering courses. It is about sharing our knowledge and expertise, helping people to develop and, at the same time, generating income that enables VSA to continue its charitable work.
“We would encourage businesses across Aberdeen and the North-east to take a look at what is available and consider how their investment in training could make a difference beyond their own organisation.”
For further information about VSA ELEVATE training courses, visit https://www.vsa.org.uk/training-and-development/latest-training
To book a place, contact the VSA Training and Development Team via email training@vsa.org.uk or call 01224 212021.
