CLC CEO welcomes greater emphasis on charity L&D

The findings of a leadership 20:20 commission which calls for greater emphasis on L&D in the charity sector has been welcomed by The Charity Learning Consortium.

Martin Baker, founder and CEO of the CLC, is in support of recommendations that staff and volunteers in the charity sector should receive 40 hours of development a year.

Baker welcomed any move to give L&D the recognition it deserves in the charity sector.

"I warmly welcome the recommendations of the leadership 20:20 report that suggests that a greater priority should be given to the development of staff and volunteers in the charity sector," he said.

"As a society, we are more reliant than ever on services that are charitable and that not-for-profit organisations provide, and it is essential that staff have the right skills for the job if we are ever to realise the dream of the big society."

Baker stressed that you don't necessarily need to have a big budget for effective L&D and said that more companies need to think outside the box to make the most of what's available to them.

"I am passionate about collaborative working, and what charities can achieve together. Together our members inspire and support one another to think outside the box and make the most of limited budgets to develop their staff.

"Our members prove that time and time again that you don't necessarily need a big budget for effective learning and development, but being able to tap into the collective expertise of the consortium really does help, as does having good creativity and drive. Charities like Barnardo's - the winner of the Best overall eLearning programme in the Charity Learning Awards - are a shining example of excellence in charity learning that any organisation, in any sector,can learn much from.

"It is of course essential that learning meets the needs of employees, and is not just a tick box type exercise in response to a recommended minimum number of hours for staff development. I'm glad to say though that my experience of the sector makes me confident that Charity Learning professionals are keen to work smart."