Ask Sue Tuffin Ltd

Clients - Community Foundation for Calderdale

I have worked with the Community Foundation for Calderdale on several occasions.

Resource guides for grant applicants

I wrote a series of short information sheets to help organisations plan and prepare their grant applications. They covered general application guidelines, constitutions, monitoring and evaluation, risk and financial management. Each guide has basic information, templates and details of further contacts and publications.

Workshops for grants officers.

I devised and delivered three customised sessions on Governance, Monitoring and Evaluation and Performance Management. Each session introduced some basic concepts and examples of good practice and gave participants the opportunity to review their own practice and make plans for improvements.

“The workshops helped to develop the shared understanding of grants staff and ensured that any gaps in knowledge were filled. As a result the quality of the grant decision making process has been raised.”
Grants manager

Review and redesign of application form

This was a practical task following on from the workshops. I did some research into application materials used by other funders and redesigned the CFFC form to improve its ease of use for both applicants and assessors.

“There were a number of benefits beyond the service requested, in particular, in developing the new application form lengthy discussion with grants staff made it apparent that our assessment process needed improving. This has now been done and is currently being trialed with the Grants Committee. In addition staff learning from the process was invaluable.”
Grants manager

Facilitation of Staff and Trustee Away Days

Two linked away days helped the organisation to review its achievements and find practical ways of improving working relationships and practices. The staff session was very entertaining as groups created alternative visions for the future portraying CFFC as a Starship and a Harley Davidson motorbike.

“This was a very productive, positive day skillfully facilitated by Sue.”
Steve Duncan, Chief Executive

The outcomes from the staff day were fed into a joint event with the trustees which focused on strategic planning.

“I really appreciate your time, skills and sensitive handling of the session.”
Kate Hinks Chair, and Associate Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust