Introducing the voluntary sector

If you feel that you want to learn more about the voluntary sector then this short 8-week course is for you. The course will guide you through some of the distinctive features and values of the voluntary sector, how organisations are funded and involve volunteers and other ‘stakeholders’ in their work. It will also provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering as well as your everyday life. You can progress at your own pace over the 8 weeks; each week will take a minimum of 3 hours of your time.

The course features interviews with Martha Lane Fox, the Chancellor of The Open University and a significant figure in the voluntary sector. You will hear Martha talking about her own charity, Go ON UK, as well as her involvement in numerous other voluntary organisations.

Enrolling on the course will give you the opportunity to earn an Open University digital badge. Badges are not accredited by The Open University but they’re a great way to demonstrate your interest in the subject and commitment to your career, and to provide evidence of continuing professional development.

Once you’re signed in, you can manage your digital badges online from My OpenLearn. In addition you can download and print your OpenLearn Statement of Participation – which also displays your Open University badge.

After completing this course you will be able to:

• demonstrate a basic understanding of what is meant by the voluntary sector, its values, contribution and distinctive features
• recognise and use some of the terms and concepts associated with understanding the voluntary sector
• use and apply your knowledge about the voluntary sector to your own work or volunteering experience
• link your learning with your own personal or career goals.

Course content

• Introduction and guidance
• Week 1: What is the voluntary sector?
• Week 2: Values and beliefs
• Week 3: Structure and functions of the voluntary sector
• Week 4: Who funds voluntary and community organisations?
• Week 5: Introducing stakeholders
• Week 6: Power, engagement and empowerment
• Week 7: The role of volunteering
• Week 8: Next steps for working and learning in the voluntary sector

Introducing the voluntary sector is a free badged course which lasts 8 weeks, with approximately 3 hours’ study time each week. You can work through the course at your own pace, so if you have more time one week there is no problem with pushing on to complete another week’s study.

There may be several reasons for you studying this course – perhaps you’ve been thinking about volunteering or working in the voluntary sector and wanted to find out more about it; or you already work or volunteer and are seeking to build on your existing knowledge or skills. You may of course have just have a general interest in voluntary organisations or were looking to develop your study skills for further learning.

You’ll start with an overview of the voluntary sector, how it is defined and what the ‘distinctive’ features might be. You’ll then move on to look at values, organisations, functions, stakeholders, power and the role of volunteering. All these aspects will be explained so don’t worry if they seem unfamiliar at the moment. You’ll use plenty of real-life examples to help with this and you’ll get plenty of opportunities to practise your new understanding and skills.

Part of this practice will be the weekly interactive quizzes, of which Weeks 4 and 8 will provide you with an opportunity to earn a badge to demonstrate your new skills. You can read more on how to study the course and about badges in the next sections.

After completing this course you will be able to:

• demonstrate a basic understanding of what is meant by the voluntary sector, its values, contribution and distinctive features
• recognise and use some of the terms and concepts associated with understanding the voluntary sector
• use and apply your knowledge about the voluntary sector to your own work or volunteering experience
• link your learning with your own personal or career goals.

Certificate of completion

Digital certificate - Included