Postgrad study to prepare to move into the charity sector

[oceanstwo]

Anyone have any idea what good courses are out there? I'm thinking of charity work in the UK so courses in international development etc aren't really relevant....I've found some which are non-profit organisation management but is this going to be of any use?

What is it you want to do in the charity sector? You need to look for vocation specific courses!

Admin? Finance? project management? Child care? Victim support? Horticulture? These are all jobs available in the sector.

Ideally, I'd like to work in long-term strategy for a homeless charity.

A careers' coach advised me to aim for postgraduate study so that I can move in at a medium/high level (due to previous experience in other sectors).

Then you need a general strategic management/leadership course. If you can find a course specific to homelessness it may help. If you have no prior experience in housing/homelessness then you should do some volunteering if you can.

Recruitment in the third sector is really tough at the moment due to funding cuts - most are making redundancies so it's internal recruitment for many at present.

Good luck!

Thanks - appreciate the advice. x

My DH is studying in City University (Cass business school) charity accounting, post-grad degree. It is part-time study. I think it is fab.

Ooh part time is even better. Thank you

More than any degree, experience is what charities want. Can you get some voluntary work with a homeless charity?

I would get work in a charity before embarking on expensive postgraduate stidy which may not lead to the job you want.

If it helps at all, what all charities want is help with fundraising / major donors etc, so have a look in that area.

have a look at the charity jobs website and Guardian Jobs charity section - will give you a good idea of what's out there at the moment.

Thanks Mags. I'm already volunteering with a homeless project so have started on that.

When you say 'help with fundraising' are you referring to volunteering? Or do you think that's where the majority of jobs lie?

I'm not thinking of doing this immediately - I'll have family commitments for the next five/six years. I just want to be doing something whilst raising my child(ren - hopefully!) which will be of use and valuable when it comes to getting a job.