"You are an aspirational charity to be aligned with"

Avis, a facilitator at Dove Nest has been delivering a Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship with some of our staff, alongside managers at B & Q. 

Catherine Bewick, Client Engagement Consultant at Dove Nest met our former HR Manager, Lucy Shanahan at a CIPD event. Catherine was aware of our charity, and the suffragette story and had even been to the museum and they got talking over coffee.

B & Q wanted to explore the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship (with a focus on Women in Leadership) and they were also able to provide the funding to cover the cost of a number of additional learners. Dove Nest Group suggested the Pankhurst Trust and the rest is history!

Even though the world at B & Q is very different than at our charity supporting service users to live a life free from abuse, there are some similarities such as allocating enough resources or budgets, struggles in leadership, the difficulties of team dynamics. At first, the group took a while to open up to each other, but Avis, the facilitator has found that it’s a good, solid group.

At the beginning of the apprenticeships, participants do a SWOT analysis, and they write their own personal development plan, as well as receiving 360 feedback including line manager feedback. They write their own objectives and what they plan to achieve over 18 months. 

At the end of the qualification, Dove Nest will welcome impactful leaders from both organisations. The leaders will impact not just the staff, but the communities they serve, having a ripple effect of resilience, compassionate leadership and truly making a difference. 

According to Catherine Bewick, from Dove Nest – “The Pankhurst Trust has admirable values such as empowerment and innovation while providing a high-quality service - you are an aspirational charity to be aligned with."

Lex Elliott, who is currently studying on the course said: “It’s been great to help me push myself to try new things at work and to reflect on the skills and knowledge I’m developing.

We’re now getting into the parts that are specifically focused on managing people and leadership skills, which I’m definitely finding useful. There have also been some good tools and techniques for things like problem solving."

Victoria Connolly added, “I am finding the programme interesting and feel that it is providing useful skills and tools that can be used within my role frequently."

Thank you to Dove Nest and B & Q for partnering with us on this course. We really appreciate it!