We used an evaluation person to gather some feedback from participants under four headings:

• What I learned
• What I loved
• What I will take away
• what I will throw away

This is what people said:

What I learned

Some good discussion, but not sure how much was relevant to Slice of the Cake.

I have learned that information sharing is important for sharing ideas and good practice

Other people’s views

Focus/prioritise

Different perspectives on delivering common goals

Different values/ideas around what I thought were basic concepts

The [Wolverhampton] one way system is more than I can manage in a morning.

To tell other volunteers in starting up business about your org

The need for structure.

A linear approach to figuring out sustainable development

Interesting training techniques

Help to consolidate thoughts/plans already in place

Encouragement of volunteers

What are the new realities to voluntary organizations

Importance of having a good toolkit that can be filtered down to other organizations

I have learned to go back and utilize current resources, i.e. trustees/volunteers

Information on where I can access additional resources

I have learned what wider organizations are on the doorstep and how we could interlink

Different methods of working with organizations to support them along the road towards sustainable funding

Another tool that can be used with groups that may suit some organizations better than existing tools

Open space idea to obtain ideas

Excellent networking

Opportunity to interact

Good informal atmosphere

Better knowledge of CVSs and voluntary organizations issues regarding sustainability.

Methods in using the toolkit

Different approaches to working with groups

Open space technology – not sure I used it to the best in the session, but a lot of potential.

Info on Compact – where to raise issues etc.

Outline of work packs – maybe spend more time on these? A short summary outline of each section. Relevance of first session in context of day.

Shared issues/agendas

Thinking about full-cost recovery

Shared info

Packs!!

Always take people’s contact details

Useful packs, useful contacts

Plan to succeed

Not to be narrow viewed – think about what others are doing and use their ideas. Use contacts.

Leant that as a sector we are well resourced with quality people

I am thinking on the right wave length.

What I loved

Meeting people involved in similar work

Role playing and team building, to come out of own comfort zones and meeting and networking with other professionals

Interaction between people

Meeting/talking frankly with different people

Sitting next to Tony and Udai

Sharing of issues with other organizations

Meeting others and sharing ideas

Practical exercises

The networking

Meeting others and sharing experience of sector

I loved meeting other worker in the voluntary and community sector and sharing knowledge and experiences

Networking opportunity

Vibrant, interactive and communicative course

Networking

Thinking ‘outside the box’

Opportunities for discussion, meeting people

1) knowledge of trainers 2) networking 3) toolkit 4) awareness to other areas of sustainability.

The weather and the setting and it was a good group

The group dynamics

Opportunity to share ideas

Networking – other people’s ideas

Location, atmosphere, food

Gave me concrete easy-to-understand ideas of how to use the toolkit

The Q and A session at start of session

The group of people/trainers

The pack (and multiple packs)

Sharing experiences and information

Good information pack

The style of delivery – trainers were friendly

Looking through the pack

Sharing ideas and networking

Meeting new people, creating new networks

Exercises – made me think. Style of delivery – sharing ideas/meeting

What I will take away

Toolkit

The pack of information

The toolkit to read

Toolkit and thinking of different ways of using it

The toolkit pack and some of the discussions of guidance within the voluntary sector

I will talk thru with our development worker

Toolkit

Ethics of community interest company – flows throughout every org activity

Opportunity to replicate tools

Toolkit – very useful – A-Z /guide – good step by step

Toolkit – ideas – new contacts. Access to other resources

That I will go back and do my filing and check that things e.g. policies are still relevant

Excellent pack for future use

Packs/ideas to take away

Smarties cake

Enthusiasm to use the content of the toolkit

A slice of the cake resource pack, new ideas, new contacts, increased confidence in supporting small groups

More development potential

1) Toolkit session 2) headlines 3) what I need to take sustainability forward

A lovely toolkit. Networking opportunity establishing new links. Strong refresher on capacity building skills. Enjoyable day’s activities.

I will take away a valuable tool to use with organizations along with knowledge gained today to help  me put the tool into practice.

I will take away a more thorough approach to my role – with a greater emphasis on continuous evaluation and meeting real needs, not what we may think is the need.

Ideas to engage groups to write funding bids

The pack and use it to support groups

The packs and hopefully use them in the near future.

New contacts, New tools

Brainstorming about barriers/difficulties and then solutions to using toolkit. Makes it all seem possible,

My slice of the cake, the packs, contacts

The pack and contact details

Looking forward to using the new pack and sharing it with others in my organisation

What I will throw away

Perhaps the day needs to focus more on toolkit

I will possibly throw away photocopies if the pack does not photocopy well.

My parking ticket if I get one – got to go!

The phrase ‘not for profit’

The food

My post-it notes

What I would throw away – Nothing

The outer cover? – separate into bit sized pieces?

Hopefully some of the older toolkits I haven’t used in a while!

The nutty chocolates

Open space

The weather

Post it notes

Nothing!