Open University Support Third Sector Leaders Conference

The Open University (OU) has been unveiled as the main supporter of ACOSVO's (the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations) annual conference, which is exclusively aimed at third sector leaders. 

This year's conference, entitled ‘Rebel with a Cause’, takes place in Glasgow on 1 November. It will focus on how leaders sometimes need to do things a little differently, or be a bit rebellious, in order to succeed in today’s world with cuts to funding, decline in trust, and increased pressure on resources. 

The inspiring keynote speakers are Marie Hendry, Depute Director of The Open University in Scotland, Sabir Zazai, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Scottish Refugee Council, Anna Fowlie, CEO of Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, and fundraising expert Alan Clayton, of Alan Clayton Associates.

With over 150 places booked to date, the event is already close to capacity.

As Scotland’s national widening access university, the Open University offers quality higher education and its unique open access entry policy to learners in communities across the country.

ACOSVO Chief Executive Pat Armstrong OBE (pictured right) said: 

“We are delighted and incredibly grateful to have The OU as our main supporter for our flagship conference. They are an organisation with a global brand that are well-known throughout the world for transforming lives through education and building on success. Their innovative, open approach to learning fits well with our theme of doing things differently – or being rebellious.”

She added: 

“The OU already has strong links with the sector and has developed a platform to support third sector leadership. We look forward to continuing our partnership with them to support our vision of ‘excellent third sector leadership in Scotland’.”

OU in Scotland Depute Director Marie Hendry (pictured right) said:

”At the OU we’ve always taken the approach that best suits our students, no matter how unconventional that might be, and our cause is clear: to make university education a reality for everyone that wants it, regardless of where or who they are.

“The voluntary sector is a crucial ally in helping us to reach potential learners we might not be able to otherwise contact, and we can support the sector through the provision of formal and informal learning for staff, volunteers and those you support - building skills, confidence and capacity across Scotland.”

In addition to keynote speakers and member-led discussions, the conference at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow will feature workshops on radical collaboration and future thinking from People's Postcode Lottery and Baillie Gifford.

The conference also supports the Year of Young People having two young people, supported by Louise Macdonald OBE, Chief Executive of Young Scot, chair the event. 

• Booking information for the ACOSVO annual conference 2018, Rebel with a Cause