Client Story: BC Bereavement Helpline
Getting the funds to get started
How BC Bereavement Helpline partnered with LCL to get the funds they needed to scale their volunteer training.
How BCBH got funding to scale their training program
Guidance through uncharted territory
The pandemic forced many organizations to shift their operations online. This was true for the British Columbia Bereavement Helpline (BCBH). The timing felt right to adapt their in-person volunteer training to a remote set up. It also seemed like an opportunity to standardize and scale their volunteer training in order to expand Helpline services with a more sustainable and effective remote model. Online training would also mean that some BCBH staff responsibilities could become more efficient and in some cases, automated.
When starting a project in a new area, you often don’t know what you don’t know. BCBH knew they wanted to hire someone to design an instructor-led course, but weren’t sure what would be involved in the process.
They needed a partner to advise them on what was involved in instructional design, as well as someone to help them choose what options made the most sense for their project and budget.
Grant partners
Finding a way to make it work
How do you do something you’ve never done before? LCL’s experienced team helped BCBH identify what direction they wanted to go in as well as the resources that they would need.
Initially, BCBH didn’t have the budget to implement what they thought would be most impactful for their business. To support BCBH in achieving their mission of providing care and support to the bereaved, caregivers, and service providers, LCL worked to help them get the funds they needed to scale their volunteer training.
Funding a sustainable and efficient training program
In order to deliver impactful programming, the BC Bereavement Helpline needed to source some additional funding. Thinking creatively, LCL helped BCBH find a solution with BC’s Community Gaming Grant. LCL supported BCBH’s submission to by providing consultation on resourcing, sustainability, and ongoing operational costs.
The proposed outcomes of receiving this grant were based on an initial learning and development audit. These included a redesign of existing materials to improve and streamline online training, a plan to implement a learning management system (LMS), and a sustainability strategy to ensure the continued delivery of training. This collaborative effort was rewarded with additional funding that helped launch the new BCBH volunteer program.
Scaling processes
By providing a detailed learning strategy and method of delivery, BCBH was able to get the funds they needed to scale their training program. In addition to sharing a work and delivery plan, LCL helped BCBH find a learning management solution (LMS) to meet their user needs and financial constraints.
LCL worked with subject matter experts to create volunteer facing materials including a downloadable volunteer manual, a custom ‘About BCBH’ video, and set up the BCBH LMS.
Increased revenue and growth
Thriving during the pandemic
100% revenue generation during pandemic
With a streamlined volunteer training system, BCBH staff were able to focus on other business areas and maintain their pre-pandemic revenue.
More volunteers trained
BCBH was able to scale their processes by training more volunteers at a time through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Increased training capacity
A streamlined and mixed delivery method meant that more than more BCBH staff members could deliver training, instead of one manager being responsible for all training, increasing efficiency by over 30%.
Multimedia we developed together
“I appreciate all your patience and flexibility with us as we were constantly modifying and adapting the project. We were definitely not an easy bunch to work with! Thanks to your team, we were left with a beautifully designed and informative online learning guide and job aid resource book that has completely changed how we train volunteers at BCBH. Training is far more efficient, standardized, and enjoyable for staff and volunteers.”
– Carling Bauer, Program Coordinator, BC Bereavement Helpline
