Making the best of UK know-how

This reputation has been forged by the council's Partnership Program office who have set up a series of initiatives aimed at passing on experience gained in Britain.

One of the most popular programs involved organizing training for Polish non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The council's governance and science officer Iwona Kochel explained the value of the work they undertake. "Before 1989 there were a number of small-scale non-governmental organizations," she said.

"This sector grew significantly after the system change in 1989 but these groups have developed largely by themselves, without any real overall training or advisory support - and this is what the British Council program hoped to address," Kochel said.

The program was targeted at groups involved in issues such as social inclusion, unemployment and poverty. "The project lasted nine months and consisted of eight training sessions with subject matters ranging from general financial matters to information on how to run an NGO. The course was aimed at providing groups with information that would help them function more effectively, so for example informing them about how to find funds for their organization."

Staff from the British Council teamed up with a British firm that was experienced in delivering advice all over the world.

"Each of the session tended to focus on different issues and were of interest to different members of the organizations.  The trainers provided complex knowledge on various themes from strategic positioning for NGOs, leadership, resource mobilisation and many others."

The value of the work can best be judged by reports from those who attended the course.

"Training was great, good presentation, and very practical knowledge, good cases. Such training for an NGO is extremely important and necessary. There is a lack of marketing in NGOs, but it is necessary to have it, in order to raise funds," one of the participants wrote in praise of the training. While a second pledged: "I will discuss and I will share my knowledge with my board of directors, diagnosing the organization's situation."

In the past the British Council has also run international language training for Poland's border guard and it has just finished a course concentrating on advice and support relating to multicultural issues in the light of Poland's accession to the European Union. "We have just completed a course that was run at the Jagiellonian University," said Kochel.

"Around 45 NGO officers, students, academics and interested parties were attended a series of lecturers that looked at issues such as xenophobia, the media and education, and lack of tolerance."

Kochel says the next project that her department will focus on will look at six projects suggested by those who attended the course.