This week, the Hall Green Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) hosted a hands-on, in-person financial management workshop, designed specifically for local organisations and grassroots community groups. The session focused on building confidence in using basic Excel skills to manage grant funding — and it was a great success!
👥 Supporting Local, From the Ground Up
Delivered in partnership with Smartlyte, the workshop brought together volunteers, project leads, and administrators from across Hall Green. Many attendees had little or no previous experience with Excel, but were eager to learn how to manage their NNS funding more effectively.
This beginner-friendly session covered practical, real-world techniques that participants could immediately apply to their own projects. No jargon. No complex spreadsheets. Just clear, accessible guidance for those doing vital work in their communities.
🧰 What Participants Learned
Over the course of three hours, attendees:
- ✅ Learned how to create and manage simple, funder-compliant budgets
- ✅ Used basic Excel formulas to track spending and reduce manual errors
- ✅ Practised monitoring expenses in line with project timelines and funding goals
- ✅ Worked through real-life examples drawn from their own organisations
- ✅ Received step-by-step guides and ready-to-use Excel templates
- ✅ Benefited from one-to-one support during the session
🗣 What Attendees Said
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how much more confident they now feel managing their project finances. One attendee shared:
“I’ve always found Excel confusing, but this workshop broke it down in a way that finally made sense. The templates are so helpful — I can actually see how to use it in our day-to-day work. I feel much more confident managing our budget now.”
🙌 Thank You
A huge thank you to Smartlyte for facilitating such an engaging and supportive session, and to everyone who attended and contributed. Your dedication to your communities is what makes the Hall Green NNS so impactful.
📩 Stay Connected
If you missed this workshop or would like to know more about future training sessions and support opportunities, we’d love to hear from you.Get in touch:
📧 hallgreen.nnsteam@greensquareaccord.co.uk
📧 zaima.khaliq@greensquareaccord.co.uk
Slingshot