The Curve, Explained

This blog post is an overview of the Curve, the training initiative run by Third Sector Lab. It outlines why the initiative began, some of our key findings and contributions, and our next steps. 

As digital skills became more essential during the pandemic, many in the third sector faced significant knowledge gaps. To help bridge these gaps and drive sector-wide digital transformation, The Curve was launched. This initiative has not only upskilled third sector professionals but also contributed to more resilient and future-proof organisations.

About the initiative

Launched in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, The Curve was created in response to an urgent need for digital skills across the third sector. Over time, the initiative evolved beyond crisis response, aiming to empower staff and volunteers to embed digital tools and strategies into their day-to-day operations. 

In order to drive sector-wide digital transformation, the Curve is designed to bring staff and volunteers on this journey through 90 minute online workshops. Third Sector Lab is in the process of turning these workshops into online courses for the sector.

Impact and success stories

Since its inception, The Curve has had a profound impact, training over 8,000 individuals in essential digital skills. This year alone, we’ve hosted 20 workshops with 792 registered participants. 

Popular topics included:  video, AI, Data, Microsoft, Digital culture, Social media, and digital marketing. We also hosted a two part series on trauma informed design with CHAYN.

These workshops have proven particularly valuable to charities, helping them streamline operations and improve service delivery.

All participants who completed our post session feedback survey expressed that they were excited to use what they’d learned in their work.

Here were some individual’s experiences:

Tariq Ali, One Parent Families Scotland: Even for experienced digital professionals like Tariq, The Curve provided valuable new insights. After attending workshops on LinkedIn and podcast production, he was able to apply these learnings to streamline processes at One Parent Families Scotland, freeing up more time for the team to focus on their mission of supporting single-parent families.

Victoria Armour, The Yard: For Victoria, The Curve made digital learning practical and accessible. She shared that it ‘covered stuff you know you need to know, but don’t make the time to learn,’ making it easier to apply the knowledge in her role.

Lessons learned

Inclusivity and Accessibility: One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is the value of inclusivity. By keeping barriers to entry low—offering recordings and flexible participation options—we ensured that a wider audience could benefit, regardless of time constraints or digital experience.

Continuous Feedback: We also found that continuous learning is key. The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and our participants appreciated workshops that were tailored to their needs. In order to make sure we meet them, Third Sector Lab hosts regular “Have Your Say” sessions. We use feedback from these to plan training.

Challenges Overcome: Working out the most efficient way to turn 90 minute workshops into online learning content was a big learning curve this year – pun intended. We brought on an expert to implement best practices in online learning. 

Future plans and sustainability

Moving forward, we plan to expand The Curve through the launch of an online learning platform. This platform will offer even more flexibility for nonprofits, allowing them to access workshops and resources on-demand. Our aim is to ensure that this initiative remains sustainable, continuing to provide support to nonprofits as they face new digital challenges.

Looking ahead

The Curve offers practical, accessible workshops that can help you get started, no matter where you are on your digital journey. We encourage organisations to continue learning and exploring new tools to stay adaptable in an ever-changing digital world. Visit our training page to see upcoming workshops.