Promoting free consultancy for third sector organisations in the UK. Pro Bono O.R. can help reduce costs, increase efficiency and effectiveness.

1. TheOperational Researchsocietyisoffering freeconsultancyfor3rd sectororganisations.
UK basedorganisationsinthe 3rd sector can nowbenefit from O.R. consultancyat no cost. The Operational
Research society is offeringthird sector organisationstheopportunityfor free consultancyto helpreducecosts
andimprove utilisationoflimited resources.
TheORSocietyhas just launcheditsO.R. Pro Bono initiative for UK based3rd sectororganisations.The society
wants more organisationstobenefitfrom operationalresearchandrecognisesthat3rd sectororganisationshave
an even greater needto be moreefficient.
O.R. is about findingways to applyanalyticalmethodstomakebetter decisions. 3rd Sectororganisationsface
extremelycomplexdecisionsaboutthedirectiontheyshouldtake andhowto allocatescarceresources. These
are someof the issuesthe organisationswe’veworkedwithhave faced:
 ‘We have lots of different optionsfor the future but it’s impossibletodecidewhichtochooseinsuchuncertain
times.’
 ‘We’re underhugepressureto domorewith less, andwe don’tknow howwe’regoingto doit.’
 ‘It’s hardto stay objectivewhenwe’refacedwith suchemotionallychargeddecisions.’
 ‘We know we’redoinga goodjob – but how canweprove it?’
Hereare someorganisationswho have alreadybenefitted from Pro Bono O.R.
With fundingcuts, but ever-growingneedsfrom theirbeneficiariesPro
BonoO.R. helpeddevelopa sustainablesetof prioritiesand was ableto
bringstaff on board.
Pro Bono O.R. used literaturereviews and modellingtechniquestoanalysedata about the
UK dogpopulation.With this data they are able to inform policy-making,withaclearerview
of what is neededinorder to modelthedog populationmorefullyin the future.
Pro Bono O.R. developeda resourceplanningtoolthat canbeused to
generatenewideasand ways of workingandcreatea budgetplanfor
2014/2015 academicyearand beyond.
Thesearesomeorganisationswearecurrentlyworkingwith: