Need help in a hurry?

DSC’s Speed Read series does exactly what so many of us working in charities need – it gets straight to the useful bits, fast, without losing the rigour and real-world relevance DSC’s publications are known for. In 32 pages you get concentrated experience, practical tools and “what works” insight you can put to use the same day. 

What makes Speed Reads different 

Our Speed Reads are designed as accessible guides that cut through the noise on core topics like meetings, risk, networking, report writing, vision and mission, staff forums and more. Each book follows a familiar DSC pattern – clear structure, top tips, case studies and “where next” pointers – but distilled into a short format that respects how little time most people in our sector actually have. You still get the experience and subject expertise you’d expect from DSC’s more in-depth books, only boiled down into the essentials. 

The “pick and mix” approach 

One of the perks of the series is being able to pick off exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. If your challenge this month is tightening up meetings, there’s a Speed Read for that; if next month it’s risk management, delegation or refreshing staff inductions, you can grab those when they become pressing. This makes the series ideal for just‑in‑time learning: quick reading before a board away‑day, a project kick‑off, or a difficult conversation with a colleague or funder. 

Because each title is affordable individually, it’s easy to build confidence and skills across your team one focused topic at a time, without having to commit to big training budgets or long courses. 

Building a shared reference library 

If you want to go further, the full Speed Read series is available as a bundle – currently all 18 print titles or 23 digital titles in print for £99. That gives your organisation a ready‑made, shared reference shelf that covers a vast range of subjects you’re likely to grapple with sooner or later. Instead of relying on one person’s notes from a training course, anybody in the office – staff, managers, trustees or volunteers – can pull down a short, sharp guide that reflects tried and tested good practice. 

For senior teams, the bundle is also a low‑cost way to support development discussions, away‑days and team learning – you can hand out different titles, swap them around and use them as prompts for focused conversations about how you work. In short, the Speed Read series gives you DSC’s trademark depth of understanding in a format that fits into real charity life: fast to read, practical to apply, and robust enough to trust! 

Click here to see the full range and buy print or digital copies.