News updates: LSC update; LAA funding; PTTLS; Youth banger racing project; Niace on-line course
See here for above news items
LSC updates; LAA funding; PTLLS+ course; Youth banger racing project; Lifelong learning teaching qualification reforms; Niace on-line course
LSC updates
Third Sector - round table with ministers
The LSC was pleased to host a round table meeting last week between key representatives from the Third Sector and Ministers, Phil Hope and David Lammy, to discuss the Train to Gain service, and how the Third Sector can take best advantage of any new flexibilities within it.
The event was chaired by Shirley Cramer, Chair of the LSC Third Sector Advisory Group. Plans are being developed and will be consulted on in the future. Key issues included:
* the need to think about the language we use when we want to talk with the Third Sector, who generally don't respond to words about productivity and business
* the option of engaging more Third Sector organisations to act as ambassadors for the Train to Gain service within their own sector
* how to ensure that the Third Sector is not overlooked in future LSC skills development and policies.
Third Sector - conferences
The LSC recently sponsored the gathering of over 250 delegates from local Councils for Voluntary Services (CVS) at their national conference in Nottingham. An exhibition stand about Train to Gain was staffed by the LSC and someone from every local CVS had an opportunity to find out more about the service, and sign up for more details.
This is one of a number of conferences that the LSC will be sponsoring to ensure that the Third Sector get to hear and understand more about Train to Gain. A brochure has also been produced to explain Train to Gain to the Third Sector to be distributed shortly. I will update with developments as they happen.
Comprehensive Spending Review
The Office for the Third Sector have just published the review into the Third Sector for the Comprehensive Spending Review. Click here for the report www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/thirdsector
We want to keep you up to date with all the news from the LSC and, from the LSC website at http://www.lsc.gov.uk/news/, you can access the latest national information through our date listed news updates and press releases; for local area news please click on the area map.
LAA funding
See here for information on funding for Local Area Agreement priorities, e.g. neighbourhood work, NEET etc.
Funded PTLLS+ course (Cambridge)
There is a PTTLLS+ course running at St Andrew's Hall, Cambridge, from November 3rd. Full details are on the attached flyer. There are 2 places available for Norfolk VCS organisations.
There are a few places left, and they are now available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also an attachment further explaining the PTTLLS+ course and why it is necessary for a number of tutors/leaders of learning in the VCS to get it.
Please note that the cost of this course would ordinarily be at least £300, and this course is subsidised down to £150 by support from the LSC/VCS Working Together project, run by COVER. I have applied for further funding to run more (subsidised) courses in 2009/10, but there is no guarantee we will get it! All enquiries please to me at timc@getgroup.org.uk or 01223 691111 - not the person who may have been kind enough to forward this to you on my behalf. Just contact me - there is not a booking form, an enrolment form (etc) will follow.
Bookings must close at close of play on Wednesday October 15th.
Youth banger racing project
I have been working with the Norfolk Youth Offending Team based in Gt Yarmouth for four and a half years now. My role as Connexions PA is to support young people involved with the criminal justice system and focussing primarily on successful engagement in employment, training and educational opportunities. This is a full-time role and leaves me little time to coordinate the setting-up and maintenance of a new stand alone project.
Several young people that I work with have a passion for cars (often leading to involvement with the CJS) and a few have shown an interest in the prospect of being involved in a motoring-based project. I am aware that similar projects are rolling-out in the country and locally there is the Open Road project based in Norwich. Colin Lang heads up the Open Road project and it has been successful in engaging a large number of young people in the world of mechanics; including a structured day programme of education/basic mechanics courses with literacy and numeracy embedded; these are also available to year 10 and 11 as an alternative package to mainstream school.
I have also spoken with Dave Smith, one of the managers from Gt Yarmouth stadium, responsible for the banger racing side of business, and who welcomed initial enquiries about starting up a junior team. (he would help with licensing, registration etc.)
Pete Shelcot, Princes Trust Legi Development Manager, has also expressed an interest in supporting such a project and I understand some funding would be available. The Connexions Service also has a new funding stream that would probably support such a project as would the NYOT OLASS fund be worthwhile bidding for.
I understand that a similar banger racing type programme is running in Ipswich and used by the Suffolk Youth Offending Service and I sincerely hope that a similar programme could be replicated in Gt Yarmouth. This is where I need help as I have never set up or managed a project before and I am confident that such a venture would be well taken up and used by local young people, not just offenders.
Any ideas would be much appreciated, or better still, a volunteer with project management experience would be fantastic!
Thanks for taking the time to read this and please feel free to contact me, if required.
nigel.graves.yot@norfolk.gov.uk
Lifelong learning teaching qualification reforms
See here for an excellent summary fo the PTLLS requirements etc.
Staff development opportunities - Online!
NIACE are pleased to announce a new round of online staff development opportunities which include the brand new blended course, Exploring Successful Learning Online. NIACE has successfully run online staff development training since 2006. The courses aim to enable participants to experience online learning and provide them with the knowledge and skills to develop online learning within their own organisations. Exploring new and creative ways of delivering learning makes this ideal continual professional development for anyone in the education sector including teachers maintaining their qualified teacher status, both courses are NOCN accredited.
Exploring Successful Learning Online: This new 6 week blended course is aimed at those wishing to experience online learning and explore its potential for incorporation into their own delivery. An ideal course for those considering, or just beginning to use, blended or online learning. This course starts Wednesday 5th November.
Application of Online Learning: A 12 week online course for those wishing to use online learning and methods with their learners and in their learning provision. The course has been structured using optional modules to allow for the needs of people employed in the education sector whether managers, teachers, facilitators, or support staff. If you wish to know more about the delivery of blended or online learning, personalising learning, engaging learners or widening participation then the course is for you. This course starts Monday 3rd November.
"The content of the course is very interesting and useful. I enjoyed the feeling that each module was introducing an entirely new area I had never explored before."
"I enjoyed communicating with colleagues through forums and chats. Before the course, it hadn't dawn on me that you could do collaborative work online!
"The course content was very wide ranging and also a wide variety of assessment activities - so felt that my personal learning objectives were not only met but surpassed!"
Comments from participants who completed the last Application of Online Learning course
Further Information
For information on start dates or to register your interest for this or any of the other online delivery courses that NIACE offers, contact:
Kajal Samat (Kajal.samat@niace.org.uk)
For further information regarding course content, please contact: Sue Charlish [susan.charlish@niace.org.uk]
To receive more information or to enrol on the latest round of the online courses, please visit the NIACE website:
http://www.niace.org.uk/AOL or http://www.niace.org.uk/ESLON
Places on courses are limited and early enrolment is recommended.
Date Added: October 10th 2008
