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Learning News
Did you miss out on the BHLP Newsletter?
Then find it here here
Catch up with what the different teams of the Learning Partnership are up to.
If you would like to receive future issues please send an email to bhlp@brighton-hove.gov.uk
BHLP successfully applies to prototype the Adult Advancement and Careers Service
‘Everyone – no matter what their position or personal situation – deserves the best chance to get on in work and in life; and that is why the government are creating the adult advancement and careers service (aacs). Advice on careers and skills needs to be joined up with advice on childcare, employment rights, personal finance, disability and other issues. Individuals need ’just in time‘ solutions to help them overcome challenges in their lives – particularly at a time when economic conditions are becoming more difficult.’
Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership has successfully applied to lead an aacs prototype area and will be linking with a number of other local initiatives and pathfinders including the Family Pathfinder (CYPT), Advice Plus project (Advice Services Strategy Group), The homeless learning resource centre and the Stepping In project (Housing), and Information Prescriptions (PCT), to ensure that advice services are more closely linked up across the city.
Local agencies involved in the prototype include Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership, Brighton & Hove City Council, Jobcentre Plus, VT Careers Enterprise, Learning and Skills Council, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the local Independent Legal Advice Network (ASSG), Whitehawk Inn, Hangleton & Knoll Project, The Bridge Adult Education Centre and the Brighton and Hove Community and Voluntary Sector Forum Advice Services Network.
Dan Shelley, Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership Manager, said:
‘Developing the aacs prototype provides the city with a real opportunity to better link up the wide range of advice and support services already available. The aim is to provide adults with the most appropriate and timely support to enable them to improve their skills and to overcome the barriers that they face when seeking employment. We will be focusing on three key, interlinked strands: developing the people and organisations offering advice and support; information tools to assist them to work with residents to make informed choices; and the further co-location of advice services in four centres in the city (Hangleton & Knoll, City Centre, Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb). The over-arching emphasis will be on better co-ordination, improved communications and simplified access to information and services.’
Developing the prototype will allow the City Council and its key partners to work together more effectively to meet the five principles outlined in the city’s Local Area Agreement, which aims to:
- Provide personalised services and solutions for all who need them
- Empower people and communities, whether they identify themselves through shared interests or a shared sense of place
- Build a strong, sustainable economy
- Reduce people’s vulnerability through prevention and early intervention
- Provide seamless services
For more details please contact Dan and the full aacs application is available here
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The success of the Diploma Roadshow
As part of the national launch of the new diplomas for 14 to 19 year old students, The Brighton and Hove Learning Partnership organised a special 2 day event at Hove Town Hall. Over 800 students were given the opportunity to learn more about these new exciting courses. The students were given an overview of the diplomas, an idea of where they might lead them and a sense of what day-to-day study of a diploma might actually look like.
The Roadshow offered students an interactive experience and allowed them to explore the nature of diploma courses using DVD presentations and interactive software. Careers advisors were on hand to answer questions that arose during the students visit.
On the Thursday evening parents, teachers and school governors were invited to experience the roadshow for themselves. Well over 130 people took this opportunity, a number which far exceeds attendance figures from other regions. Clearly the people of Brighton and Hove are prepared to consider new ideas!
Students in Brighton and Hove will have the opportunity in 2009 to study diplomas in Society, Health and Development; Environment and Land-based studies; Creative and Media; Hospitality; Construction and The Built Environment.
Employment and Skills Showcase Update -Seminar Schedule now Online!
Do you need to know more about the recent changes in the benefit system?Would you like to find out about training and employment opportunities for unemployed residents?
Do you:
- know how funding can be used to up skill volunteers and staff in your organisation?
- want to search for funding and develop your business plan to adapt to the changing welfare to work environment?
If you are a frontline worker or organisation working in Brighton & Hove or simply want to answer some of the questions below then the following free Employment and Skills showcase event will be of interest to you.
When 1 – 5PM, 26th November 2008
Where Brighthelm Church and Community Centre, North Road, Brighton
What
- A market place of projects and providers recently funded to deliver work and employment projects via ESF, Jobcentre Plus, LSC, DWP Pathways to Work, Working Neighbourhoods Fund and others.
- A range of seminars throughout the afternoon that will answer the questions above and a whole lot more!
- Refreshments and a chance to network with a wide range of providers and stakeholders.
- ‘Horizon scan’ the wider Welfare to Work agenda and see how your organisation can fit within these changes.
- A chance to feed into the development of the City Employment and Skills Plan (CESP) 2009/10 priorities and action planning process.
- A chance to feed into the city’s revised Economic Strategy.
If you would like to see what Seminars are available and when, please click here.
Alternatively register your interest at bhlp@brighton-hove.gov.uk or contact Paul Wadsworth at the Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership on 01273 294920.
Please could you share this information amongst your teams, wider contacts and anyone who the event might interest.
The event is funded by Local Authority Business Growth Incentive, arranged by Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership and commissioned by the City Employment and Skills Steering Group.
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Adult Learners Week. Make your nominations now
Give outstanding adult learners the recognition they deserve
If you know someone whose remarkable learning achievements deserve recognition and could inspire others, then we want to hear them. Tell us about those remarkable stories of how learning has transformed people's lives and nominate for the Adult Learners' Week Awards 2009.
The awards are a great way of celebrating the achievements of learners and, in doing so, encouraging others to get involved as well. Our winners come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have remarkable learning stories which inspire others to have a go.
We have a variety of awards for learners who have learnt as individuals, in a group or as a family, as well as the Opening Doors Awards for projects whose innovative approach motivates and inspires learners.
Everyone nominated will receive a Certificate of Achievement, and the winners will be invited to an awards ceremony and receive a learning voucher. Making a nomination is straightforward and easy - and can be done online or by post.
Online nomination forms are available on our website at www.alw.org.uk.
You can order printed nomination forms by clicking here
http://www.niace.org.uk/alw/2008/order-nomination-forms.htm.
http://www.niace.org.uk/alw/2008/order-nomination-forms.htm.
Updates from the EBP
The EBP is in the process of getting new and exciting web pages on the Brighton & Hove Learning Partnership website! Watch this space for an interactive opportunity to find out more about the EBP and the companies we work with in Sussex.
EBP staff Therese Cole and Gill Ditch are planning a new Social Enterprise event for the Autumn term. We are working with the Sussex Innovation Centre at the University of Sussex to highlight the benefits to the community of social enterprise business.We have engaged several social enterprise business partners who will be offering a range of interactive workshops to schools to help students learn the key skills required from enterprise activity – communication, good planning skills, teamwork and working with others.
A party of French students visited the City from the the Lycee Jacques
Monod in Saint Jean de Braye in France on 13th October 2008. Family Assurance who work closely with us hosted a one hour information session for the students who are completing their A level qualifications prior to attending University in France.The session was supported by Family Assurance, the Brighton & Hove City Council Economic Development team and the Arrogant Frog Restaurant in Hove.
The students who are all studying business and economics will learned about the local Brighton & Hove Economy in comparison to their local area in France.
The session was organised by the Education Business Partnership at the request of the school business co-ordinator Andre Montay.
The Brighton & Hove EBP are about to undertake a National EBP Quality Standard Award to meet the requirements of the NEBPN organisation. Brighton & Hove EBP is one of 103 regional EBP’s across the UK. The Quality Standard is becoming a requirement for all EBP’s to meet to ensure that staff and EBP organisations are meeting the standards required by central government for education business links.
EBP partnership Links with the University of Sussex have been enhanced with some project working with Claire Ward, who runs the Project V volunteering programme for students on the Falmer campus. Project V gives students an opportunity to engage with the local community whilst at University, providing further life skills essential for future employment.
Three student volunteers have signed up to work with Year 8 pupils at Falmer High School, for reading support. Karen Clarke, learning support assistant at Falmer runs a breakfast session reading club for pupils who need a little help to raise their literacy standards.
Faye Russell, Community Affairs Manager at Family Assurance, Brighton is also joining the group to work with students. Family Assurance has a number of staff volunteers who work with several of our Primary and Junior schools in the City for learning support.
Therese Cole
EBP Manager
Update from the Family Learning Team
The new term has got off to a busy start; we are teaching Family Learning courses in seven schools and three Children’s Centres , and running the national Certificate for Adult Literacy and Numeracy in four primary schools. We have a particular focus now on work with young parents through the Early Start programmes for parents with their children at Honeycroft Under Fives Centre, and at the Roundabout Children’s Centre, but are now developing linked accreditation routes through the ‘Stepping Stones’ courses at Tarner Children’s Centre. Students on all these courses are able to take NOCN Progression Units at Level 1 and 2, but can also access a wide range of other support services for families. Our goal this year will be to further develop progression routes for young parents so that they can be supported to access appropriate learning and training opportunities when the time is right.
Our ‘Building Bridges’ European Social Fund programme came to a conclusion in the Summer; in the Brighton and Hove part of the programme, we doubled the target number of enrolments (from 44 to 87), and of these, 49% attended at least two courses during the project period, and 92% completed at least one unit of National Open College Accreditation. 47% completed at least one level of the National Certificate for Literacy or Numeracy. This represents a real achievement for adult learners who are often taking the first steps back into learning and future employment. We are now working with partners in East and West Sussex to develop a new strand of ESF funding; this will give us the opportunity to work with other partners to support adult learners from an initial learning episode to further learning, training, volunteering and work.
We were also successful in our application for ‘Family Learning Impact Funding’ – which will enable us to develop and deliver an additional 34 Family Learning courses this year in four areas – the Early Years Foundation Stage, Family Numeracy, Financial Capability and Wider Family Learning. We hope to work with partners to develop an exciting range of new courses for targeted groups across the city, and to extend the reach of the current programme to support more families.
Gill Meyne
Family Learning Programme Manager
Update from the Community Skills & Learning Team
There’s a lot going on right now with the Community Skills and Learning team.
Breakthrough – support into employment via learning – is a new programme, which enables the outreach workers to give one to one support for individuals to take the next steps towards sustainable employment. Each participant gets an individual Information, Advice and Guidance session and support to draw up their action plan. Ongoing support is offered through the programme so participants can best access existing services and courses. Breakthrough has supported 7 people so far into employment since it was started in July.
Skilled for health is another new, exciting project, which makes a significant contribution to both reducing health inequalities and increasing skills for life levels in neighbourhoods facing most disadvantage. Working with 8 partners, we’re running 15 health and well-being courses this term, with literacy, language and numeracy embedded in them. Learners can look at different aspects of health and how to manage their health more effectively as well as improving their skills for life.
We have introduced two new courses into our programme of first step learning in the community. Both courses were trialled last term and were positively received. Moving On is a 20-hour programme designed to help people to take stock of their lives and to move on into training, volunteering or employment. Feeling Safer is a 12-hour programme, mainly for older people, to enable them to feel safer at home and out and about in the community.
We are also running the following courses for local communities:
Face Paiting
One Pot Cooking
First Aid
Food Hygiene
Finally, we have had some changes in the team. Emma Lambert has left us to become a full time mum again and we wish her well. Dave Page has joined us as a new member of staff and Dena Melton has returned to her post after a 6-month gap. We’re looking forward to the rest of the term – refreshed and recharged!
Bee Pooley
Community Skills and Learning Manager
The KS4 Pre-Engagement Programme
This is an exciting partnership between BHCC, ESCC and the various recognised training providers such as Tressell Training, HCAT, Hove YMCA in partnership with Plumpton College, Sussex Downs, City College, DV8 Training, Motorvation and Look Fantastic
We are developing a 'KS4 Pre Engagement programme' with European Social Fund monies that we were recently awarded. We will offer a 'wrap-a-round' package of support which means the young person is offered a 12-week course, plus a 'Support Worker' who will be able to work with the young person before, during and after their course. Their personalised programme includes individual and learning targets, which combine to support a reintegration plan. Personal development/ enrichment and team building activities will form an essential part of their journey, and progression routes include the established KS4 Engagement Programme, School and College.
This is a roll on roll off programme and the young people will also access vocational support and mentoring. These programmes and wrap a round support package are designed to support 14-16 year olds who are not achieving their full potential within a traditional school environment. It is an alternative provision, which allows young people to develop their personal, essential and vocational skills, with the overriding aim being to help them make positive transitions at this important time in their lives and to reduce their likelihood of becoming NEET.
Kirsty Peckham
KS4 Pre-Engagement Programme Project Officer
For more information please contact:
kirsty.peckham@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ready Steady Work DVD for Schools
The Ready Steady Work DVD, designed to highlight employability skills to young people is now available for Schools
The Education Business Partnership has recently been involved in the production of an exciting new DVD resource in conjunction with a local community based film company – Luminance.
The Ready Steady Work DVD has been created to support the delivery of employability skills that are embedded in the Economic Well Being agenda. The EBP has often supported the teaching of these skills that help to prepare young people for the world of work. During these sessions it was often felt that we needed access to a resource that was locally based so that we could really talk about the opportunities that existed in the Brighton and Hove area. The world is developing at a rapid pace and the employment market reflects the technological change that is also taking place. Teachers are preparing young people for jobs that do not even exist yet; as a consequence it also important to highlight the desirable skills and qualities that will help young people to progress onto work or further education.
We met with a number of our key business partners and they agreed to take part in this venture; we also engaged the services of a local community based film company Luminance. The employers were asked to discuss the qualities and skills they would value and like to see in a potential young employees. Local 6th form students were also asked to take part talking about their experiences and the value of work placement. A treatment was created and the filming was planned; fortunately the weather was kind to us so the images of Brighton & Hove show off our city at its best. Editing then took place and it was interesting to see and hear the views of the local employers on the qualities they would like to see in a young employee. A teachers resource pack has also been produced to accompany the DVD; this contains background information about the local employment profile and possible future developments and the implications for future employment.
We at the Education Business Partnership are extremely pleased with this resource that we feel will help support teachers deliver this key aspect of the work related curriculum. A copy of the DVD and the resource pack will be sent to all local secondary schools. We are extremely grateful for the support of the following business organisations in the production of this DVD.
