EGSA Annual Report 2009-2010

8/7/2019 EGSA Annual Report 2009-2010

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What do people say about EGSA?

99.5% of clients were satisfied or verysatisfied with the service they received fromus99% of clients said they would recommendEGSA to a friend99% agreed "The discussion was relevantto me and my request"

I am very grateful to EGSA and the positiveencouragement you provide. You have given methe confidence to proceed with my goal ofdeveloping myself. (EGSA client)


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Throughout this years report, we featureexamples of people who have used EGSAsservices and we show the impact of thoseservices on users. Measuring the impact ofguidance continues to challenge guidanceservices and funding bodies. However, asorganisations have to demonstrate theiraccountability as well as prove their value tousers, we believe that the challenge must be

met. Our impact measurement tool,designed and developed by EGSA, allowsus to show the outcome of our work. Wewere pleased to have this recognisedthrough another National Career Award fromthe Institute of Career Guidance.

Many of our clients have been focused onwork and career planning: many have lostjobs due to redundancy and many arefeeling insecure in their employment. A big

motivating factor for our clients is a desire touse learning to improve employabilityagainst a backdrop of increasing competitionin the job market.

Quality of service is of supreme importancefor EGSA and we were delighted to note that99.5% clients were satisfied or verysatisfied with the service they receivedfrom us.

This year, we have expanded our range ofservices - particularly around employeedevelopment and engagement - and havecontinued to develop a range of partnershipsamong public and community organisations.

We are grateful to all our partners for theirsupport and interest in our work this yearand we look forward to continuing to developcloser relationships in the coming years. We

have particularly appreciated the supportfrom the Department for Employment andLearning (DEL), our major funder.

Within our DEL contract, we have had anopportunity to undertake some research with

the Department for Social DevelopmentsNeighbourhood Renewal Strategy and lookforward to building on the outcome of thiswork.

We would like to thank our Board membersfor their continuing interest and support andfor the significant amount of time andexpertise they have devoted to EGSAthroughout the year. Thanks also to DrGordon Byrne, independent chair of our

Audit Committee, for his wise counsel.

Finally, thanks to all our staff for theexcellent service they continue to deliver.

Martin Howell, Chair Eileen Kelly, Director

Dr Dorothy Eagleson (1923 - 2010)

As this years AnnualReport was in preparation,we heard the sad news thatEGSAs founder and firstDirector, Dorothy Eagleson,had died.

Regarded by many as the creator of adultguidance, Dorothys influence extendedbeyond N Ireland. A founder member ofNAEGA, the National Association forEducational Guidance for Adults, she servedas its first President, a position she held wellinto her retirement.

A dedicated professional, Dorothy will beremembered by colleagues as pioneering andinspirational. For the thousands of adults whobenefited from her professional guidance andsupport, she will be remembered as theperson who helped them to transform theirlives.


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EGSA's services are available to adults andthose who advocate on behalf of adults.

49% of our clients were agedbetween 25 and 4952% of our clients were men65% of our clients were not in work(49% looking for work, 16% notlooking for work)

57% of our clients had qualificationsat level 2* and belowWe referred 1,075 clients toEssential Skills learning

*Level 2 qualifications are GCSE grades A-C,NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.

Age10%

30%

49%

10%1%

17-19

20-24

25-49

50-65

66+

I booked an appointmentto go to youradviser for career guidance. The service and

advice which he gave was outstanding.(EGSA client)

Employment Status

35%

49%

14%2%

Employed

Unemployed

Economically Inactive

Full time Education

For some clients, the main priority wasgetting a job and their interest in learning

was driven by a desire to increaseemployability. Others wanted to explore acomplete change in career. Thosewithout a specific learning or career goalin mind were seeking support withconfidence building or gaining access toEssential Skills learning.

Highest Qualification

57%

21%

18%

4%

Level 2 and below

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

65% of clients were not in work thisyear, in comparison to last yearsfigure of 56%.46% of clients contacted us in

relation to job seeking or careermanagement. This is an increasefrom last years figure of 40%.

Nature of Enquiry

19%

46%

27%

8%

Return to learn

Job seeking / career

management

Learning progression

Other

Finance for Learning

53% of all enquiries involvedfinance to some degree, anincrease from last year when 44%of enquiries involved financeissues.

20% of all enquiries involved moredetailed advice around finance andbenefits. Again this is an increasefrom last years figure (15%).


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Have we made an impact on learning?

EGSA tracks client progress 12 weeks aftertheir contact with us. Of clients whoprovided feedback:

92% were more likely to engage inlearning90% planned to start a course

71% had already started a course

92% of our Essential Skills clientssaid that as a result of their contactwith EGSA, they felt more willing tolearn.

I was very impressed with the informationgiven to me. I also found the career matchingprogramme very useful in helping to find theright career path for me. I was very grateful forthe time that was given to me, I did not feel

rushed. (EGSA client)

You gave me clear correct advice on acourse I needed to take in a certain time framein order to get a job that I really need and want.

Excellent service, thank you! (EGSA client)

Have we made an impact onemployment?

Despite the economic downturn, of clients

providing feedback:

31% had progressed in their job44% of those looking for work hadstarted a new job

As could be expected within the currenteconomic climate, these figures havedecreased from last year when 42% hadprogressed in their job and 48% hadstarted a new job. However these figures

continue to demonstrate positiveoutcomes from our services in difficulttimes.

90% of clients were clearer abouttheir work goals and how to

achieve them84% of those looking for work weremore positive about their job search

Your service was helpful in providing

direction in thinking about career/job change. (EGSA client)

I would sincerely like to thank EGSA for allyour help and encouragement. I have found allstaff to be extremely patient and helpful and theyconsistently try to find me the most useful

information with regards to all enquiries.(EGSA client)

Bernie (pictured)finished an NVQ twoyears ago and neededadvice on her choice ofcareer path and how toboost her employability.

Bernie said: I had an

excellent experience with EGSA. The Adviserwas really welcoming and friendly. She gaveme confidence to apply for jobs and advice onhow to get into the employment market.

Recently Bernie found out that she was facingredundancy. She contacted EGSA again andwas invited to an employability workshop. Sheused techniques she learned at the workshopat a job interview the following week and wasdelighted to be offered the job.

If I had not attended EGSA's course Iwould have not starting believing in myself. Ihave started K101 [Open University module:Introduction to Health and Social Care]. This is awhole new experience for me, as I have not

studied in 37 years.(Health Trust employee - participant on EGSAsDeveloping Your Potential course)

Excellent interview tips. I would highly

recommend the EGSA workshops.

(Employability Workshop participant)


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In addition to our frontline guidance servicefor individuals, EGSA offers a unique blendof specialist advice to organisationsinterested in increasing employeeengagement or helping raise aspirations oftheir service users.

In recent years,

EGSA has won anumber of NationalTraining and NationalCareer Awards for itsLearning and CareerPlanning services.

Pictured: EGSA AdvisersAnne Marie McNulty and Maria McArdle, whoreceived a National Career Award on behalf of EGSAat the ICG Conference in Blackpool.

Organisations can make use of any ofEGSAs services for their employees orservice users. Services can be adapted tosuit requirements. They include:

Accredited programmes whichimprove confidence and raiseaspirationsMaximising potential throughperformance reviews

Redundancy and re-structuringsupportLearning engagement andprogression workshopsKeep It Clear a plain Englishcourse to help improve businesscommunicationEmployability Skills workshopsEnhancing Financial CapabilityTracking and Impact Measurement

David had been living in N Ireland for

about 8 years when he approached EGSA todiscuss learning and career options. He hadpreviously worked in engineering but had beenunemployed for several years owing to healthproblems and the downturn in the constructionindustry.

He was keen to improve his Maths andEnglish qualifications and expressed aninterest in working in the advice field.

The adviser helped David explore relevantvoluntary work in his local community. Theyalso looked at a range of course options andagreed how he could best improve his skillsand build his confidence.

A week later David emailed the adviser withan update on his progress. He said: Thankyou for taking the time out to see me, I hadjust about given up on myself when you rangme. Its good to know there are people outthere willing to listen and guide you to achieveyour goalThank you for restoring my faith inmyself.

The majority of our trainees have a range ofconcerns from homelessness, drug and alcoholissues, offending, and poor communicationskills. They can lack confidence and self beliefand the Realising Your Potential Course hashelped them to consider their strengths andweaknesses in a safe supportive

environment. (Extern - RYP course withExtern clients)

NIACRO are very grateful for the continuedsupport of EGSA. Our clients have undoubtedly

benefited from the service provided. (JackieMcMaster, NIACRO - input from EGSA intoJobtrack event with prisoners at Maghaberryprison due for release)

Thanks for the Realising Your PotentialCourse, I now know I can achieve more if I put

my mind to it. (EGSA client)


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Employee Engagement

Our contribution to workforcedevelopment in the Health and SocialCare Trusts in Northern Irelandcontinues to develop. Working inpartnership with the BeechesManagement Centre WideningParticipation Unit and Further EducationColleges, EGSA contributed to thedevelopment and delivery of a newLevel 2 qualification for support staff.This incorporates EGSAs award

winning Realising Your Potentialprogramme, generic employability skillsneeded by the Trusts as well asEssential Skills (literacy).

Two new programmes were developedto meet the needs of staff andsupervisors in the Trusts: Supporting thePersonal Development Reviewfacilitated the roll out of the appraisalsystem and Preparation for Team

Leadership encouraged supervisors torecognise the role of learning in helpingthem achieve team and organisationaltargets.

Martin was unemployed and unsure ofwhat direction to take. He had previouslyworked in the retail sector but was consideringthe possibility of media or youth work. Theadviser helped Martin explore the challengesand opportunities of both career areas.

As a result of his consultation, Martin decidedto pursue the youth work option and agreedwith the adviser that a period of workexperience would be useful. Through theSteps to Work programme, Martin was able tovolunteer in a youth work setting. He alsoenrolled on Maths and English classes toboost his skills.

When he contacted the adviser later in theyear, Martin was applying for part time paidwork with a local youth group and had started

an accredited course. He told the adviser thathe now feels much more confident about hisabilities and is looking forward to achieving hisgoal of becoming a professional youth worker.

Enhancing Financial Capability

Financial Capability is about being able to:

manage moneykeep track of financesplan aheadchoose financial productsstay informed about financialmatters

EGSA takes a two-pronged approach to

this subject: providinginformation andadvice to learnersand potential learnersand, in partnershipwith keystakeholders,

developing the capacity of those who workwith learners.

Pictured: EGSA Adviser at Money Week event in

Fermanagh.

As a partner in the Financial ServicesAuthority (FSA) funded Money for Lifeprogramme, EGSA delivered and supporteda range of activities across all the N IrelandFurther Education Colleges.

As the N Ireland lead partner in a pilot of aUK wide Financial Capability SupportProgramme, funded by Lloyds Banking

Group, EGSAs task focused on developingpractitioners skills in Financial Capability.

I am delighted with EGSAs service and alsowith your Adviser. The group gave greatfeedback and thought the talk was excellent.Your Adviser followed up on everyone,researched the information they requested andoffered 1-1 sessions to everyone. A great

service! (Christine French, WEA tutor - inputfrom EGSA into WEA employability programme)


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Healthier Lives Project

The Healthier LivesProject is apartnership withEGSA, RNID and theEmployers Forum forDisability and isfunded by the Big

Lottery. The project is focused on healthand wellbeing and is aimed at people whoare deaf or hard of hearing. Alan McClure,RNID Regional Services Manager NI, said

One of the key aims of the project is tomake the deaf community better informed sothey can make better life choices and gaintraining and employment. Access toinformation is key to making decisions.

Pictured: EGSA Adviser, Roisin Linden (centre) at theHealthier Lives project launch.

Holly is deaf and had always been

interested in teaching deaf people. RNIDreferred her to EGSAs Healthier Lives ProjectAdviser.

Although Holly had a specific career in mind,she felt she did not have the confidence tomove forward. The EGSA Adviserencouraged her to recognise her current skillsand abilities and discussed how she could usethem to work with deaf or community groups.She was given information on an appropriatetraining course and applied for a place with thesupport of the Adviser.

Holly is full of praise for the help she wasgiven and said: [The Adviser] came with meto the interview and also on my day ofenrolment. She made sure I met the learningsupport co-ordinator at the college to tell themof my needs.

Keep It Clear

Keep It Clear,EGSAs plain Englishtraining programme,includes activities,tips and tools to helporganisations produceclear, easy to readinformation. Opensessions continued in

EGSAs premises and this year bespokesessions were offered in house to a range of

organisations.

Participants included representatives fromHealth and Social Care Trusts, counciloffices, colleges, charities, communitygroups and housing associations.

I am more confident when writing letters to

clients with essential skills needs. (Keep ItClear participant)

I found this training very enjoyable it was

useful, relevant and very practical. (Keep ItClear participant)

Redundancy

EGSA supported a wide range oforganisations and individuals copingwith redundancy. We provided crucialand timely advice and guidance onlearning and work opportunities atcompanies including Tyrone Brick, BE

Aerospace, Arntz Belting, SeagoeTechnologies, Stream International andHughes Christensen. By working inpartnership with a range oforganisations, including Jobs andBenefits offices, we ensured that peoplewere able to make informed decisionsabout their futures. Of the individualsseen at redundancy clinics, 100% weresatisfied with the service they hadreceived from EGSA.


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EGSA was one of the firstorganisations in N Irelandto gain matrix accreditation the national quality

standard for any organisation that deliversinformation, advice and/or guidance onlearning and work.

First accredited in 2004, EGSA has now

been through the rigorous qualityassessment for the third time. Theassessment scrutinises our internalprocesses and seeks opinions from ourclients and partners.

During the 2010 Accreditation Review, theassessor identified several strengthsincluding:

A major strength continues to be

EGSAs ability to engage with thehardest to reach groups in thecommunity. Building on existingand constantly sourcing newpartnership arrangementssignificantly widens participation.The reputation of EGSA continuesto grow this is largely due to thededication and professionalism ofstaff; their adaptability, depth ofknowledge and their enthusiasm toacquire new skills to meet eachchallenge.Service users continually praisedEGSA staffs listening skills as wellas their ability to source andprovide the most relevantinformation.EGSA remains determined tocontinually examine better ways touse its resources through the

introduction of new technology.Improved quality assurance,tracking methodologies and theknowledge base have all

contributed to improvingengagement.

Effective tracking mechanisms area priority for EGSA and a numberof new developments have beenintroduced to make theseprocesses more robust therebyenabling more accuratemeasurement of the effectivenessof service provision.Innovation is part of EGSAs cultureand this is reflected in theirdetermination to improve service

delivery as well as the support anddevelopment of staff.

eQSF

The aim of the eQSF is to provide educationand training providers with a qualitystandards framework to assess practice,record evidence and plan for improvement.

The project is funded through the EU

Lifelong Learning Programme andcomprises 6 partner organisations:

FIT (Fast track to IT - ROI) - ProjectCo-ordinatorEGSANorth West Regional CollegeFormater (Italy)Foundation for Cardiac SurgeryDevelopment (Poland)City of Dublin VEC

Further details on all of our programmesand services can be found on our websiteat www.egsa.org.uk.

Warm, friendly staff offering a supportiveenvironment to encourage one in getting back

into work / change jobs. (EmployabilityWorkshop participant)

The information I received from your Adviser

gave me a clearer starting point. I was given alloptions and have now enrolled in a psychology

degree with the Open University. (EGSAclient)


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Statement of financial activities (incorporating the income and expenditure account)

UnrestrictedFunds

RestrictedFunds

Total Funds2010

Total Funds2009

Incoming resources

Incoming resources fromgenerating funds:

Voluntary incomeInvestment income

27,059226

1,125,795-

1,152,854226

1,322,203278

Other incoming resources 9,117 - 9,117 10,127

Total incoming resources 36,402 1,125,795 1,162,197 1,332,608

Resources expended

Charitable activities (74,865) (1,079,167) (1,154,032) (1,312,227)Governance costs (167) (42,631) (42,798) (55,387)

Total resources expended (75,032) (1,121,798) (1,196,830) (1,367,614)

Net (outgoing)/incomingresources for the year

(38,630) 3,997 (34,633) (35,006)

Reconciliation of funds

Reclassification Transfer 7,825 (7,825) - -

Total funds brought forward 31,116 154,824 185,940 220,946

Total funds carried forward 311 150,996 151,307 185,940

For further information contact:

Leigh VeigheyEGSAT: 028 9024 4274E: [email protected]


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EGSA Board of Directors

Chair:

Martin Howell*

Members:Kay Collins**Eleanor GillDr Rosemary Hamilton (co-opted Mar 10)Cliff Kennedy (Company Secretary to Sept 09)Tony McCusker**Clare Moore*Trevor NeilandsNicola Thompson

David Welch (Chair, Finance and GeneralPurposes Committee)

Dr Gordon Byrne (Chair, Audit Committee)

*Member of Finance and General PurposesCommittee** Member of Audit Committee

Bankers

Northern Bank Ltd.

Donegall Square WestBelfastBT1 6JS

Solicitors

Cleaver Fulton Rankin50 Bedford StreetBelfastBT2 7FW

Auditors

FGS McClure WattersNumber OneLanyon QuayBelfastBT1 3LG

Internal Auditors

Moore StephensDonegall House7 Donegall Square North

BelfastBT1 5GB

EGSA Staff

Director:

Eileen Kelly (Company Secretary from Sept 09)

Guidance Team:Becca Vaughan (Head of Guidance)Nikki Sullivan (Senior Guidance Adviser)Paulette Lennon (Senior Learning Adviser)Brian Byers (until Jul 09)Sean ClenaghanSiobhan DoolanVerna HarperRoisin Linden (from Jan 10)

Maria McArdleLouise McAtamneyAgnes McEldowneyGerry McGrathRosemary McKennaPaul McLennanAnne Marie McNultyKatrina MolloySharon PelanMaria RogersPatsy Slater

Communication and Quality Team (CQT):Ann Osborne (Head of CQT)Stephanie Holland (Senior CQ Officer)Roseanne LenziAmanda McCulloughRosie ParkesLeigh VeigheyAnne Welsh

Finance:Fiona McNeill (Head of Finance)Janine Byrne-Convery

Business Development:Kevin Donaghy (Head of Business Development)

ICTLaurence Twinam (Head of ICT)


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Documents

EGSA Annual Report 2009-2010