Training News - Autumn 2010

Autumn 2010

WILLOW : COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES : DEVELOPMENT TRACK : LEARNING DIARY

02

FOREWORD

trainingnewsgoing

digitalThis autumn edition marks a fresh start for Training News, a publication of rich history that began life way back in 1988 when the cur-rent editor was just a young lad attending primary school.

Training News has now gone purely digital. Taking advantage of new page-turning web technology, web 2.0 communication methods as well as a strong army of Training News + followers, it was decided that Train-ing News should make the transition to become a digital only publication.

Now there maybe some of you that think wait a minute, I want my copy of Training News in my hand. That’s fine, and we understand those views. That’s why Training News is available for download from HLC’s website. You can print off the entire publication, or just the pages that interest you.

Communications have changed and are changing on an almost daily ba-sis. The advent of websites such as Twitter, Facebook or Linked In can bring a whole new audience and enables you to update people in an instant. Training News “the paper version” cannot do this. Rather than cram as much information in as possible before deadlines etc, we can now increase the size of Training News to suit, enable a quick turn around of information and offer a much more visually pleasing experience.

In keeping with Training News long tradition of informative learning news, local courses and quality information, Training News digital will be presented in a stylish “Flash” format, and can be downloaded, saved or indeed printed. You can even access the magazine on the move on your mobile phone.

We hope this new format will prove just as popular as the paper release and hope that in these digitally inclusive times you will embrace the new format.

Training News has also been assigned it’s very own URL. Please bookmark www.trainingnews.org.uk It will also be available as normal on the HLC website, and regular updates with Twitter - follow us at http://twitter.com/HLCTrainingNews

New editions of Training News will continue to be released in Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. Although there is no need to ‘sign-up’ for these editions, you can register for Training News + e-bulletin service which as well as continuing to provide regular information on learning inbetween issues of Training News, will also inform you of when the next edition is available. Just visit http://www.hlc-vol.org/how-can-we-help/training-news/tnreg

As always if you would like to provide any feedback or views on this im-portant change please visit our feedback page http://www.hlc-vol.org/how-can-you-help/feedback

Thank you for your continued support. Ed. x

03

CONTENTS

trainingnewsRegistered office:

Humber Learning ConsortiumGoodwin CentreIcehouse RoadHull HU3 2HQ

Telephone: 01482 327438Email: [email protected]: www.hlc-vol.org

Follow us: http://twitter.com/HLCTrainingNews

Deadline for WInter Edition: 01 December 2010

“HLC will assist the voluntary & community sector in fostering social cohesion through learning based solutions”

Editor & Advertising Andy Cook, [email protected] Executive Andy Crossland, [email protected] Chief Executive Paul Rands, [email protected]

Quality & Programmes Manager Sandra Williamson, [email protected]

Head of Finance Alison Clark, [email protected] Support Elaine Tighe & Linda Brown, [email protected]

Head of Administration Diane Pattrick, [email protected] Assistants Zoe Pickering, Laura Danby,

[email protected] of Communications & Research Les Braim, [email protected]

Communications & Research Support Andy Cook, [email protected] of MIS Richard Pyka, [email protected]

Project Leaders: George Baillif, [email protected] Paul Gower, [email protected]

Mary Irish, [email protected] Heather Jameson, [email protected]

Niall O’Reilly, [email protected] Vickie Walker, [email protected]

Project Development Worker Dave Edeson, [email protected] Support Scott Lymburn, [email protected]

Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is printed in good faith. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that it is correct HLC cannot accept liability for any omissions or inaccuracies and does not take responsibility for the quality of any services mentioned.

04-05Round up of Learning News

06-07HLC Information

08-09On Track to Excellence

10-11Communication is Key

12-13Supporting Volunteers

14-15Sherrie Rhodes, Willow

16-17Sandra Williamson, Quality

19-20Learning Diary

autumn / trainingnews

Community Links Training offers opportuni-ties for learning & development with a range of over 30 courses in mental health, manage-ment and personal development. Courses can cost from as little as £50 per person. We are a leading provider of quality mental health training across Yorkshire & Humber, delivering to a wide audience including those involved in mental health services as well as more generic service providers and users. With 30 years’ experience as one of Yorkshire’s leading mental health service providers, Community Links has the hands-on knowledge and practical expertise that makes our courses so valued by our partici-pants.

We are currently offering the following courses at the subsidised rate of £80 per person:-

Mental Health First Aid 20th & 22nd October, Huddersfield25th & 26th October, Leeds26th & 27th October, Brigg

Youth Mental Health First Aid 30th November & 1st December, Brigg

The courses which we can deliver within your organisation include:-•Emergency First Aid at Work•Safeguarding Adults•Diversity Awareness•Recruitment & Selection•Drugs & Alcohol•Conflict Management•Early Intervention in Psychosis•Professional Boundaries•Domestic Violence•Intro to CBT•Listening skills•Intro to Mental Health•Intro to Neuro Linguistic Programming•Intro to working with Dementia •Intro to a Care Programme Approach (CPA)•Responsibilities of a CPA Co-ordinator

Please contact Nichola Wilton at Community Links for more information Tel 0845 8389928Email [email protected] www.mentalhealthfirstaidyorksand-humber.org

Excellent, effective and afford-

able mental health training

Reform of Sector Infrastructure

Government to consult on reform of sector infrastructure bodies, says Nick Hurd

Civil society minister also says a white paper on reform of public service commissioning will be published this autumn

The Office for Civil Society will launch a consultation on plans to reform voluntary sector infrastructure bodies, civil society minister Nick Hurd has an-nounced.

At a meeting of the all-party parlia-mentary group on civil society and volunteering, held in the House of Commons yesterday, Hurd said the Labour government had spent a lot of money on infrastructure. This was likely to be cut, regardless of the out-come of the comprehensive spending

review this autumn.

The consultation would be published in the autumn, a Cabinet Office spokesman said.

Hurd also said the government would publish a white paper on reforms to public service commissioning this autumn. He said the proposals would include longer-term, outcome-based contracts and allow charities and social enterprises that bid for govern-ment contracts to earn a return on their investment.

Hurd said he was concerned about the voluntary sector’s “growing de-pendence” on state funding. “In the long term, the government should be a catalyst for enabling charities to get resources from non-state sources.”

ROUND UPPathways to Work gave voluntary organisations ‘unfair

share’ of risk, says report

Parliamentary committee criticises government’s failure to monitor treat-ment of third sector subcontractors

Voluntary organisations that delivered the government’s Pathways to Work initiative bore an “unfair share” of the risks involved, a report by an influen-tial committee of MPs said yesterday.

The Department for Work and Pen-sions established the £760m Path-ways programme between 2005 and 2007. The scheme aimed to reduce the number of incapacity benefit claimants.

But the Public Accounts Committee report said the government failed to monitor the treatment of small volun-tary organisations that delivered work for the programme as subcontractors.

“The department had an objective to build a healthy market, but has failed to develop an adequate understand-ing of the supply chain,” the report said.

“It has not monitored how well prime

contractors are sharing rewards and risks with the more than 80 specialist subcontractors involved.

“We have concerns that effective small private and voluntary organisa-tions working in local communities are being asked to take an unfair share of the risk by prime contrac-tors.”

The Pathways programme is being replaced by the new government’s Work Programme.

The report welcomed the creation of the Merlin standard, a new code of conduct for contractors and sub-contractors taking part in the Work programme, for tackling “unfair treat-ment” of subcontractors.

Chris Grayling, the employment minister, said: “This report is hugely disappointing and just underlines how misplaced many of the previous government’s labour policies were. They just never got to grips with the challenges of getting people back to work.”

04

Watchdog could lose up to a third of its budget in government spending cuts, he warns.

Sam Younger, who took over as Chief Ex-ecutive of the Charity Commission last week, has signalled where cuts might be made in its services if its funding from the government is further reduced in next month’s spending review.

His list includes reducing one to one tel-ephone advice to charities, a reduction in investigations of smaller charities, and moving more services online.

In an interview with the Third Sector on his first day in the job, Younger said the commission might decide not to investi-gate complaints against charities whose incomes were below a certain level.“I’ll be looking at the criteria by which we decide to investigate an allegation of malpractice,” he said. “If resources are tight, one option is to raise the threshold below which you’d decide not to look at something.”Younger also said the commission may

have to scale back its advice and guid-ance function.

Currently, charities are able to receive one-to-one advice over the phone about how to interpret its guidance, but this could be seen as a luxury rather than a requirement, he said. Guidance could be published online and charities would be unable to receive any further advice from the commission.

The commission might also remove its requirement that charities ask its permis-sion to pay a trustee, he said.

Younger added that there could be fur-ther efficiency savings, but acknowl-edged that his predecessor Andrew Hind had already made a number of staff re-dundant.

“Difficult and uncomfortable for some charities these decisions may be, but these are the choices we have to make,” he explained.

Source: Third Sector

New Charity Commission chief Sam Younger reveals how it

might save money

HWRCC to launch Village Hall and Com-munity Building Web Site

The first community building web site able to advertise the facilities and activi-ties available at venues across the East Riding of Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire will launch at the end of the year.

Bookmark for future reference: www.

ruralcommunitybuildings.org.uk

05

Humber Learning Consortium is “passionate about learning” and how it can be used to develop and build the confidence of local communities in the Hum-ber Sub-Region.

HLC is helping to make a difference in your community through the delivery of the following projects:

Adult EngagementSFA/ESF funded activity focused on supporting the most disadvantaged 19+ learners through a wide range of accessible accredited and non accredit-ed learning. They are delivered by a variety of public, private and VCS orgs throughout the Humber. Contact Heather Jameson email: [email protected]

Community GrantsThese grants of between £2,000 and £12,000 were focused on supporting smaller VCS organisations in the Yorkshire & Humber area who do not access mainstream government funds. All funding has been currently allocated with the exception of South Yorkshire. Contact Niall O’Reilly email: [email protected]

Future Jobs FundThe Future Jobs Fund is a part of the Young Person’s Guarantee which aims to ensure that no young adult is permanently disadvantaged by the recession by giving everyone the chance to undertake training, a volunteer place or se-cure a job. Primarily aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for six months and claiming Jobseekers Allowance. Contact George Baillif email: [email protected]

HELP Network (Humber ESOL Learning Providers Network)2 year project funded by the Migration Impact Fund bringing together organi-sations providing ESOL to Black and Minority Ethnic Communities locally. The network encourages members to work together to ensure good quality cours-es, accessible provision and progression for learners. It has also managed to secure and distribute over £25,000 in funding to members in the past few months for the provision of Health related ESOL.. Contact Paul Gower email: [email protected]

Hull SkilledWorking Neighbourhood Fund project ‘Hull Skilled’ is funded by One Hull and is delivered by HLC and its delivery partners:-Hull CVS, Hull Hostel Forum, Win-ner, Willow, Hull Ethnic Minority Community College, Universal Community College, Goodwin & Probe.

The programme aims to equip unemployed people with a range of skills from Skills for Life to Level II qualifications. Leading to retraining and getting people back into work. Contact Mary Irish email: [email protected]

Humber SkillsThis is a key initiative funded by the Big Lottery for 3 years to develop the capacity of VCS organisations offering a range of services including diagnosis of organisations and Managers and Trustees capacity, direct funding support for training and learning solutions and information service for VCS orgs in the Humber. Contact Vickie Walker or Dave Edeson email: [email protected]

in yourcommunity

06

Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG)With the significant barriers faced by many learners, as well as a complicated choice of progression opportunities, it is important to support learners with quality IAG. This SFA/ESF funded initiative supports all post 19 learners on SFA/ESF funded provision in the Humber. Again delivered by a variety of pub-lic, private and VCS organisations, contact Heather Jameson email: [email protected] Neighbourhood Learning for Deprived Communities This key mainstream SFA contract supports the development of the most deprived learners and communities. With an increasing focus on developing learner’s employability and personal development, contact Richard Pyka email: [email protected]

Not In Education Employment Or Training (NEET)An SFA/ESF funded initiative focused on reducing the number of young people in the East Riding of Yorkshire who are NEET. 16-18 Activity is presently being delivered in Bridlington, Haltemprice and Withernsea and delivered by East Riding Training Services and Children & Family Action. Contact Sandra Wil-liamson email: [email protected]

Personal & Community Development A small SFA mainstream contract delivering learning for enjoyment through-out the Humber. Delivered by VCS orgs to the most disadvantaged learners. Contact Richard Pyka email: [email protected]

Celebration of Learning 2010

HLC’s third annual Celebration of Learning Awards 2010 event takes place on 10th November 2010 at the Reeds Hotel, Barton.

The event has been held on the North Bank for the past few years and has always been well attended by the South Bank partners. We hope the North Bank organisations will be just as supportive and make the journey over the Humber to help celebrate the achievements of all learners.

This years categories are: HLC Provider of the Year, ASL Provider of the Year, Adult Engagement Provider of the year, Community Grant Provider of the Year, Learner of the Year, Most Improved Learner of the Year, Young Achiever of the Year: (16-21), Returning to Learning Award (50+), Outstanding Contri-bution to Learning Award, Supporting Learning Award, Overcoming Barriers Award, Tutor of the Year.

If you are interested in sponsoring any of the awards or for further informa-tion, please contact Diane Pattrick on 01482 327438 or email: [email protected]

07

08

FEATURE

You may or may not be aware of the Federation of Local Development Agen-cies (FoLDA). However, it is the local network of the agencies set up to sup-port the voluntary sector. The organisa-tions involved in this partnership cover all four local authority areas in the Humber delivering services throughout the sub-region.

The organisations involved in the Fed-eration are:

• Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire• Voluntary Action North East Lincoln-shire• North Bank Forum• Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council• Humber Learning Consortium• Humber All Nations Alliance• Hull CVS

• East Riding Voluntary Action Services• Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT)

They have, over recent years, collabo-rated in a variety of ways to enhance each of the partners’ services to their membership. They have collaborated on Capacitybuilders funded contracts relating to the development of agen-cies set up to support organisations and groups in the voluntary and com-munity sector.

However, for me the most significant contract, probably because I manage it, is called “Development Track”. So what is it? The answer is in the name where the “development” relates to staff de-velopment and “track” the route or learning journey they seek to follow to improve their skills and subsequently

the quality of their service delivery to you and your organisation.

Over the period the nature and mode of development accessed within this programme has been extremely varied. It was decided at the very start that a flexible approach was essential to over-come some of the difficulties experi-enced by staff wishing to train when, at times, they were the only person fulfill-ing a particular role in the organisation.

Staff from the agencies have received training in such diverse areas as fi-nance, management, safeguarding, commissioning buildings, quality, train-ing, ICT, governance, funding, etc. Deliv-ery methods have been just as diverse ranging from one to one mentoring or work shadowing, through tutor led courses to professional qualifications.

ONTRACK TOEXCELLENCE

By Les Braim

09

With the end of the project’s fund-ing rapidly approaching, the partners have to decide to explore how they can sustain staff development in a cli-mate where funds ensure that training budgets are very small, if indeed they exist at all. One way to support staff on an ongoing basis is to match them up with others who fulfil similar roles in other organisations and develop a self-support network of practitioners. We will, therefore, be exploring whether there is a need and the ongoing viabil-ity of such networks, bearing in mind they need to take ownership and di-rect activities themselves. Of course, networks can work in a variety of ways from setting up face to face meetings to communicating by other, often web based means, rather like a social net-work.

The potential benefits of these net-works include:

• sharing information and documents• the ability to communicate with each other at any time• a resource which allows them to take ownership of their own development• the means to support each other.

In addition, online communities offers:• assistive technology that is flexible and can be used both as a formal learning platform as well as an infor-mal resource and support network. • the ability to manage resources online • encouragement for the development of ICT skills, which can then be used to expand knowledge through research and keep up to date with current trends.

So what, you might say? What has it to do with my organisation?

If these networks can be established between the local development agen-cies there is then a real potential to roll them out to the wider VCS, offering a resource which already has some value and currency.

COMMUNICATIONIS KEYThere’s a lot more to effective communication than simply what you say.

Are you paid to communicate? Most people are these days, this is how people coordinate action - yet curiously very lit-tle communication training is conducted after the basics have been learnt in school. Communication is at the very heart of the training and busi-ness world and it is my expe-rience that even those with natural talent can benefit from a little extra communi-cation training. Communica-tion is a complex, context-de-pendant and highly individual affair making a generic com-munication tips article like this challenging. But what the hell, here are some pointers. Please hold them lightly and not as absolutes. Most of the following apply to face-to-face communication, on the phone and email. Many of them have been influenced by NonVio-lent Communication and on-tological coaching if these are familiar approaches.

Top 15 communication train-ing tips

Listen firstListening fully without inter-ruption is the primary com-

munication skill. Honing your empathy (as defined as “the intention to connect in the present moment”) and learn-ing to differentiate it from other forms of listening such as sympathy, storytelling and consoling is worthwhile. Ac-tive listening and paraphras-ing (repeating back what people have said) may also be useful, but any listening skill done as manipulation will quickly be spotted - the inten-tion is what matters. BreatheWhile involved in a challeng-ing conversation take a deep breath down into the belly and let it out slowly before responding. ‘Centre’ by be-coming aware of your physical body in the here and now to get yourself together. Say “I...”Using I statements such as “I feel miserable when that happens” rather than psy-chologically distancing one-self by using “you...” or other terms (e.g. “You know, you feel miserable when that hap-pens”) makes a huge differ-ence as only once a statement is ‘owned’ can it can be ad-dressed. It encourages people to ‘speak for themselves’ too separating facts from opinions

(see later tip). Separate facts from opinionsSpeaking as if opinions are facts can lead to all sorts of trouble (that’s an opinion). Watch out for the verb ‘to be’ as a sign of this - “Jane is a bad manager”, “John and Fred are lazy.” For any conflict resolution describing the ob-jective facts about what hap-pened is a good place to start; the same with appraisals and feedback. This sounds like a simple tip but is remarkably difficult for people. Avoid judgement, blame, denial of responsibility and comparisonsNo matter how much you judge or blame people they won’t like you for it. Joking aside, when corporate nego-tiations or relationship discus-sions descend into judgement and blame, both parties lose. Denying responsibility (“I had to do it”, “It’s my job to hate them”, “I was only obeying orders”) also means that com-munication ends. Compari-sons are, as the saying goes, usually odious. Avoid them. Get emotionalEmotions point us in the di-rection of what is important. I am angry or scared when

something important to me is threatened, sad when some-thing meaningful is lost and happy when it’s gained, for example. Emotions also in-spire and motivate others. Having emotional intelligence is a crucial life, training and business skill. Know the cause of emotionsNote that people can stimu-late each other’s feelings but are not the cause (a person’s own thinking and needs are), also using the word ‘feel’ doesn’t necessarily imply a feeling is involved. “You made me angry” and “I feel you don’t love me” for example are unlikely to lead to useful conversations. Needs and valuesBeneath feelings are needs and values. I may be angry be-cause my need for freedom is being threatened by a micro-managing boss or delighted because I value appreciation and have received it from col-leagues, for example. Because we all have the same basic needs, learning to understand others in this way is a very powerful form of communica-tion training.

By Mark Walsh

10

FEATURE

Get moodyPeople live in long-term moods. If you have a friend who is always happy and an-other who would view win-ning the lottery as a misfor-tune, you know this; however people’s own moods are often invisible to them (ask around to find out yours).

The mood and tone in which we say things and choose to listen makes a huge difference - moods are constantly com-municated predispositions for action.

Ask for what you wantAsking for what you want in specific and time-bound posi-tive language is how to get what you want and improve your life! This sounds simple, but often people don’t ask in a ‘clean’ way (e.g. “It’s hot in here!” rather than “please open the window”). Watch out for assumptions too...”You wanted a pet? You just said buy me an animal for Christ-mas not a living one!” Note that there are only four responses to any request

- accept, decline, commit-to-commit (e.g. “I’ll tell you Monday”) and counter-offer. Maybe has no real meaning and should be avoided. Be clear about your standards for any request e.g. “I’d like the report 10-12 pages long and to include a section on finance. On my desk by Mon-day.” Make declarationsMake bold declarations in public if you want things to change, “We will put a man on the moon within 10 years”, “Britain is now at war with Germany” and “I do” are all examples of bold declarations. Have a look at what you’re sayingWe communicate more through our bodies than through our words - especially around emotionally signifi-cant subjects. Examine what your body is saying by looking at a video recording of your-self speaking with the sound off. In many ways we are our bodies and these express con-tinuously.

Take culture into accountDifferent nations, subcultures, ethnic groups, companies, even departments have their own cultures. What may be appropriate with a group of engineers in Germany may not be with a group of thera-pists in the US. Take individual differences into accountDifferent people like to com-municate in very different ways. There are numerous ty-pologies such as Myers-Briggs and the Enneagram for look-ing at communication styles. Extrovert and introvert people like to communicate in very different ways, as do people at different stages of develop-ment, people preferring left or right brain thinking, liberals and conservatives, etc. Listen some moreListening is on the list twice as one can’t really listen too much. Our top communica-tion training tip - listen.

Mark Walsh leads business training providers Integration Training - based in Brighton, London and Birmingham. Specialising in working with emotions, the body and spir-ituality at work they help organisations get more done without going insane (time and stress management), coordinate action more ef-fectively (team building and communication training) and help leaders build impact, in-fluence and presence. Clients include international blue chip companies, UNICEF and The Institute of Development Studies.

www.trainingzone.co.uk/

11

12

SUPPORTINGVOLUNTEERSHull CVS Volunteer Support Project aims to make volunteering more acces-sible, and provide additional support to Volunteers and Volunteer Involving or-ganisations throughout the volunteer-ing experience.

Our work with volunteers:

• We will hold an initial interview with the volunteer to discuss their volun-teering and assess any extra support needs.• The volunteer will attend a 3 day Introduction to Volunteering course, which will be run over 3 consecutive weeks. The course will look at:o The positives and negatives of volun-teeringo Volunteer and organisation expecta-tionso Communication Skillso Confidence building and assertive-

nesso Discrimination, Equality and Diversityo Stress and relaxationo Achievements through volunteeringo Finding volunteer opportunities• We will then hold another interview with the volunteer to discuss different volunteer positions. • If the volunteer is ready to begin vol-unteering, we can assist in completing applications, making appointments and attending interviews. • If the required volunteer placement is not available, we will work with Volun-teer involving organisations to create/tailor placements to the volunteers re-quirements• We will also offer additional training if the volunteer feels that they need it, and/or source further learning oppor-tunities.• We will remain in contact with the volunteer and regularly evaluate the

volunteering, to ensure that the volun-teer has the best volunteering experi-ence possible.

Our work with Volunteer Involving Or-ganisations:

• We will come and give talks/work-shops to your service users about how the project could support them into volunteering positions.• Provide training for staff on working with volunteers• If you already use volunteers but do not provide training for them; they could attend our 3 day Introduction to Volunteering training course• We can help you to establish volun-teer roles within your organisation• We can advise on good practice for working with volunteers and assist with policies and procedures which you may want to put in place.

13

Managing volunteers

Humber Learning Consortium is happy to give advanced notice for Volunteer Co-ordinators and Managers of units for the NOCN Award in Managing Volunteers (Level 3) course to be run 2010/2011. Due to changes within the OCN this is the last chance we can offer this course!!

“Managing Volunteers “ is a nationally-recognised level 3 qualification consist-ing of 3 units; HLC still have spaces left on 2 units; Social Policy for Managing Voluntary and Community Groups (4 days) and Valuing Your Volunteers (5 days).

Each unit cost is £100 to learners in the Voluntary & Community Sector i.e. £300 for the full award. (If you live or work in HU1 – HU9 postcode, please contact us about subsidised places) venue TBC.

Social Policy for Managing – Wednes-day 10th, 17th & 24th November, Wednesday 1st December 2010Objectives and outcomes:• Develop an understanding of the impact of social policy on an organisa-tion.• Identify how organisations may influ-ence the development of social policy.

Valuing your Volunteers – Wednes-day 12th, 19th & 26th January and Wednesday 2nd & 9th February 2011Objectives and outcomes:• Identify good practice in recruiting volunteers.• Identify good practice when working with and managing volunteers.• Evaluate organisational procedures and policies in terms of their impact on volunteers.

Please note we are unable to provide meals on these courses. You are wel-come to bring along your own packed lunch. Tea/coffee biscuits will be pro-vided throughout the day.

If you are interested in any of the above or would like an informal chat or indeed would like to secure a place please call Vickie at HLC on 01482 327438 alternatively you can email [email protected]

Here at Hull CVS we are committed to helping YOU!

Our FREE 3-day Introduction to Volunteering Course will teach you

the basics of volunteering.

We will help you find the best suited volunteer placement.

You will then have the choice of taking a FREE course or possibly

move into paid employment.

Some of the courses available include:

NVQ2 Administration

NVQ2 Playwork

BTEC Level 2 Award in Counselling Skills

And many more...

Interested? Want to know More?

Then why not contact us on 01482 595504 and ask for Debbie,

Emma or the Introduction to Volunteering Course.

You never know what it might lead to!

The Strand

75 Beverley Road

HULLHU3 1XL

Phone: 01482 595504

Fax: 01482 580565

E-mail: [email protected]

Unemployed for more than 6 months?

Claiming Job Seekers Allowance?

Did you know that VOLUNTEERING

could lead you into further learning or

paid work?

If you live in Hull, East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire or North East Lincolnshire OWEN (Older Workers Employment Network) can help.

OWEN aims to provide people aged 45 and over with support and encourage-ment that they need to get back into work.

OWEN was set up in 2004, and during 2008 OWEN helped nearly 800 people with employment skills.

Everyone joining OWEN starts with a one to one session with an OWEN per-sonal advisor. These sessions provide you with information, advice and guid-ance and a support programme for your job search. The support programme may include any of the following:

* CV Writing* Job search and applications* Interview techniques* Confidence building* Customer service* Managing life changes

OWEN can also provide you with:

* Funding for external training (terms apply)* Voluntary work placements* Mock interviews with local employers

For more information contact:

OWEN, 33 Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8ET

Phone: (01482) 887670

Website: www.owenproject.co.uk

Are you 45 and over and looking for work?

I TURNEDMY LIFEAROUNDMy life changed in the Summer of 2005 whilst on holiday in Turkey with my husband and three young children aged 5, 3 and 6 months. Suddenly and unexpectedly, I began to have panic attacks, felt unable to cope and couldn’t leave the hotel room, leaving my husband to cope with our young family. This was to be the start of a nightmare journey as my anxiety and depression spiralled. I was diagnosed with acute postnatal depression and for 6 months, wouldn’t get up, wash or dress. The Health Visitor helped me cope with the children and I was referred to a Community Psychiatric Nurse for advice and support.

Fortunately, I had a supportive sister and husband who offered the emo-tional and practical support, I desper-ately needed, not only to cope with raising a family, but also with my un-happiness and depression.

The situation was affecting the family unit – I was unable to look after or in-teract with my children.

Unfortunately, postnatal depression is not always recognised as a debilitating condition and I was often told “Pull yourself together!” or “You’ve just got

to get on with it!” which only added to my misery.

The turning point was in January 2006, when my Community Psychiatric Nurse encouraged and helped me access a support group, facilitated through a community project, which was housed in Willow, North Hull Women’s Centre. The group size was small, friendly and in a women only environment and the activities were therapeutic and un-pressured. Lennon, my one year old son, attended Willow’s crèche whilst I attended and this initially, was the main reason for joining. It enabled him to interact with other children in a stimulating environment, as I had been unable to play with him, making me feel guilty and inadequate – even though it was out of my control.

This was to become a life changing step for me! It was the focal point in my life and I began to look forward to these weekly sessions, an incentive to leave the house! This continued for several months, my confidence grow-ing and the feelings of isolation easing slightly. Although I knew I had a long way to go, I felt perhaps, there was a light at the end of the tunnel!

In September 2006, I felt ready to take the next step, despite feelings of self doubt and experiencing severe panic attacks. I attended a 5 week Aromath-erapy course, organised by Willow, at my children’s primary school, within my local community but more impor-tantly within my comfort zone! This gave me the confidence and motiva-tion to progress “over the road” to a community hall to attend another of Willow’s outreach courses – Crafts. I also attended a course with ArtLink in December 2006, which involved mak-ing Christmas cards with children in our local primary school. I was terri-fied but successfully completed the project, even helping out another project at a school outside my comfort zone – a big step forward! This gave me the confidence to travel the short distance to Willow in January 2007, where my learning journey continued! The “open door policy”, friendly small groups and great childcare facilities made this possible. I began attending a range of courses in Soft Skills - both accredited and non-accredited, I be-gan to enjoy life again! Whilst I was still experiencing panic attacks and of-ten struggling to cope with my anxie-ties, I began socialising again and the children had their Mum back!

By Sherrie Rhodes

FEATURE

14

Since these dark days, I have gone from strength to strength – I have accessed a range of training and learning provision, including NOCN’s, NVQ’s & UFA’s in a range of areas – IT, Supporting Children’s Learning and Crafts to name just a few. Whilst the journey has not always been easy, my determination to overcome postnatal depression, my love for my family and commitment to learning has inspired and motivated me to overcome many barriers.

In January 2009, I saw an advertise-ment in The Hull Daily Mail, asking for volunteers on the Doula project – a voluntary organisation which pro-vides support to vulnerable and iso-lated women during late pregnancy, childbirth and the first 6 weeks after birth; immediately I knew this was what I wanted to do! I researched on the Website, believed I could make a difference and attended the Open Evening.

Despite being very nervous, I at-tended an interview and was honest about my personal battles, which was still featuring in my life, although to a much lesser degree. I was delighted when I was successful and undertook

an intensive training programme in the Spring of 2009. I am now trained, supporting Mums and finding the ex-perience rewarding! I believe that by offering support, they may have less chance of going through the night-mare that I did.

Learning has made such a difference to me and my family, and I am proud to be supporting some of the city’s most vulnerable women as a result of this. My journey continues - my goal is to study midwifery and I feel confi-dent I can achieve this.

“LEARNING HAS MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO ME AND MY FAMILY.”

After attending a Regional Award Ceremony in Leeds, Sherrie went on to represent Yorkshire and Humber-side as Outstanding Learner of the Year in a prestigious ceremony at Westminster, London in May! Jacquie Newman and myself - Sylvia Kilving-ton (Centre Co-Managers) attended with Sherrie and her husband Sean. Prior to that, Sherrie was awarded the ‘Overcoming Barriers Award’ at HLC’s Celebration of Learning event.

Sherrie has now enrolled on NVQ CACHE (Childcare) Level 2 course and is volunteering in Willow’s Creche to further develop her skills and gain ex-perience to help her achieve her goal of becoming a midwife. She has also joined Willow’s Management Com-mittee as she wants to put something back into the Centre and help make a difference to women in the commu-nity. She is also planning to enrol on the Access course into Midwifery.

Silvia Kilvington, Willow Co-ordinator said “Sherrie was the first woman to join our Big Lottery, Reaching Com-munities outreach programme aimed at supporting our most hard to reach learners. She is an inspirational per-son, who has turned what was a very dark time in her life into a positive by helping some of the most vulnerable women in the city as a result of her experiences. She is a testimony to the valuable work undertaken in the heart of the community by voluntary organisations like ourselves. As we approach the last few months of our Lottery funding in this era of financial uncertainty, we are determined to secure funding to carry on making a difference to women like Sherrie and her family.”

15

16

FEATURE

As Quality and Programmes Manager at Humber Learning Consortium I am involved in all aspects of quality assur-ance with delivery partners. HLC oper-ates a very successful Quality Improve-ment Network (QIN) which takes place approximately five times per year and is attended by represenatives from a range of HLC delivery partners, across all contracts.

The QIN is the ideal forum for shar-ing good practice; a chance to update on new and emerging issues and an opportunity for members to work to-gether to improve the overall quality of provision of HLC and its delivery partners. The QIN also identifies and helps to address many of the training needs of delivery partner organisa-tions.

HLC produce an annual Quality Calen-dar which represents a cycle of events that take place between HLC and part-ner organisations, which includes the monitoring of many different activi-ties.

HLC and many of its delivery partners come under the remit of government funding which means that we are in scope for Ofsted inspection and work in line with the Common Inspection Framework (CiF) guidelines. HLC pro-duce an annual Self Assessment Re-port (SAR) which reflects on the aca-demic year. The SAR is compiled from each of the individual delivery partner SARs, identifying the main strengths and areas for improvement within the areas of the CiF. As a result of the com-pleted SAR, HLC and each of its deliv-

ery partner organisations, complete a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) which identifies the main areas for develop-ment, which are regularly monitored throughout the year.

As well as regular contract meetings between HLC and delivery partners, we also undertake a Quality Perform-ance Audit of each delivery partner at least once per year, whereby Project Leads undertake a thorough quality check and follow up/monitor result-ant action plans. This process iden-tifies organisations as being of high, medium or low risk and ensures that they are reviewed and supported ac-cordingly, having highlighted any areas of concern.

QUALITYINPARTNERSHIP

By Sandra Williamson

17

Quality of provision is also assured through the monitoring of Observa-tion of Teaching and Learning (OTL), which takes place with all delivery partners. Action plans are monitored closely in order to improve the links between the OTL process and quality improvement activities, particularly in terms of specific action points and re-observations. Where delivery partner organisations do not have a qualified observer, HLC staff are available to un-dertake the OTL. HLC have recently been successful in securing an LSIS Flexibility and Inno-vation Fund (FIF) bid. The resultant project is entitled “Quality in Partner-ship (QUIP)” and is a collaborative, sector-led project between HLC and North Yorkshire Learning Consortium

(NYLC), which aims to build capac-ity and strengthen all areas of quality with a group of voluntary and com-munity sector delivery partners across the Humber and North Yorkshire. HLC and NYLC plan to deliver a pro-gramme of performance and quality enhancement activities supported by a virtual learning environment (VLE). The VLE has been launched as a mi-crosite for QIN members to access, entitled “QUIP”. The FIF programme will be geared to the Common Inspec-tion Framework and hopes to reflect the needs and operational context of the delivery partners in order to share good practice to drive quality improve-ment. Following diagnostic assess-ment of delivery partners, the project will provide support in varying degrees to a range of delivery partners devel-

oping their internal systems and proc-esses with regard to quality and per-formance issues. This exciting project is still in the early stages of develop-ment, but regular updates of progress will follow!

To find out more about the QUIP please contact Sandra Williamson at HLC on 01482 327438 or email: [email protected]

NEXT EDITION: DECEMBER 2010

Humber Learning Consortium is registered in England & Wales as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee No. 4383779 - Registered Charity No. 1097333

is going digital

Autumn 2010 - now on the webwww.trainingnews.org.uk

or follow us athttp://twitter.com/HLCTrainingNews

11/11/2010 Safe Administration of Medications Barton (Without NVQ Unit Registration) Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £35

11/11/2010 Media ‐ Confidence on Radio and Hull Television Chamber Training (Humber) Limited 01482 611896 £70‐140+VAT

12/11/2010 Introduction to Health and Safety at Barton Work and COSHH Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

15/11/2010 Safeguarding Disabled Children and Hull Young people (Level 1) Children and Young People’s Partnership

Learning Team 01482 318949 FREE

16/11/2010 Dementia Care ‐ Behaviour Barton Management Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £30‐85

17/11/2010 Safeguarding Children ‐ A shared Hull responsibility ‐ Awareness,

Recognition and Responses (Level 1) Children and Young People’s Partnership


17/11/2010 Care Planning Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £35

18/11/2010 Symposium: What's New in Hull Palliative Care? Explaining difficult 2 days things in an easy way Dove House Hospice 01482 785783 £295+

18/11/2010 Safeguarding Adults Basic Hull Awareness Hull Safeguarding Adults Board 01482 616079 FREE

18/11/2010 A Child centred Approach: Hull Understanding Children's Rights and

Participation (Level 1) Children and Young People’s Partnership


18/11/2010 Safe Moving and Handling Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

19/11/2010 Language Skills ‐ Speaking and Barton Listening Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

22/11/2010 Safeguarding Adults Managers' Hull Awareness Hull Safeguarding Adults Board 01482 616079 FREE

22/11/2010 Alcohol Awareness and Risk Barton Reduction Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 FREE

23/11/2010 Dementia Care ‐ Nutritional Needs Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £30‐85

23/11/2010 Equality and Diversity Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

Compiled by HLC. When enquiring about courses please tell providers you saw the information here in HLC Training News

For the latest courses (inc. Local, Regional & National), training events, trainers and consultants, job vacancies, sector news & more visit:

www.hlc-vol.org

14/10/2010 Hospice Lecture: Lewy Body Hull Dementia Dove House Hospice 01482 785783 £10

14/10/2010 How the region works ‐ Regional Hull Forum Information Sessions Yorkshire and Humber Regional Forum 01133942316 FREE

15/10/2010 Drugs Awareness (Level 1) Hull Children and Young People’s Partnership


18/10/2010 Safeguarding Briefing Goole East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

19/10/2010 Basic Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Goole Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

20/10/2010 Managers Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Goole Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE




20/10/2010 Communicating, Influencing and Hull Assertiveness Chamber Training (Humber) Limited 01482 611896 £70‐140+VAT

21/10/2010 Crisis Intervention & Aggression Barton Management Three Day Programme 3 days Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £135

26/10/2010 Language Skills ‐ Speaking and Barton Listening Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

27/10/2010 Dementia Care ‐ Nutritional Needs Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £30‐85

27/10/2010 OCN Visual Impaired Awareness Hull Course HERIB 01482 342297 £68

28/10/2010 First Aid in the Workplace Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £45

28/10/2010 Presenting and Public Speaking Hull Chamber Training (Humber) Limited 01482 611896 £70‐140+VAT

29/10/2010 Safe Moving and Handling Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

01/11/2010 Hidden harm: The Impact of Hull Substance Use in the Family on

Children & Young People (Level 2) Children and Young People’s Partnership



02/11/2010 Safeguarding Briefing Willerby East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

03/11/2010 Basic Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Adults Willerby East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

03/11/2010 Dementia Care ‐ Physical Care Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £30‐85

03/11/2010 Domestic Abuse Awareness (Level 1) Hull Children and Young People’s Partnership


04/11/2010 Health and Safety and COSHH Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

04/11/2010 Managers Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Willerby Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE




04/11/2010 Confidentiality and Data Protection Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

05/11/2010 Introduction to Leadership Immingham CERT 01469 572313 £99‐139+VAT

08/11/2010 Safeguarding Briefing Cottingham East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

09/11/2010 Basic Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Adults Cottingham East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

09/11/2010 Interactive Workshop: Emergencies Hull in Palliative Care... Dove House Hospice 01482 785783 £10

10/11/2010 Dementia Care ‐ Behaviour Barton Management Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £30‐85

10/11/2010 Mean, Median and Mode Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £10


11/11/2010 Training4Trainers ‐ Safeguarding Cottingham Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

11/11/2010 Safe Administration of Medications Barton (With NVQ Unit Registration) Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £65

Local

Please contact the providing organisation direct using the phone number shown against each entry Oct. 2010

–

Jan. 2011

Please contact the providing organisation direct using the phone number shown against each entry

Information compiled by the Humber Learning Consortium (HLC) When booking or enquiring about courses please tell providers you saw the information in the HLC Training News

23/11/2010 SCIPCS (Supporting Children in Hull Public Care in Schools) Dove House Hospice 01482 785783 £50

24/11/2010 OCN Visual Impaired Awareness Hull HERIB 01482 342297 £68

24/11/2010 Basic Food Hygiene RSPH Accredited Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £45

24/11/2010 Introduction to Safeguarding Hull Children (Awareness) Children and Young People’s Partnership


25/11/2010 Alcohol Awareness (Level 1) Hull Children and Young People’s Partnership


25/11/2010 Safeguarding Briefing Skirlaugh East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

25/11/2010 Negotiation Skills Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £35

25/11/2010 Hospice Information Afternoon (For Hull Those Working in Health & Social

Care Settings) Dove House Hospice 01482 785783 FREE

26/11/2010 Managers Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Skirlaugh Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE



29/11/2010 Basic Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Skirlaugh Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

30/11/2010 Dementia Care ‐ Physical Care Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £30‐85




01/12/2010 Epilepsy Awareness Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £25

01/12/2010 Records and Record Keeping in Care Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15



02/12/2010 Effective meetings for managers Immingham CERT 01469 572313 £99‐139+VAT

02/12/2010 Basic Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Adults Withernsea East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board 01482 861103 FREE

Oct. 2010 –

Jan. 2010

02/12/2010 First Aid in the Workplace Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £45

03/12/2010 Managers Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Withernsea Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE





07/12/2010 Safeguarding Briefing Sewerby East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

07/12/2010 Basic Food Hygiene RSPH Accredited Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £45

07/12/2010 Domestic Abuse Awareness (Level 1) Hull Children and Young People’s Partnership


07/12/2010 Exploring the Impact of Child Sex Hull Abuse (Level 1) Children and Young People’s Partnership


07/12/2010 People Development (Instructing, Hull Coaching and Mentoring) Chamber Training (Humber) Limited 01482 611896 £70‐140+VAT

08/12/2010 Basic Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Sewerby Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE


08/12/2010 Domestic Abuse and Childrens Hull Needs (Level 2) Children and Young People’s Partnership


09/12/2010 Managers Awareness ‐ Safeguarding Sewerby Adults East Riding of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults

Board 01482 861103 FREE

09/12/2010 Confidentiality and Data Protection Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15







14/12/2010 Introduction to Infection Control Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

14/12/2010 Alcohol Awareness and Risk Barton Reduction Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 FREE

14/12/2010 Safeguarding Children ‐ A shared Hull responsibility ‐ Working Together

Effectively ‐ Processes, Principles & Dilemmas (Level 2)

Children and Young People’s Partnership Learning Team

01482 318949 FREE

15/12/2010 Crisis Intervention & Aggression Barton Management Three Day Programme 3 days Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £135




16/12/2010 E‐Safety Awareness (Level 1) Hull Children and Young People’s Partnership


20/12/2010 Care Planning Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £35

06/01/2011 Health and Safety and COSHH Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15

06/01/2011 Mean, Median and Mode Barton Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £10

10/01/2011 Rights, Responsibility and Barton Employment Carlton Education and Enterprise Ltd 01652 637489 £15









13/01/2011 E‐Safety Awareness (Level 1) Hull Children and Young People’s Partnership





Local cont.

Documents

Training News - Autumn 2010