connecting learners south and mid wales prospectus
DESCRIPTION
Information about the Project and how we can support organisations.TRANSCRIPT
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Connecting Learners
in the Third Sector in South
and Mid Wales
UNISON
Wales Union Learning Funded Project
In Partnership with Community Lives Consortium
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Contents
UNISON is Britain and Europe's biggest public sector union with more than 1.3 million members. Our
members are people working in the public services, for private contractors providing public services and in
the essential utilities. They include frontline staff and managers working full or part time in local authorities,
the NHS, the police service, colleges and schools, the electricity, gas and water industries, transport and
the voluntary sector. Last year UNISON recruited 137,000 new members - 375 per day.
Community Lives Consortium (known as The Consortium) is a non profit making organisation with
charitable status, registered as an Industrial and Provident Society which has charitable status, registration
number 26673R. The Consortium provides support for adults with learning disabilities working in
partnership with Social Services and Health Agencies.
Project Overview: What is Connecting
Learners?
Essential Skills in the Workplace Programme
(ESiW)
Summary of Free Sector Specific Workshops
available
Open University/ UNISON Learning
Partnership
UNISON Learning Programme
Union Learning Representatives: Creating a
culture of learning
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Project Oveview
Connecting Learners (in the Third Sector in South
and Mid Wales) is a partnership project between
Unison, Community Lives Consortium, and over
4000 community-voluntary organisations across
Wales.
It is funded by the Wales Union Learning Fund.
The aim of the project is to support and
compliment work based learning opportunities,
with an emphasis on the essential skills of
numeracy, literacy and IT.
We are also working with other unions
representing the staff in the partnership so that
the provision is as wide reaching as possible.
The Project will run until the 31st March 2016.
The Welsh Assembly Government has identified that over half of the Welsh adult population have poor literacy and numeracy skills. Meanwhile, the Third Sector has grown significantly in scale and diversity in recent years, yet funding has decreased for training. When you consider the mandatory requirements of this sector it is important that these skills gaps are supported and addressed in order to continue high standard service delivery to its users.
Free organisational, and individual Training Needs Analysis to identify areas where existing training provision may be enhanced
Assistance and support for organisations engaged with the Essential Skills Wales and/or Employer Pledge process: help with learning provider networking, workplace awareness raising
Free work based workshops to support the essential skills of literacy, numeracy and IT
Free workshops to support employability skills: communication skills, confidence building & assertiveness skills, CV Writing, Interview Skills etc (accredited and non-accredited)
An exclusive UNISON/Open University partnership offering an extensive range of online learning resources designed to support personal development
Recruitment, training and on-going support for Union Learning Representatives to encourage and sustain a culture of learning in the workplace
Confidential “one-to-one” information, advice and guidance on local learning opportunities and associated learning pathways
An opportunity to participate in national learning events such as Adult Learners Week, Quick Reads and the Six Book Challenge
What is Connecting Learners?
Why is Connecting Learners needed?
How can Connecting Learners help?
Project Staff:
Karen Fisher (Project Manager)
Nicola James (Project Administrator)
Address:
Connecting Learners Project
Community Lives Consortium, 24 Walter Road, Swansea
SA1 5NN
Tel: 01792 646640/ 07966 690038
Email:
Website: www.connectinglearners.wordpress.com
Facebook:
Connecting Learners South Wales Page
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Essential Skills in the Workplace
(ESiW)
The Welsh Government describe the term as: “The
ability to read, write and speak in English or Welsh,
and to use mathematics and IT, at a level necessary to
function and progress at work and in society in
general”.
Recent studies including The Leitch Review of Skills
and Skills that Work for Wales reveal:
780,000 children, young people and
adults have literacy and numeracy
problems
One in four adults in Wales need
support
70% of the workforce for 2020 have
already left compulsory education
Poor basic skills are estimated to cost
the Welsh business economy £588m
per year (CBI)
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To apply for promotion
To understand Health and Safety
notices and instructions
To complete paperwork and fill in
forms
To take part in meetings
To read and understand work
instructions
To use reference systems e.g.
telephone directory, filing systems
To study for workplace qualifications -
46% of Level 1 NVQs required Level 2
reading skills
As mentioned previously, the financial cost of
poor essential skills is significant. However,
other effects include:
Messages passed on incorrectly
Poor customer relations
Wastage – both time and resources
Reluctance to contribute at meetings
Unwillingness to take on responsibility
Defensive, negative attitudes, hostile
to change
Errors in calculations – Health &
Safety implications
Difficulties with written instructions
Fear of technology – introduction of
new systems
What do we mean by Essential Skills?
The Extent of the Problem
Why do we need Essential Skills?
The cost to the workplace
The Welsh Government has invested in the ESiW
Programme and there is funding available for organisations,
to complete the programme and gain the employer pledge
award.
Please go to the link below for more information and the list
of Approved Providers that can deliver this free training.
Connectinglearners.wordpress.com/essential-skills-wales/
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How can Connecting Learners help improve Essential Skills?
Using examples of good practice gathered through previous WULF Projects and involving experienced
Project Managers we can offer:
Free organisational and individual Training Needs Analysis (TNAs) designed to establish training
needs and skills gaps
Development of a free e-learning package including e-TNAs, e-ILPs and a dedicated Digital
Inclusion Project.
Assistance with signing up to the ESiW. The ESiW is a Welsh Assembly led grant scheme which is
aimed at employers wishing to support essential skills improvement
Awareness raising workshops for employers – focusing on essential skills and dyslexia awareness
Signposting learners to diagnostic assessment for dyslexia
A range of free essential skills themed workshops
Essential Skills Workshops include:
Report Writing at Work (care plans etc)
Form Filling
Managing Money
Improve Your Spelling
Letter Writing
Improve Your Reading
Dealing with Numbers
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Summary of FREE Sector Specific Workshops
In addition to essential skills provision, we are also able to offer a range of FREE workshops aimed at personal development. All workshops carry the option of accreditation which will allow the learner to achieve a qualification. All accreditation costs will be met by the project. Workshops are flexible according to the service needs of the organisation. They may be located in or close to the workplace and may take place during working hours or during the evening. These include: Essential Skills & Dyslexia Soft Skills
Awareness Raising Workshop
Full day workshop on raising awareness of Essential Skills issues and Dyslexia in the workplace.
Online Awareness Raising Module
An alternative to the full day Awareness Raising Workshop
Communication Skills
Confidence Building & Assertiveness
Time Management
Dealing with Conflict
Presentation Skills
Meeting & Chairing Skills/ Minute Taking
Mindfulness
Active Citizenship
Helped me understand
issues that people are
dealing with and how
to help overcome them.
Essential Skills& Dyslexia
Awareness
Sioned Jones
The Rowan Organisation
Sioned Jones
Definitely more
confident...I’m a black belt on
my iPhone now...
Basic IT Workshop
Mark Drew Swansea Carers
Centre
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IT Skills Get That Job!
Person Centred Care/ Supporting Customers & Service Users
Please note this list is not exhaustive. Tailor made courses are available.
Visual Impairment Awareness
Deaf Awareness
An Introduction to British Sing Language
Learning Disability Awareness
Understanding Autism
Dealing with Dementia
Equalities & Diversity
Stress Awareness
Welsh Language
Mental Health Awareness
CV Writing
Interview Skills
Job Applications
Searching for Jobs
Coping with Change
Basic Introduction
Using Email & Internet
Using Social Media
Managing Spreadsheets (EXCEL)
Creating documents using WORD
How to use WUNDOWS
Internet Safety & Security
One of the best
training courses I’ve
ever been on...
Confidence Workshop
Gillian Handscombe
Communities First
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Introducing the UNISON / Open University Partnership
New Learning on the Web
Improving Education and Learning Opportunities for All 2010 marked the start of a new era in the UNISON/OU Partnership with the launch of its’ brand new website:
Short Course Professional Development (CPD):
From our new website you will be able to get a range of useful materials which will enable you to
access short course CPD. These may be organised using a series of models:
Taster Sessions:
One hour or half-hour taster sessions conducted at the workplace perhaps over a lunch time
or at the end of shift. An extensive range of topics are available to study either as
individuals or as a “learning group”
Workshops:
These are more formal and structured sessions which are supported by Open University
tutors
Podcasts:
This is a new form of web-based learning produced to the highest broadcast standard. The
podcasts will demonstrate “expert opinion” and knowledge from specialist speakers which
will then prompt discussion within the group
Flexilearn is an innovative new learning system for UNISON members being developed in partnership with
the Open University. It offers vocationally relevant Continuing Personal Development opportunities in the
form of short workshops, bite size taster sessions and podcasts suitable for workers.
UNISON Learning Programmes
www.open.ac.uk/choose/unison
What can the Partnership provide for you?
Flexilearn
If you would like more information on the courses
available please contact:
Helen Huelin
Regional Development and Learning Organiser
Tel: 02920 729414/ 07957 505756
Email: [email protected]
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Is it for me?
Are you considering going back into education to brush up your skills?
Do you have few, if any educational qualifications?
Are you looking for a change of direction?
What’s in the course?
You will have the opportunity to follow 5 core units of
study:
Personal Development & Progression
Descriptive Writing & Note Taking
Research Through Interview
Understanding & Expressing Your Points of View
Using Number Skills in a Project
Where facilities permit, an addition module: Using Your Computer, may be offered
Is it for me?
If you are a woman who wants to get back into education but have been put off in the past
because it all seemed to difficult
If you are a woman who has been out of education
for a long time and have had few educational
opportunities in the past
What’s in the course?
Brushing up rusty study skills
Reading & Taking Notes, Planning & Writing Essays
Looking at life experiences at work, family and in the community
Investigating how women are portrayed in the media
Confidence Building
Planning for the future
Need a New Challenge?
Return to Learn
Need a New Start?
Women’s Lives
For Further Details Contact:
Helen Huelin
Tel: 02920 729414/ 07957 505756
Email: [email protected]
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Union Learning Representatives (ULRs)
The success of the Connecting Learners Project depends largely on an active network of Union
Learning Representatives (ULRs).
Some of the activities ULRs are involved with include:
Supporting members getting back into learning
Providing information, advice and guidance on the various learning opportunities in the
workplace and in the wider community
Advice and guidance on learning and career pathways
Working with UNISON Branches to support their recruiting strategies
Supporting WULF Projects like Connecting Learners
Accessing funding for learning provision
Organising workshops and events to coincide with national learning campaigns such as
Adult Learners Week and World Book Day
Under the Employment Act (1992), Union Learning Reps are entitled to paid time off to
attend training essential to their role.
In order to carry out the role confidently, full training is provided which may take place in the
following formats:
The most common format is the 5-day training course. This normally takes places on
UNISON premises and is delivered by an experienced Tutor or WULF Project Manager
Wales TUC 5-day course (similar to above)
UNISON Blended Learning option – Part of the course is studied by distance using
materials on a cd-rom. This is supported by a series of short tutorials (equivalent to 2
days). This option is particularly useful for front line staff that need to avoid disruption to
service delivery.
ULRs are enthusiasts and advocates for lifelong learning.
Unlike traditional trade union activists, they support staff around
learning issues.
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Training Needs Analysis
I am interested in: (please tick)
Essential Skills & Dyslexia
Signposting & Referral Report Writing
Awareness Raising workshop Managing your Money
Online Awareness Raising Module Improve your spelling
IT Skills
Basic Introduction How to Use WINDOWS
Using Email & Internet Using Social Media
Managing Spreadsheets Internet Safety & Security
Creating documents using WORD
Soft Skills
Communication Skills Presentation Skills
Confidence Building & Assertiveness Meeting & Chairing Skills/ Minute Taking
Time Management Mindfulness
Dealing with Conflict Active Citizenship
Get That Job!
CV Writing Job Applications
Searching for Jobs Coping with Change
Interview Skills
Person Centered Care/ Supporting Customers & Service Users
Visual Impairment Awareness Dealing with Dementia
Deaf Awareness Equalities & Diversity
An Introduction to British Sign Language Stress Awareness
Learning Disability Awareness Welsh Language
Understanding Autism Mental Health Awareness
Name:
Workplace:
Address:
Email:
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Essential Skills in the Workplace Referral Form.
Organsation: Name:
Address:
Email: Telephone Number:
ESiW Region: South West/ South East/ Mid Wales/ North Wales
Have you had contact with any of the approved ESiW Providers?
Yes
No
If Yes, Which provider/s?
_____________________________________________________________________
Have you got a preferred provider?
Yes
No
If Yes, Which Provider/s?
_____________________________________________________________________
What ESiW Qualification is your organisation interested in?
Communication IT
Numeracy All
Any other Information? Initial Assessments/ previous training etc..
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Organisation Sign:
Date:
Connecting Learners Sign:
Date: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office Use: Connecting Learners
Referral Method:
Referral Date:
Approved Provider Details:
Organisation Contact Details: