Spalding Partner Meeting Minutes 24th June 2014

24th June 2014
Spalding Strategic Partner Meeting
Red Lion Quarter
Attendees
Emma Woods – National Citizen Service
Sarah Turner – Lincs CVS
Hannah Taylor-Dales – Learning Communities
Tim Barzycki – Healthwatch Lincolnshire
Zoe Patton – Work Ready People
Michelle Henshaw – Lincolnshire Homeless
Sellina Kauser – Sills & Betteridge
Julie Mitchell – Taylor ITEX CIC
Carlos O’Reilly – Learning Communities
Donna Gerrard – Boston College
Irene Cook – 4All
Isabel Wyatt – British Red Cross
Jayne Thomas – Age UK
May Brown - JCP
Katie Kitchen – JCP
John Irving – SHDC
Kevin Mullany – Steadfast Training
Ruth O’Melia – St Barnabas Hospice
Jessy Cook – Total Voice/Voiceability
Simon Wesley - Enable
Tracey Cooper – Princes Trust
Angela Kane – Lincolnshire Trading Standards
Carol Hellen – Youth & Community
Development LCC
Lesley Cumper – Boston College
Zoe Patton – Work Ready People
Carol Firth – NCHA – Lincs Homelessness
Fiona Baxter – Smarter Choices & Accessibility
LCC
Gill Williamson – Lincolnshire CVS
Jacqui Gilman – Careers Lincolnshire
Julie Relf – South Holland Pre School Learning
Alliance
Jon Crane – Learning Works
Melissa Bocock – LAN
Nicola Poulter – Learning Communities
Apologies
Anita Harradence – New College Stamford
Caroline Battong – Sir John Gleed School
Gill Marshall A G & I
John Bennett – St Mary & St Nicolas
Julie Leone – WEA
Karen Johnson - SHDC
Marion Brown – Long Sutton Library
Nicola Wilkinson – Quadring Cowley & Browns
Primary School
Nina Lightfoot - LCC
Paula Batchelor – Princes Trust
Peter Garland – St Johns
Robert Wright – A4E
Sally Stanfield - Spurgeons
Sharman Morris – Spalding Library
Tom Armstrong - Lincolnshire Sport
Tony Worth – QV Foods
Tracy Stenner – Victim Support
Tanja Rodziewicz – Credit Union
Val Gemmell – Home Start
Hannah Taylor-Dales – Learning Communities – [email protected]
Welcome and Introductions
HTD welcomed all attendees to The Red Lion Quarter in Spalding. HTD offered a brief explanation as
to the format of the meeting and asked all partners to provide the group with an update of their
own organisations/project.
www.learning-communities.co.uk
May Brown – Job Centre Plus – May [email protected]
MB introduced Katie Kitchen who is currently on work experience at the JCP.
MB informed the group that there seems to be an influx of good quality jobs and work experience
placements at the minute, alongside this a dramatic growth in the haulage industry is expected
before the end of the year.
MB also updated the group about Sector Based Work Academies (SBWA). The JCP are currently
working alongside Exotic Produce and have already placed 8 individuals on placement there.
Another SBWA will be starting on the 4th August with World Wide Fruit. Further SBWA will become
available within the care industry.
Julie Mitchell – TaylorItex – [email protected]
TaylorITEX offers a wide variety of Adult Learning including ESOL, ICT, First Aid etc. Alongside this
they also offer Job Clubs within their various venues. JM also advised that they are able to offer the
Volunteer Card training. For more information about the wealth of courses available please visit
www.tayloritex.co.uk
Zoe Patton – Work Ready People – [email protected]
Work Ready People (previously HIT Training) offer training in Lincoln, Gainsborough, Spalding and
Grantham and pop-up training where required.
Work Ready People currently deliver an ESF-funded project for those who have been unemployed
for less than 12 months. Support is offered in the shape of an 8 week programme.
Work Ready People also deliver softer touch training for lone parents and those on ESA, who are
within the early stages of preparing themselves or thinking about returning to work.
Work Ready People work closely with Working Links and Sure Trust and are able to offer pop up
training anywhere within Lincolnshire.
www.hittraining.co.uk
Kevin Mullany – Steadfast Training – [email protected]
Steadfast Training offer a range of training courses including apprenticeships within Health & Social
Care, IT, Customer Service, Management etc. They also offer a range of short courses such as Skills
for Life. Steadfast Training will adapt course content to best suit the learner group.
KM stated that they are always looking for new Assessors and can offer training anywhere within the
East Midlands.
www.steadfasttraining.co.uk
Angela Kane – Lincolnshire Trading Standards – [email protected]
A major focus of the Lincolnshire Trading Standards is Financial Inclusion. Trading Standards work
very closely with Credit Union and the Financial Inclusion Partnership. Lincolnshire Trading
Standards are currently trying to collate information with regards to legal and illegal money lending
services. Those with Credit Licences may be legitimate however they still require these details to
give an idea of who is doing what within Lincolnshire.
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/community-and-living/trading-standards
Emma Woods – National Citizen Service - [email protected]
The Education Business Partnership delivers the National Citizen Service (NCS). The NCS engages
young people leaving year 11 or equivalent, they must however be under 18 years of age at the time
of completing the residential element of the project (up to the age of 24 if LLDD). The only other
criteria attached to attending the NCS is that the young person must be a resident of the UK.
There is a £35.00 fee for attendance, this is just to prevent any drop outs from the programme;
however if the charge poses a problem there is some funding available. The Summer programme
lasts four weeks; the first week consists of a week’s residential. The second week is another
residential, however this time it is aligned with a business challenge. The third week is the planning
stage of a social action project and the fourth week is undertaking the social action project. Paid
mentors are required to deliver this project and there are currently vacancies available, all training
will be offered.
Looking for venues and projects in Spalding.
www.lrebp.org.uk
Tracey Cooper – Prince’s Trust - [email protected]
TC co-ordinates the 12 week Prince’s Trust Scheme within the Boston and Skegness areas. The
programme supports young people aged 16 – 25 to develop an array of skills including team work.
Support is also offered with employability skills as two of the twelve week programme are work
experience based. The next Boston programme is due to start on the 22nd September 2014. TC is
currently looking for community projects and work placements which the team can undertake
during the programme.
www.princes-trust.org.uk
Julie Relf – Pre-School Learning Alliance - [email protected]
JR is the Learning and Volunteer Co-ordinator for South Holland Pre-School Learning Alliance,
working with parents who have children up to the age of 19 years (focusing particularly on children
up to the age of 5 years old).
JR’s role includes training Children’s Centre volunteers, supporting various parent-led groups and
organising events during the school holidays. JR reminded the group that there is a wealth of
activity and events happening within the South Holland Children’s Centres over the summer
holidays.
www.pre-school.org.uk
Donna Gerrard – Boston College - [email protected]
DG is the Employability Support Team Manager, covering Boston, Spalding and Sleaford.
Boston College deliver a course called Steps to Employment; this is a 6 week course for those 19
years and above. The course currently takes place over two days a week.
DG also stated that Boston College deliver a range of ‘Postive Steps to…’ courses, and includes Steps
to Hospitality (Level 1 & Level 2), Positive Steps to Social Care including a Dementia Care unit and
Positive Steps to IT (Level 1 & Level 2).
Boston College is also able to offer the National Careers Service within the above areas.
www.boston.ac.uk
Jacqui Gilman – Careers Lincolnshire - [email protected]
Careers Lincolnshire (formally known as CfBT Careers Guidance Service) offer support for young
people aged 14 – 18 years of age who are not currently in education, employment or training. 1-1
employability support and guidance is available both face to face and over the phone. The customer
service number is 01522 782116.
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/teeninfolincs
Fiona Baxter – LCC Smarter Choices and Accessibility [email protected]
The Wheels to Work scheme provides an affordable 50cc or 125cc moped loan for those unable to
get to work, education or training opportunities due to lack of a transport solution. There is no age
limit and insurance and CBT Training is included in the small fee which is charged. There is currently
a lack of interest in this scheme within the South Holland area.
Access Lincs is a countywide initiative from Lincolnshire County Council offering free help, advice and
assistance to support employers who wish to access sustainable travel solutions for the benefit of
their organisation and their staff.
www.lincsbus.info is a new website which has been launched to promote all up-to-date bus
timetables.
Jayne Thomas – Age UK - [email protected]
JT spoke about First Contact, a service designed to enable people aged 60 and over, who live in
Lincolnshire, to access information and services. First Contact is delivered through partnershipworking between a wide variety of agencies.
First Contact also offer a well-being service which supports young people aged 18 years and above.
www.firstcontact.org.uk
Ruth O’Melia - St Barnabas Hospice - [email protected]
RO is the Community Liaison Manager for St Barnabas Hospice. The service can offer a range of
support for those living with a life-limiting illness, this support can be accessed from the time of
diagnosis.
There are several services available –
 Day and Social Therapy
 Social Therapy only
 Hospice at home service – usually accessed 16 weeks before end of life (ranging from once a
week to 3 times a day)
 Bereavement Sessions
 Friendship/Companion Groups
 Benefits advice
 Signposting
For more information please contact RO for more information.
Carol Firth – NCHA Lincolnshire Homelessness – [email protected]
Michelle Henshaw – NCHA Lincolnshire Homelessness – [email protected]
CF stated that the current support services contract comes to an ends in March 2015. There has also
been a reduction in the length of time that support can be offered; this typically ranges from 4 – 14
months. CF expects that the service will change in the future to include the support of those
individuals with high support needs. Spaces are currently available; please contact CF if you know of
anyone who may require housing support.
www.ncha.org.uk
Selina Kauser – Sills & Betteridge - [email protected]
Sills & Betteridge have received funding through the DWP to deliver a new kind of support service
for parents who are separating. The Moving Forward project offers regular support sessions,
mediation, 1 to 1 advice and online support. This support is all free of charge (with the exception of
the mediation if both parents earn above £35,000). This support is available across the county. For
more information please contact Ellie on 01522 304567 or [email protected]
www.sillslegal.co.uk
Carol Hellen – Lincolnshire County Council - [email protected]
CH is the Senior Youth & Community Development Manager for Lincolnshire County Council. CH
informed the group about the wealth of learning activities taking place for parents within Children’s
Centres, further information about specific activities can be found in your local Children’s Centre.
CH also advised that if any partners have a group of volunteers interested in Youth Work, the LCC
can offer training which does include safeguarding. CH can also offer a mentoring service for Youth
Work Volunteers.
Jessy Cook – Total Voice Lincolnshire – [email protected]
Total Voice Lincolnshire deliver a project called Voiceability. This is a mental health advocacy service
which supports people to have their voice heard.
JC can support individuals aged 18 years and above living within Lincolnshire. Support can be
offered to overcome a wide range of issues. The service is free, independent and confidential, if
Voiceability is unable to help, where possible, staff will signpost to a service that can.
www.totalvoicelincolnshire.org
Simon Wesley – Enable - [email protected]
Enable is a Nottinghamshire based consortium supporting the third sector. SW informed the group
about available funding for Lincolnshire community organisations to support those who are long
term unemployed. To be eligible the organisation must employ less than 9 full time staff members.
Up to £10,000 is available including funding for some capital equipment.
www.enable.uk.net
Nicola Poulter – Learning Communities – [email protected]
NP works on the Working Families Project, this is an ESF-funded project which can offer support to
individuals and families with a wide variety of issues, for example it can offer support with finding
work, up-skilling, improving health, housing issues, budgeting etc. Anyone can refer into the project.
The main criteria are the customer must be claiming a working-age benefit and must not be
receiving support through the Job Centre’s Work Programme.
www.learning-communities.co.uk
Irene Cook – 4All LCC – [email protected]
4all supports families aged 0-19 years of age with additional needs or disabilities. 4All is closely
linked to the Family Information Service. IC can offer support on all aspects of family life.
Gill Williamson (Senior Officer) – Lincs CVS - [email protected]
Lincolnshire CVS offer accredited and non-accredited learning on a wide range of topic areas, for
example Confidence Building and Managing Community Groups. Alongside this the Lincolnshire CVS
also deliver the Volunteer Card for those who are potentially going to volunteer or those who
already do so.
www.lincolnshirecvs.org.uk
Sarah Turner (Volunteering Officer) – Lincs CVS - [email protected]
ST explained that Lincs CVS is currently supporting volunteers in a wide range of voluntary
placements, the age range of these volunteers is anywhere between 16 – 89 years of age.
Lincs CVS also encourage Employee Supportive volunteering; this is where the employer allows the
employee time to volunteer.
Micro Volunteering is also promoted which is where individuals are encouraged to volunteer up to
10 minutes a day.
For more information regarding any of these schemes please contact ST directly.
www.lincolnshirecvs.org.uk
John Irving – SHDC Housing Options Team - [email protected]
JI notified the team that the housing system has now changed due to the Localism Act. The changes
to the Allocations Policy means customers must prove they have a housing need and must undergo
an interview with a member of the Housing Team.
JI would like to learn more about the services and support which is available to his customers locally;
he hopes this will ensure a more holistic approach and provide customers with the specialist support
they may require.
www.sholland.gov.uk
Isabel Wyatt – British Red Cross – [email protected]
IW is the Service Co-ordinator responsible for delivering Community Based First Aid, the aim is to
make communities more resilient and confident through First Aid training. This training is fairly
informal and provides essential First Aid skills. The Red Cross can tailor training to specific groups
and work to individual budgets. It can, in certain circumstances, be free of charge depending on the
vulnerability of the group. IW spoke of the need to recruit volunteers, they do not need to be first
aid trained as this will be provided, however they will need to have the confidence to speak in front
of groups. Any volunteers must be over 18 and must complete the induction training. This could lead
to long term volunteering. IW told us about the First Aid App which can be found at
http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/First-aid/Baby-and-Child-First-Aid-app
Please contact IW directly for more information.
www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk
Jon Crane – Learning Works - [email protected]
Learning Works deliver a range of learning opportunities (usually free) including Maths, English and
IT courses. Learning Works has Centres in Louth, Kings Lynn, Stamford, Spalding and Wisbech.
JC informed the group that Learning Works can also deliver up to a level 2 NVQ in Customer Services,
courses on Sage Accounting and Foreign Languages.
www.learningworks4.me.uk
Melissa Bocock – Lincolnshire Advice Network - [email protected]
Lincolnshire Advice Network (LAN) is a 2 year Big Lottery funded project firmly focused on enabling
people in Lincolnshire to be able to access quality advice and information when they most need it.
The project includes a Call Centre which can signpost customers to other service providers for
further support.
www.lincolnshireadvicenetwork.org.uk
Tim Barzycki – Healthwatch Lincolnshire - [email protected]
Health Watch Lincolnshire are keen to hear about experiences relating to Health and/or Social Care
provisions. This is a county wide project.
Health Watch Lincolnshire primarily has three aims –
•
Signposting where required
•
Listen to the experiences of Health and/or Social Care customers
•
Watchdog role – Health Watch Lincolnshire has a statutory right to enter premises where
Health and/or Social Care activities take place to investigate claims further (this is not done
unannounced)
Health Watch Lincolnshire are based in Swineshead however they are a county-wide project and are
always looking for new volunteers. Healthwatch is a relatively new organisation and has been
running for less than 12 months, the annual report can be found on their website. TB is happy to
attend events and offer talks and surveys.
www.healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk
AOB
Hannah Taylor-Dales - Learning Communities
Lincolnshire Community Assistance Scheme (LCAS) can support individuals in unexpected need, the
Scheme can provide food, clothing, gas, electric and essential white goods and furniture. For more
information please visit http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/community-andliving/housing/lcas/
ESF Working Families Programme can offer support to individuals and families with a wide variety of
issues; for example it can offer support with finding work, upskilling, improving health, improving
housing, budgeting etc. Anyone can refer into the project. The main criteria are the customer must
be claiming a working age benefit and must not be receiving support through the Job Centre’s Work
Programme.
The Learning Communities’ website (www.learning-communities.co.uk) continues to grow; the
number of hits achieved each month is astonishing. If any partner wishes for their projects, events
and courses to be promoted via the website then please email the details.
Funding is currently available through Sportivate. The deadline is the 1st August. Funding is
available to fund sport related projects within Lincolnshire. For more information please visit
www.lincolnshiresport.com/sportivate
John Irving – SHDC Housing Options Team
Housing Support drop-ins are available Monday – Friday within the SHDC building. JI stated that
customers will either be supported through this service or signposted to other relevant agencies.
Melissa Bocock – Lincolnshire Advice Network
MB noted that the LAN service also offers a range of free training.
Katie Kitchen – JCP
KK commented on how useful the meeting had been and how it was an eye opener about the
number of support services available locally which she was unaware of.