Latest News

PCF Bulletin – 21 February 2012

22/02/2012

Dear Colleagues,

Please find below the latest monthly update to the Partnership Community Forum (PCF) which we hope you will find of interest.

We had our meeting on the 26^th January which was very well attended with two key speakers providing valuable insights into the work they are doing and how partners can benefit from their services. Please click on the links below for the minutes and associated documents and presentations from the meeting.

Due to the demands for information sharing we have taken the decision to send out our bulletin on a fortnightly basis. If you wish to have information included within the bulletin please contact Nick Bray our office administrator email: nbray@learning-partnership.co.uk

Minutes of the PCF Meeting on 26 January 2012

For Employer Factsheet regarding the DWP Flexible Support Fund

Information on work clubs

For information regarding Work Experience

For information on working with partners on the Flexible Support Fund

For the presentation delivered by Skills for Care

For the Presentation by TCHC on Community Grants

For details of the current Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Council ESF Projects

For details of the Acorn programme

Learning Partnership – Partnership Scheme

Work continues on getting more organisations signed up to our Partnership Scheme and we have now produced a development plan which identifies the areas where organistions have identified a support need.

If you have not been contacted by us already and wish to sign up please visit our website or contact Chris Cooper for more details.

The application is in two parts – Associate membership and Full Partner membership. There is no cost involved just some of your time to complete the process which we are happy to support you with.

For more information contact Chris Cooper ccooper@learning-partnership.co.uk or visit our website for more details…

Community Grants

Next round of applications will be released in April 2012 with project deadline for submission in June 2012. for more details

DWP ESF Families Programme

This is a voluntary programme aimed at moving families closer to and into sustained employment. The programme is designed to complement existing services that take place within a Local Authority, whilst reducing the wider impacts on intergenerational worklessness.

Reed in Partnership is the prime contractor for the DWP ESF Families Programme in the East of England. The Learning Partnership is the approved end to end provider working in conjunction with Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils delivering the Families Programme in Bedford and across Central Bedfordshire. The Families Programme is delivered through a strong partnership of community, voluntary and private sector organisations to engage with individuals and families to support them in getting back to work. Referrals can be made by Teams within Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils, Schools, Colleges, Family Learning Providers, Housing Associations, Voluntary and Community organisations.

If your organisation can identify families with a need or require more information, please contact

Employment Co-ordinator on 01234 857661 or e-mail: families@learning-partnership.co.uk

To view the full promotional leaflet

Transforming Local Infrastructure (TLI)

A partnership of twelve local organisations working across Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton has been awarded a Transforming Local Infrastructure (TLI) award of £799,798. This is the third largest award to a partnership in England.

The Government has awarded this grant through Transforming Local Infrastructure, which is being delivered by Big Fund, the non-Lottery funding arm of the Big Lottery Fund. Transforming Local Infrastructure is providing better support for frontline civil society organisations by transforming local infrastructure services.

Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said:

“This fund is not designed to support ‘business as usual’ – it’s about making things better for the frontline. It’s about supporting organisations with innovative business plans who want to play their part in modernising the landscape of local infrastructure.

“One of our main priorities is making it easier to run a charity. We will ensure that we back the highest quality infrastructure support so that charities get guidance which is local, relevant and enables them to improve their service delivery.”

For further information, please contact: Martin Trinder, Community and Voluntary Service, Tel: 01234 354366 or Email: martin@yourcvs.org

Adult Learners’ Week

We will be launching the Adult Learners Week 2012 Local Award nominations next week so keep an eye on your inbox for details of the nomination process.

Dates for your diary:

Thursday 10^th May 2012 – Newspaper supplement published

Tuesday 15^th May 2012 – Bedford Event, Harpur Street

Wednesday 16^th May 2012 – Luton Event, Smith Square, Arndale Centre

Thursday 17^th May 2012 – Regional Awards Ceremony

Friday 18^th May 2012 – Local Awards Ceremony

If you would like more details about any of the ALW activities please contact Carole Pullinger, cpullinger@learning-partnership.co.uk or 01234 857637

YMCA Bedfordshire SleepEasy March 2012 – Can your organisation make a difference?

We would like to invite a member of staff (or two!) to get together with a group of up to 5 students (aged 16+) to form a ‘SleepEasy Group’ to come and join us on March 3rd from 7pm until 7am Sunday 4th March for our 12 hour sleep out challenge. Will you sleep rough for a night so others don’t have to?

For more details

Relate – 1st Impressions Workshop

Relate Bedfordshire and Luton have pleasure in forwarding to you information regarding our next 1^st Impressions workshop, which may be of interest to you.

The course is a one day workshop, to be held on 14^th March in Bedford town centre. The course is designed for ‘front of house’ or appointment staff who greet your clients. The course covers Professional Conduct, Confidentiality, Communication Skills and managing difficult clients along with many other useful skills.

To view the poster

Federation of Holistic Therapists – Calendar of Events 2012

The Federation of Holistic Therapists has released its calendar of events for 2012.

To view the calendar

Bedfordshire and Luton Mind – How to become your own best therapist

Bedfordshire and Luton Mind is running a series of 5 week workshops designed to improve peoples’ way of life and to help control feelings of anxiety.

For course details

Develop EBP – Job Vacancy

Develop EBP are looking to recruit an Assessor/Internal Verifier for the Children and Young People Workforce.

To view the advertisement and for contact details

Information, Advice and Guidance Services – FREE for your clients

The Learning Partnership – Bedfordshire and Luton working together with its consortia of partners are able to offer free Information, Advice, and Guidance sessions in Bedfordshire and Luton. This service offers careers and skills advice and can be delivered to fit individual needs. In addition, the service can provide:

CV support
Improving interview skills
Information on the job market
Signposting and referral to other organisations

If you think this service would benefit your client groups please contact us directly to arrange a visit to discuss how we can work together to support your clients. Please contact:

Christopher Cooper -Tel: 07825 686702 or Email: ccooper@learning-partnership.co.uk

Learning Partnership Meeting Room Hire – latest offer

LOOKING FOR A ROOM TO HOLD MEETINGS OR SEMINARS?

WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU

We have 2 rooms available for hire at competitive prices at Calibration House, 1 Sunbeam Road, Woburn Road Industrial Estate, Kempston, Beds, MK42 7BZ.

Our larger room, Room 1, will comfortably seat 20 delegates in Boardroom Style, 30 in Theatre Style or 18 in Cabaret Style.

The Room has a laptop (providing Internet Access and Office 2007), projector, SmartBoard and Flip Chart facilities. Refreshments are available.

Our smaller room, Room 2, will comfortably seat up to 12 delegates in Boardroom Style.

For further information and pricing plans, please contact us on 01234 851154 or email nbray@learning-partnership.co.uk or visit our website: http://www.learningincommunities.co.uk/events/training-room-facilities

Categories: Latest News

Latest Funding Update – 7 December 2011

12/12/2011

Welcome to the Funding eXchange!

Grantfinder searches over 4,000 funding sources and is the UK’s largest and most comprehensively supported database of its type. We are pleased to work in partnership to bring you access to the very latest funding opportunities that affect the learning and skills sector.

Grantfinder is the UK’s largest and most comprehensively supported database of its type. For more information or to arrange a demonstration please call 01909 501200.

Whilst the majority of the funding opportunities are from the Grantfinder database we are now also providing details of other funding opportunities.

1. Erasmus for All – The EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport 2014-2020 The European Commission has set out proposals for a new funding programme for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020 which will be called Erasmus for All.Erasmus for All will bring together all the current EU and international schemes for education, training, youth and sport, replacing the seven existing programmes:

Lifelong Learning Programme (Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius and Grundtvig)
Youth in Action
Erasmus Mundus
Tempus
Alfa
Edulink
Programme for Cooperation with Industrialised Countries

The main actions of the existing programmes will continue – learning, mobility, cooperation projects and support for policy reform – but activities will be strengthened where the systemic impact is strongest and where there is clear EU added value.

There are also some new innovative proposals such as an Erasmus Master’s degree student loan guarantee scheme and knowledge alliances and sector skills alliances.

The overall intention is to increase efficiency, reduce duplication and fragmentation, and make it easier to apply for grants.

Opportunities for mobility and cooperation will be strengthened under the new programme. In particular, there will be more funding available for study, training, teaching and volunteering opportunities abroad for higher education and vocational students, trainees, teachers, trainers and youth workers. There will also be more opportunities for education and training institutions or youth organisations to engage in partnerships to exchange good practice and with businesses to promote innovation and employability, as well as greater support for IT platforms, such as e-twinning, to connect schools and other learning providers via the internet.

The programme will support three main types of actions:

Learning opportunities for individuals, both within the EU and beyond.
Institutional cooperation between educational institutions, youth organisations, businesses, local and regional authorities and NGOs.
Support for policy reform in Member States and cooperation with non-EU countries, with a focus on strengthening the evidence-base for policy making and exchange of good practices.

The Programme will have an overall budget of €19 billion, which includes €1.8 billion for international cooperation.

Further information is available on the European Commission Education and Training website.

2. Civil Society – Charity Awards The Charity Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the leadership and management of charities across the UK.UK charities of any size are eligible to apply under a number of broad categories of activity, as follows:

Advice, Support and Advocacy.
Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Children and Youth.
Disability.
Education and Training.
Environment and Conservation.
Grantmaking and Funding.
Healthcare and Medical Research.
International Aid and Development.
Social Care and Welfare.

Entry may be for a project that demonstrates outstanding innovation and best practice, or a managed improvement in the organisation which may help other charities overcome similar problems.

The deadline for applications is 9 March 2012.

3. ACTION! 2012 (UK) UGAD60

ACTION! is an internship and bursary support programme provided by Working Title Films – the UK’s leading film production company, based in London. The programme includes a full-time intern placement and bursary award to give individuals vital experience and exposure through working in an international production company.The programme aims to improve opportunities for a successful career in the creative sector of feature film development and production by:

- giving first hand knowledge and experience of working within an international production company;

- exposure and experience of the development and production process, from idea to screen; and

- developing industry contacts.

The bursary award is £14,000. Reasonable, pre-approved travel expenses to and from London for the selection process will also be reimbursed.

* Applicants should be eligible to work within the UK and have some experience in the film development and production sector and a proven commitment to a career in the industry.

* The internship will take place on a full-time basis for one year.

* Interviews will be held in London during in the spring.

Applications for ACTION! 2012 will be available on 15 December 2011 after 5pm. The deadline for receipt of applications will be 17 February 2012 at 5pm

4. BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY – AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE (UK) UGB690 The Business in the Community 2012 Awards for Excellence are open to all private sector organisations that have a business presence in the UK. They recognise businesses that have shown innovation, creativity and sustained commitment to corporate responsibility.

The 2012 Award Categories are listed below:

* Responsible Business of the Year

* Santander Responsible Small Company Award

* Environmental Sustainability

* Marketplace Behaviour

* Workplace & Employees

* Education and Young People

* Enterprise and Culture

* Re-accreditation

* Leadership Awards

Winners receive a ‘Big Tick’ award – a public acknowledgement of a company’s programme of work that indicates that the entrant demonstrated significant evidence of positive impact on the business and the wider society.

The deadline for the majority of categories is 5 March 2012. Other categories such as Environmental Leadership and Responsible Business of the Year will have later deadlines.

5. REGIONAL GROWTH FUND (RGF) (England) UG4110The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered his 2011 Autumn Statement to Parliament on 29 November 2011, amid fears of a double-dip recession in the UK.

A wide-ranging package of more than 140 reforms was announced to build a stronger and more balanced economy, including increasing the Regional Growth Fund by £1 billion to provide ongoing support to grow the private sector in areas currently dependent on the public sector.

The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a discretionary £1.4 billion Fund that will operate for three years between 2011 and 2014 to achieve its two main objectives of:

- stimulating enterprise by providing support for projects and programmes with significant potential for creating long-term private sector-led economic growth and employment; and

- helping those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity.

The Fund encourages private sector enterprise, including social enterprise, to create opportunities for people and places to adjust to reductions in public spending, and enable private sector investors, business, the public sector and communities to come together with an overall strategy for their area.

The next deadline for receipt of applications will be reported on GRANTfinder when available

6. UK BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS (UK) UG0950

. The aims of the UK Business Excellence Awards are to:

- assist organisations to improve;

- identify role models to demonstrate what can be achieved; and

- recognise those who have shown exceptional ability and performance in the management of their organisation

There are five entry categories for the 2012 UK Excellence Awards, as follows:

* Private sector with more than 250 employees.

* Private sector with less than 250 employees.

* Public sector with more than 250 employees.

* Public sector with less than 250 employees.

* Operational Unit (of a parent organisation, provided it is run as an independent cost centre – eg factories, assembly plants, sales and marketing functions, research and distribution units)

The Awards are open to all UK organisations of any size and from any sector. The benefits of winning an award, amongst others, are the chance to find out how good an organisation is, and it is a unique way to motivate employees at all levels.

The deadline for registering intent to apply is 20 January 2012. The final submission deadline is 20 April 2012.

7. COMMUNITIES LIVING SUSTAINABLY (England) UG3975The Communities Living Sustainably Fund is designed to support partnerships of public, private and voluntary sector bodies which are helping communities address the economic, social and environmental effects of climate change.

It is expected that up to 10 communities will be supported with a mixture of expert support and advice, up to £10,000 development funding to support the applications and grant funding of up to £1 million.

Partnerships must be able to meet the overall aim of the scheme, which is to learn how best to empower communities to live in a sustainable way and cope with the impact of climate change and achieve all of the following outcomes:

* Communities are better prepared for environmental challenges and longer term environmental change and understand the improvements they can make to live more sustainably.

* Vulnerable people affected by the impacts of climate change are able to make greener choices to help improve their quality of life.

* Communities maximise the use of their assets and resources to create new economic opportunities and live more sustainably by, for example, using the skills and knowledge of individuals within their community to create green social enterprises and jobs.

* Communities have a greater understanding of and more opportunities to use natural resources more efficiently.

The total fund value is £10 million. Grants of £500,000 and £1 million are available for up to five years. Additionally, grants of up to £10,000 are available to develop a project delivery plan.

The deadline for submissions of Expressions of Interest is noon on 31 January 2012.

8. ADVICE SERVICES FUND (England) UG3185The Cabinet Office has launched a £16.8 million grant scheme aimed at supporting voluntary organisations offering free advice services in England.

The Advice Services Fund will be administered by the Big Lottery Fund and offers grants of £40,000 to £70,000.

Eligible applicants must offer free advice services in the following areas:

* Advice on debt.

* Advice on welfare benefits.

* Advice on housing.

* Advice on employment.

Priority will be given to organisations experiencing the largest budget reductions, and those who have not received funding from the Transition Fund.

The deadline for registration is 22 December 2011.

9. ICI EDUCATION COOPERATION PROGRAMME (EU Member State) ZE1510

The 2011 Call for Proposals under the ICI Education Cooperation Programme has now been launched.This programme funds EU cooperation with industrialised countries in the field of higher education and vocational education and training. The countries eligible under this Call are Australia and the Republic of Korea.

The following two types of actions will be funded:

* Joint Mobility Projects (JMP) – Support to carry out joint study and training programmes and to implement student and faculty mobility. This includes lump sum funding for administration, and grants for students and members of the academic and administrative staff. A consortium applying for a Joint Mobility Project must include at least three higher education and/or training institutions from three different EU Member States and at least two such institutions from the Partner Country. The maximum duration for projects is 36 months.

* Joint Degree Projects (JDP) – Support to develop and implement dual/double or joint degree programmes. This includes lump sum funding for development work and administration, and grants for students and members of the academic and administrative staff. A consortium applying for a Joint Degree Project must include at least two higher education and/or training institutions from two different EU Member States and at least two institutions from the Partner Country. The maximum duration of projects is 48 months.

The total budget for the Call is €2.3 million. The maximum amount of EU funding will be €350,000 for a four-year JDP project with two or more EU institutions, and €262,500 for a three-year JMP project with three or more EU institutions.

The deadline for applications is 30 March 2012.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES 10. TCHC Community Grants – Round 2

Community Grants Co-Financed through the European Social Fund and Skills Funding Agency is now available to small third sector organisations. Grants are available for up to £12,000 for projects supporting people from the hardest to reach communities and individuals experiencing disadvantages accessing mainstream European Social Funding, domestic employment and skills provision. This is the second phase of Community Grants, and applications are now open.

For further information…

Please read the Information Sheet before applying for the grant.

The deadline for submission is Friday 16 December 2011, 17:00.

11. Funding for Peer Review and Development groups

LSIS is pleased to announce the opportunity for Peer Review and Development (PRD) groups to access funding for peer reviews and/or collaborative development activity relating to the development and delivery of the curriculum to meet local community and employer needs. In particular we are interested in funding work which explores the use of unit based delivery to engage with new groups of learners.Funding, up to a maximum of £5000, is available to a limited number of PRD groups. The funding can be used flexibly, either for additional reviews or for other collaborative activity, to develop or revise strategies for the development of the curriculum to meet local community and employer needs.

Please read the accompanying invitation and guidance, and complete and return the application form to resource.utilisation@lsis.org.uk by midnight on 14 December 2011 in order to express your interest in participating.

For more information…

12. Sharing effective practice to move thinking forward relating to “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”This is an opportunity to get involved in work around the SEN Green Paper “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability” (March 2011).

LSIS wants to develop and support a regional cluster in each of the 9 regions in order to meet the commitment in the Green Paper to encourage “partnership working between independent specialist colleges, special schools and colleges. This will help spread knowledge, improve expertise, build capacity, and share delivery arrangements so that colleges and training providers can respond effectively to the needs of learners, employers and communities to whom they are increasingly accountable.” (para 3.18)

The attached expression of interest form sets out the background and thinking to the project. Please read it carefully and if you are interested please fill in the form and return to viv.berkeley@lsis.org.uk by close of business Friday 16th December 2011. Any expressions of interest returned after this date will not be considered. Providers will receive a grant of £2750 to support them with their project work.

Please ensure you have capacity to participate prior to completing and submitting the form.

For more information…

13. Funding to develop sales and marketing training courses

LSIS is pleased to invite bids from learning and skills provider organisations for grants to support the development of sales and marketing courses or workshops, and to share these approaches with other providers. We are offering the following opportunities:

Design and development of a sales training programme; Consultative selling skills for services and intangibles.
Design and development of a modern marketing training programme for services and intangibles.

Both will require courses or workshops to be developed and delivered as pilot projects with the target audience being those within the FE and skills sector who are; selling or marketing to employer organisations and to prospective learners. Bidders will be able to demonstrate a successful track record of achievement in teaching either subject.

Funded projects should be completed within the 2011-12 financial year – i.e. by 5 April 2012, and this should be reflected in the proposals. However, LSIS may fund bids across the regions and may ask successful bidders to work together to develop the further programme that will be rolled out after April 2012. Each bid for either sales or marketing will be eligible for payment up to £10,000 inclusive of VAT. Bidders may bid to design and pilot one or both sets of workshops/courses.

Bids should be submitted on the accompanying application form and sent by e-mail (ideally in Word format), to resource.utilisation@lsis.org.uk by 12:00 midday on Wednesday 21 December 2011. Bidders will be notified of the outcome no later than Monday 9 January 2012.

For further information….

Categories: Uncategorized

Latest Funding Update – 1 December 2011

05/12/2011

This is the latest issue of the Learning Partnership funding update part of the funding eXchange service we will be rolling out to partners. Below we have listed all of the new funding initiatives connected to learning and skills. If you would like more information about any of these schemes please contact Nick Bray quoting the relevant reference number. This service is offered to partners who are involved in the design or delivery of learning opportunities within Bedfordshire and Luton.Grantfinder searches over 4,000 funding sources and is the UK’s largest and most comprehensively supported database of its type. We are pleased to work in partnership to bring you access to the very latest funding opportunities that affect the learning and skills sector.Grantfinder is the UK’s largest and most comprehensively supported database of its type. For more information or to arrange a demonstration please call 01909 501200.Whilst the majority of the funding opportunities are from the Grantfinder database we are now also providing details of other funding opportunities.

1. Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) – Phase 2 Open to Applications UN3770 The second phase of the Government’s Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) has been launched. The fund supports businesses in the UK to develop their skills solutions tailored to their own needs, transforming growth in their sector, region or supply chain.The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) is providing £34 million during 2012-13, added to an existing budget of £29 million. With matched funding from businesses there will be approximately £60 million available under GIF this year.There are no minimum or maximum funding levels cited for individual projects. However, the selection criteria include looking at the scale and impact of proposals and how well proposed solutions meet priority needs identified by bidders in their sectoral analysis of what can unlock growth potential. For that reason, applications with a very small value will not generally be accepted. BIS expects most successful proposals to be on a relatively large scale requiring investment greater than £500,000 per annum over a period of approximately two years.GIF is able to invest in a wide variety of ideas and is actively seeking proposals that:

deliver demonstrably employer-led, innovative and future-proofed skills solutions;
support the drive to greater ownership of skills by employers;
use GIF investment alongside employer investment; and
build sustainable skills capacity and infrastructure.

Applications are invited from Sector Skills Councils, Industry Training Boards, formally constituted Sector Bodies, National Skills Academies, Employer Associations, Trade Associations and Professional Bodies in the United Kingdom. Collaborative applications are welcomed from multiple sector organisations. In order to ensure the fund supports businesses in the different ways they work together to secure growth, the programme has also extended its eligibility to apply to local enterprise partnerships.

The first deadline for receipt of applications under the Fund’s current phase is 31 January 2012

2. Libraries Development Initiative Launched UG1735
Arts Council England has launched the new Libraries Development Initiative. The new initiative offers grants of up to £20,000 to public library services in England to help create vibrant, sustainable 21st century library services.Successful projects will explore how an integrated local cultural offer can improve efficiency, experiences and outcomes for the public and strengthen the library service and arts and culture in the local area.The initiative is divided into the following four parts:

Part 1: new delivery models for arts and culture working together.
Part 2: co-ordinating partnerships to achieve wider community outcomes.
Part 3: books and reading.
Part 4: commercial partnerships.

It is anticipated that there will be a range of projects from each part. Each applicant can apply for only one part and must be able to respond to the assessment criteria for that part. However, innovative and original ideas that extend beyond the remit of each individual part will be welcomed.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by the deadline 2 December 2011.

Successful organisations will then be asked to fill in an online application with the deadline of 20 January 2012.

Successful applicants will be announced on 13 February 2012.

3. Cabinet Office Launches Advice Services Fund (England)

The Cabinet Office has launched a £16.8 million grant scheme aimed at supporting voluntary organisations offering free advice services in England.The Advice Services Fund will be administered by the Big Lottery Fund and offers grants of £40,000 to £70,000.Eligible applicants must offer free advice services in the following areas:

Advice on debt.
Advice on welfare benefits.
Advice on housing.
Advice on employment.

Priority will be given to organisations experiencing the largest budget reductions, and those who have not received funding from the Transition Fund.

The deadline for registration is 22 December 2011.

4. Big Lottery Launches £10 Million Sustainable Living Fund (England)The Communities Living Sustainably Fund is designed to support partnerships of public, private and voluntary sector bodies which are helping communities address the economic, social and environmental effects of climate change.It is expected that up to 10 communities will be supported with a mixture of expert support and advice, up to £10,000 development funding to support the applications and grant funding of up to £1 million.Partnerships must be able to meet the overall aim of the scheme, which is to learn how best to empower communities to live in a sustainable way and cope with the impact of climate change and achieve all of the following outcomes:

Communities are better prepared for environmental challenges and longer term environmental change and understand the improvements they can make to live more sustainably.
Vulnerable people affected by the impacts of climate change are able to make greener choices to help improve their quality of life.
Communities maximise the use of their assets and resources to create new economic opportunities and live more sustainably by, for example, using the skills and knowledge of individuals within their community to create green social enterprises and jobs.
Communities have a greater understanding of and more opportunities to use natural resources more efficiently.

The total fund value is £10 million. Grants of £500,000 and £1 million are available for up to five years. Additionally, grants of up to £10,000 are available to develop a project delivery plan.

The deadline for submissions of Expressions of Interest is noon on 31 January 2012.

5. HUMAN RESOURCES EXCELLENCE AWARDS (UK) UGD530Applications are now being invited for the 2012 Human Resources Excellence Awards, which recognise and reward businesses that demonstrate excellence in HR strategies, initiatives and achievements.All organisations operating within the United Kingdom with a human resources department are eligible to apply.Previous award winners include McDonald’s, Capgemini, River Island and ATS Euromaster. Award categories include Best Learning and Development Strategy, Best Talent Management Strategy and Most Effective Recruitment and Retention. The awards presentation will take place on Monday 25 June 2012. An entry fee of £350 plus VAT for the first entry and £195 plus VAT for an additional entry is payable on submission of the completed entry form. Cost of entry for voluntary or charitable sector bodies, or individuals working for them is £195 plus VAT. The deadline for the receipt of applications is 16 March 2012.

6. THE STAKE (UK) UG4360 Funded by Channel 4 Education in partnership with Barclays Bank, the Stake is a new competition providing young people in the UK the opportunity to exploit their business and enterprising skills in order to win funding that can be used towards community or business ideas that will make a difference.The Stake aims to show young people that business and social enterprise can be creative, fun, challenging and that good ideas and passion can be rewarded. The initiative enables the wider public to decide how a total of £100,000 will be spent.A maximum of six winners will be given up to £20,000 (minimum of £1,000), along with support from Barclays’ mentors and youth engagement agency, Livity, to make their ideas become a reality between January and March 2012.The money can be used to fund a variety of projects; for example a start-up business, a new school skate ramp or a one-off event. Anyone aged between 16 and 21 years of age can submit ideas about how they would spend a share of the money. To submit an entry, the participant must be resident in the United Kingdom. The deadline for the receipt of nominations is 23 December 2011.

7. STARTER GRANTS FOR CLINICAL LECTURERS (UK) UN8820 The aim of this scheme is to provide modest ‘start up’ funds to enable clinical lecturers in the UK to pursue their research work, gather preliminary data and further strengthen their applications for longer-term fellowships and funding.A maximum grant of £30,000 is available, spanning a period of one or two years. The grant can support new and directly incurred research costs such as consumables and equipment. It can also be used to contribute towards necessary technical support that is available within an applicant’s institution.The scheme will fund research work of only the very highest quality and where it is clearly demonstrated that the findings will inform the applicant’s future career aspirations and bids for larger-scale fellowships.Clinicians in the UK who have obtained an MD or PhD, and who currently hold a ‘research active’ clinical lectureship post, are eligible to apply.There are two application rounds per year. The first 2012 deadline has been confirmed as 12 March 2012.

8. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. Developing Social Enterprise Ambassadors programme. LSIS is offering grants of up to £10,000 to learning and skills providers to develop a programme to identify and develop social enterprise ambassadors, and to cascade this learning to other providers by hosting delivery of the programme to a cohort of people drawn from the learning and skills sector.Applications should be submitted to teresa.carroll@lsis.org.uk by Monday 5 December 2011.For more information….

9. Funding for Peer Review and Development groups

10. Sharing effective practice to move thinking forward relating to “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”This is an opportunity to get involved in work around the SEN Green Paper “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability” (March 2011).LSIS wants to develop and support a regional cluster in each of the 9 regions in order to meet the commitment in the Green Paper to encourage “partnership working between independent specialist colleges, special schools and colleges. This will help spread knowledge, improve expertise, build capacity, and share delivery arrangements so that colleges and training providers can respond effectively to the needs of learners, employers and communities to whom they are increasingly accountable.” (para 3.18)The attached expression of interest form sets out the background and thinking to the project. Please read it carefully and if you are interested please fill in the form and return to viv.berkeley@lsis.org.uk by close of business Friday 16th December 2011. Any expressions of interest returned after this date will not be considered. Providers will receive a grant of £2750 to support them with their project work.Please ensure you have capacity to participate prior to completing and submitting the form.For more information…�

Categories: Uncategorized

NLDC Celebrating Success Event 21st July 2011

04/08/2011

Thursday 21st July saw the annual Learning Partnership ‘Celebrating Success’ event held at Marsh Farm Futures House on the Marsh Farm estate in Luton.

The event was held as an opportunity to celebrate the good work and success achieved through the Skills Funding Agency’s NLDC fund, across Bedfordshire and Luton, over the last 10 months.

During 2010-11 NLDC funding supported eight Third Sector organisations to deliver projects across the county. The ‘Celebrating Success’ event gave these organisations the chance to come together to share their stories and reflect on the achievements made possible by the funding.

Each organisation gave a presentation about their project and this year saw an unprecedented number of learners stand up and speak about their own experience and learning journey.

Attendees at the event included staff and learners, friends and family from all of the organisations in receipt of NLDC funding for 2010-11, members of the Learning Partnership staff and individuals invited from the wider Partnership network.

Some comments about the event included:

“Really emotional, genuine event! “

“Really enjoyed the presentation. Great to know about all the work in our county.”

“A very inspirational and uplifting event. “

“Very informative and found inspiration from some of the speakers.”

Click here for summary information about this years project or for more information go to the NLDC project page on our website.

If you would like to see photographs from the event click here to be taken to flickr.

Categories: Latest News

Read our sponsored Adult Learners’ Week newspaper supplement!

17/05/2011

As part of Adult Learners’ Week, The Learning Partnership have sponsored a fine supplement that has appeared in this weeks Herald and Post for Luton.

Here’s the front page – click on it to read the full supplement.

Categories: Latest News

Latest News

PCF Bulletin – 21 February 2012

Latest Funding Update – 7 December 2011

13. Funding to develop sales and marketing training courses

Latest Funding Update – 1 December 2011

NLDC Celebrating Success Event 21st July 2011

Read our sponsored Adult Learners’ Week newspaper supplement!

News Archives:

Archive

Categories