Welcome to the Open Doors
Project Celebratory Event
This project ran from September to March 2011/12
A partnership between Wirral Metropolitan College,
Merseyside Probation Service and Wirral Council for
Voluntary Services.
This project was one of the successful bids that were
approved through the Adult Community Learning Fund,
with funding from Skills Funding Agency, managed by the
National Institute of Continuing Education (NIACE).
The aim of this project has been to:
provide bespoke advice and guidance in the job clubs
 widen opportunities
 raise aspirations
 give you a choice to sample different pathways
 discover new skills
 develop and brush up on other skills
 receive mentoring support during your learning journey
 train to become peer mentors to encourage others in
to learning
 plan your progression into vocational training and
employment

We started in September with a Floristry and
Horticulture short course
Floristry course
Laura progressed in January to the BTEC Diploma in Floristry and
Contemporary Design in College. She started from the short Open Doors
Project Floristry and Horticulture Course, she completed at TWW. She
hopes to open her own shop one day. This is her work on display today.
Steve first joined the project through the Probation Job Club, where he met
the College adviser Mike, and George, the College mentor. He came to a First
Aid Course and then progressed in January to a Basic Brickwork course. The
Open Doors Project funded this course for him. He has built a wishing well
in his parent’s front garden and has started employment this Monday in a
recycling firm, which has a construction arm to its business.
Open Doors Let’s Cook –
bread making session
Open Doors Let’s Cook
Let’s Cook – Andrew, Duncan, Graham and Wayne have now progressed on to the
NVQ Level 1 Food Preparation Course. Open Doors has funded the chef’s whites for 2
of the learners. All 4 hope to progress to Level 2 in September and gain employment in
the catering trade.
First group of Open Awards Mentoring students
completed in December and are now volunteering as
peer mentors.
We have run a number of Emergency First
Aid at Work Courses
College Beauty students ran a Pamper Day at Tomorrow’s
Women Wirral, in order to promote the Open Doors First
Steps Beauty course
Pamper Day
After the Pamper Day, Kate joined the First Steps to Beauty course. In
January she enrolled on the VTCT Nail Course. Open Doors has helped to
fund her progression. She is on the way to being a qualified Beautician.
Our target was to engage 50 men and women on this
project in a range of courses - 65 have participated in the
project since September.
Learners have progressed on to
C& G Brick work and Painting and Decorating Courses
Level 1, NVQ Level1Food Preparation,
VTCT Beauty Course (Nail Extensions),
NCFE Personal and Community Development Course,
BTEC Diploma in Floristry and 10 are due to achieve their
Open Awards Mentoring training to become Peer Mentors
and Volunteers.
Others are working on improving their Literacy and
Numeracy.
Then and Now by Helen McKeown. Helen wrote this poem on the Finding
a Voice course and read it on Radio 4. It was on Pick of the Week.

Dark clouds gathering


Sky full of despair


Storm brewing


How did I get there?


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Lost in a cyclone

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Twisting and turning

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Mind in turmoil
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Fear, yearning.
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Out of the darkness

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Into the sunshine
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No more hurting

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New beginnings are mine.
Recycled Crafts
Money Management
First Steps with Computers
Motor Vehicle Workshop
Sound and Radio Production
Workshop at 7 Waves Radio Wirral
CIEH Food Safety for the
Catering Industry
IOSH Working Safely Course
One day nationally accredited
courses to help your CV
James has been attending a C&G Painting and
Decorating Course funded by the Open Doors
Project and plans to continue with Part 2 in April
Celebration event in December at
Tomorrow’s Women Wirral
A big thank you to everyone for
making this project a success. It
is just the beginning for all of us.