MINUTES OF MEETING Meeting title: Mansfield Community Learning Group (CLG) Meeting Date and time: Thursday 22 March 2012, 10am Location: Mansfield Woodhouse Children’s Centre PRESENT: Karen Bonsall – ACLS Maxine Murray - ACLS Caroline Ball – ACLS Karen King – Children’s Centre Rose Severn – Children’s Centre Karen Millar – Children’s Centre Dawn Mould – OTR Ann Dumble – CLC Elaine Rowley – CLC Christine Price – VWN Lesley Watkins – Mansfield CVS Marion Ellis – Children’s Centre Michael Clarke – Student Social Worker Nadine Charles – Young Potential 01909 535396 07976 231564 01909 535399 01623 408524 01623 421880 01623 819940 01623 422996 01623 653684 01623 614244 01623 413602 01623 651177 01623 666370 karen.bonsall@nottscc.gov.uk maxine.murray@nottscc.gov.uk caroline.ball@nottscc.gov.uk karen.king@nottscc.gov.uk rose.severn@nottscc.gov.uk karen.millar@surestartwestmansfield.com d.mould@otr-ltd.co.uk dumdum36@hotmail.co.uk elaineannrowley@sky.com christine.price@wnc.ac.uk lwatkinson@mansfieldcvs.org marion.ellis@nottscc.gov.uk 01909 487030 nadine.c@youngpotential.org.uk No. Item Action By 1. Apologies/Introductions Everyone present introduced themselves. Michael Clarke’s contact details have not been listed as he was work shadowing Marion and will not be attending future meetings. David Parker – Localism Officer, NCC Sue Bradshaw – Strategic Training Solutions Jo Sanders – A4E – no longer in post 2. Matters Arising Mapping of Work Clubs in Mansfield Collated information has previously been circulated via email. MM reported that since the last meeting in December, there had been a lot of changes, funding cuts and a lot of the organisations providing these services were no longer there. MM suggested that people could still up-load information on their work clubs to www.nccesb.org.uk Mansfield CVS – Lesley Watkins LW reported that she can deliver the GOALS motivational 1 training. Sessions, which can be delivered in various venues, are very structured and they have to be completed in 2 full days. The work books used are quite expensive as well. They are currently feeding back, to the organisation who owns the package, how useful it would be if the days could be split down into smaller chunks, allowing more people to access it, with the hope they will allow this. Ladybrook Children’s Centre – Karen Millar KM reported that she had spoken to Sue Green (ACLS), senior management (children’s centres) and OFSTED around what is expected. Karen thanked Sue and the team for producing reports. The overall situation is still a work in progress and KM will keep the meeting informed of outcomes. KM reported that the result from the recent OFSTED inspection was good overall. KB reported that she had spoken to libraries about the issue of the amount of time allocated for library computer use in some libraries, versus how long it took people to complete on line application forms. She was advised that if individuals need longer time to complete these, to let a member of the library staff know and this would be accommodated where possible. 3. 4. Adult Learners Week – ACLS KB reported that ACLS will be hosting three show case/celebration type events this year. Worksop library on 15th May Mansfield library on 16th May PM (to be confirmed) Beeston 16th May Nomination forms have been sent out to providers for ACLS learners. There are two categories, individuals and groups. More details on the Mansfield event will be circulated. CP reported that VWN would be putting something on in the Four Seasons Shopping Centre. Warsop Big Lottery Project – Lesley Watkins LW reported that Warsop have £1 million from the Big Local Fund. A Steering group has been set up but it has got to be community led. The money can’t be spent on statutory provision e.g. swimming baths. Round two involves getting people interested. Money is available to local groups. Research around local needs would need to be evidenced in any activity that the above money is used for. KK reported that they had parents that had been interested but things seem to take so long to get off the ground that most have lost interest. Quick results are needed so people can see that they are being listened to. LW is looking to set up a training group who will look at possible training needs of people wanting to get involved with the project. She will send round some possible dates for a meeting in the next few weeks and requested that if anyone could think of any potential training need to let her know so she could start 2 LW putting together a training plan. LW reported that the steering group are looking at the possibility of a worker being funded to help with the project. KB reported that the Localism Act currently being brought in could help. 5. Information Sharing Mansfield CVS – Lesley Watkins LW reported that the Olympic Torch route is now available and it will be going through Mansfield. Nomination forms for the Volunteer Awards are now on the CVS website. OTR – Dawn Mould DM reported that they have a contract from Working Links to offer training and advice on employment for families in the Notts area. They have a target to work with 1200 families over the next three years, with 20% of those gaining employment. They can work with families for up to one year and support for up to six months once employment is found. Additional information is attached with these minutes. Young Potential – Nadine Charles Nadine is the Stage Life Development Manager. They provide training for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities 19 years and over, and they now work across the County. They also run some young peoples programmes for excluded children. Vision West Notts – Christine Price West Notts. College is now formally known as Vision West Notts. CP brought along the schedule of courses that VWN are running for the summer term. A copy is attached to these minutes. Titchfield & Oakham Children’s Centre – Rose Severn Rose reported that next week they will be looking at their adult education programme for September. Currently on Tuesday mornings, 9.45am – 11.45am, they look at employment/training opportunities with their parents. They have a Volunteering course starting on 11/6/12 for 5 weeks. They are looking for a sports coach tutor to attend one of these sessions; Catrina Patterson was suggested, Rose to follow this up. They are having an Open Day on 11/4/12 10am – 12noon in Titchfield. They are also celebrating the Jubilee on 5/6/12, this event will happen over lunch and if groups/organisations would like a stall please contact Rose. They have been trying to set up a work club but this hasn’t been well received, Sherwood Children’s Centre model was given as a good example. They have been successful with a bid from ACLS to put on some accredited first aid courses in Children’s Centres across the Mansfield district. CP reported that VWN would be able to offer accredited first aid in the new academic year. 3 RS Ladybrook & Pleaseley Children’s Centre – Karen Miller KM reported that they are having an Accredited First Aid course funded by ACLS through NCN, there seems to be some confusion over the fees, MM to get clarification for KM. MM KM asked that any community learning planning that is taking place in the area could they be involved; this is to avoid duplication and sessions clashing. RS suggested that something could be included on the grant forms for potential providers to make sure that they have informed local community on what they are planning to run, MM/KB to feed this back to MM/KB ACLS. KM reported that PLC had been working with them and it had been a “breath of fresh air”, 15 learners had now taken the national tests. KB asked if anyone at the meeting knew that national tests were being abolished in August? They will be replaced with functional skills and GCSEs. MM suggested that Susannah Chambers at ACLS could be invited to the next Mansfield meeting to up-date everyone. KB & MM reported that the ACLS family learning activity log can be found at http://www.nottsaclsmoodle.net/course/view.php?id=11 , then select Family Learning Schedule. This should allow everyone to see what is happening through ACLS in their local Community. Warsop Children’s Centre – Karen King KK reported that they have now achieved their “Investing in Volunteers” award. Their parent’s forum have been successful with a bid for £400 to put on activities over Easter. Community Learning Champion – Ann Dumble AD reported that Oak Tree Lane School parents, who had attended ACLS funded courses, had set up their own fund raising group, which met every week to make things that can be sold. They recently held a sale where everything was 50p or less and raised £72 for their school funds. They have also received funds from local District and County Councillors. ACLS – Maxine Murray MM reported that Karin St Michaels is now working at Manor School and that she is in the process of updating the Mansfield Woodhouse Directory, which will be available online. No further hard copies will be produced. 6. Date of Next Meeting Monday 25th June 2012, 10am venue to be confirmed. 4 MM What does this mean? – Acronyms commonly used in CLG minutes. ACLS ALW AOB BLF CAB CC(s) CIF CLC CLG E&D ESOL FEI FIS FLLN HA IAG IT ITQ ICT LLDD LSP NCC NVQ OFSTED PCDL PCT PTA SOAs U3A VIE WEA WFL VWN Adult & Community Learning Service Adult Learners Week Any Other Business Big Lottery Funding Citizen’s Advice Bureau Children’s Centre(s) Common Inspection Framework Community Learning Champion Community Learning Group Equality & Diversity English for Speakers of Other Languages Family Employment Initiative Family Information Service Family Language, Literacy & Numeracy Housing Association Information Advice & Guidance Information Technology Information Technology Qualification Information and Communication Technology Learners with Learning Difficulties and / or Disabilities (incl. Mental Health) Local Strategic Partnership Nottinghamshire County Council National Vocational Qualification Office for Standards in Education Personal and Community Development Learning Primary Care Trust Parent Teacher Association Super Output Areas University of the Third Age Volunteer into Employment Workers Educational Association Wider Family Learning Vision West Notts 5