What is Staffordshire CLT?
Staffordshire Community Learning Trust is a collaboration between Staffordshire County Council Adult and Community Learning, Colleges in Staffordshire and learning providers in the voluntary and private sectors.
What are we aiming to achieve?
The Trust will provide the opportunity for local people and communities to decide their own community learning, priorities, strategies and partnership models. It will do this by enabling local need to influence commissioning priorities for Staffordshire County Council’s adult learning provision
A new community responsiveness fund has been established which in the year 2013/2014 has £250,000 available to fund demand led community learning projects
2. Lets start with the obvious:
• First read the guidance – it’s there to help you.
• Read the question
• Answer all the questions – we really do need all the information we
ask for
• If in doubt – ask – julia.staniforth@staffordshire.gov.uk
01785 278771
07800626536
3. What not to forget:
•UKPRN number – costs nothing and takes seconds
BUT Skills Funding Agency rules say all subcontractors
must have one - http://www.ukrlp.co.uk/
•Join your Locality Working Group –
www.communitylearningtrust.org.uk
•Policies and insurance – why do we ask for professional
indemnity?
•Do complete the accounts section – it’s a quick
reference to check solvency
•Complete tutor TEACHING qualifications
4. Completing the detailed sections
Section 3 The Project
Please describe the evidence of need for your project (NB no
projects will be approved without clear evidence of
community need including evidence from local consultation)
(Word count 200 to 500 words)
What do we mean by evidence?
5. Some Examples
MSM wishes to apply for funds to repeat a money management course that was delivered during
June and July 2013. The original application made the argument that through our own research
we found that the majority of our clients said that they found managing their money to be a very
real and on-going problem. The evidence of community need that was derived form a survey
carried out amongst our clients remains the same as it was previously.
On the previous course we have recorded where one learner made changes to her spending and
had already saved £45.
6. We have now completed a term of delivering courses for the community learning trust
responsiveness fund and have had the day to day contact to confirm the need and aspirations
of the local community. With all of the courses we have delivered we have asked students for
their comments at the beginning of the courses and asked them to complete feedback and
what they would like next at the end of the courses.
The comments we have received back highlight what we have had indicated from earlier
consultations.
This includes the lack of crèche facilities to run alongside learning on offer which creates a
huge barrier to parents of young children to be able to move forward in their lives.
The second factor that is a common problem to many learners is that they can only attend one
short term course and that does not allow them enough time to gain the skills or confidence to
change their lives in any significant way.
Lastly they have focused on how they like the learning to take place in informal settings
where they feel comfortable and relaxed.
Below is the conclusions to the consultations undertaken before the previous course were
delivered, I would like to update where we are now in relation to this and in response to our
learners.
7. The barriers to learning. The lack of a crèche facility. Overall more than 60% stated
this as a barrier, “the cost of courses” with approx 50%. Highlighting the need for
learning to take place in centres which can support learning with crèche facilities)
Learners identified the need for learning in the local area, many did not wish to pursue
formal education within a college environment.
50% of respondents identified the normal courses supplied i.e IT, Maths, English etc! a
shift in attitudes people are becoming more conscious of the savings of maintaining
their own vehicles and want courses to fulfil this need.
An increasing need for courses about food and nutrition. stories regarding the
nutritional value of foods and the horse contamination have given an impetus to the
value of planning and preparing your own food. The final change is that people would
like signing as a subject. This is encouraging given that signing is being made available
from Pre school age.
8. We have offered food courses, and now have evidence of home cooking and an understanding
of nutrition. We offered maths through the local college and have sign posted to a sign
language course. We have offered a crèche with all courses and it has all been delivered
locally. All our students are asking for more courses and when can they sign up for them.
The centre anticipates, based upon feedback , to provide courses both in the daytime and
evenings.
After the feedback we received from the end of course forms all students requested courses
for the next term and beyond both in the leisure sector and the formal sector.
Leisure courses include:
• Advanced Cake making and decorating
• Car Maintenance
• Cooking and nutrition
Formal courses include
• Maths
• English
• IT
• Developing Business ideas
• Sign Language
• Developing Families
A number of families have requested courses on child development and understanding how
their child learns and how they as parents can help their children
The following plan is designed from the feedback we have received.
As stated previously this has been a major consultation by a number of organizations to
ascertain the needs of the area and in our opinion offers a great opportunity to engage with the
local area whilst raising aspirations.
9. The charity was approached by the Yarnfield Pre-school group to run a course within
their community for their parents to improve skills and to encourage participation in
additional learning, community involvement and in widening employment
opportunities amongst the families that used their pre-school. This was following a
recommendation by parents who were aware of other courses we had delivered in
particular a recent ACL in the Blythe Bridge area.
We consulted with potential beneficiaries through attending the pre-school and with
meeting with parents, other carers and those running the group. A further information
coffee morning and taster session has been arranged for the near future.
From talking to potential beneficiaries they were able to tell us that many felt that
their skills in certain areas affected their employment prospects or had prevented
them from taking part in other educational courses. A number of them related their
own difficulties they had with literacy or maths and concerns about learning
difficulties such as dyslexia (affecting about 10% of the population to some degree).
Self esteem and confidence were affected which again can impacted on individuals
in a negative way.
Most were mothers or grandparents of children attending the group and were
interested in improving their own skills in literacy and maths in order that they may
support the learning of their child/grandchild.
Across the group consulted with, they wanted learning opportunities delivered within
their own local community. They felt that this would give best access to those who
had family commitments, caring duties or who lacked their own transport.
Pre-school staff were keen that those caring for the children they were involved with
had the skills to support the child’s learning at home. This is often lacking or a lack of
confidence prevents parents from becoming actively involved in supporting learning
within the home.
It was felt that a course directed at those families with pre-school children in the
Yarnfield area would be beneficial to those attending but also raise interest amongst
the community and encourage further learning and community involvement in the
families as a whole.
Other needs identified within the potential beneficiaries were social circumstances
that had hindered employment and educational opportunities; lack of knowledge
about volunteering and the benefits of taking part both to personal development and
to help others; feelings of isolation through being out of work or being at home with
young children.
10. Section 3 continued:
Please describe your project (please include, what you hope to achieve, who the
project is aimed at, how you will deliver it and how you will measure and evaluate its
success) word count 200 – 500 words
What do you hope to achieve
Who is the project aimed at
How will you deliver it
How will you measure and evaluate its success
11. What commissioning priorities will this project address, both
countywide and local( if local priorities are available?(Appendix 2 in the
guidance)
What BIS objectives will this project address? (Appendix 1 in the
guidance)
We want to know how your project relates to the above priorities
and also the local priorities generated by your Locality Working
Group if they are available – WHY?
12. How will you measure wider outcomes?
Please indicate below how you will collect evidence of change from individual
learners. Examples of measures are focus group at the end of the course, ILPs,
learner diaries, surveys, interviews.
Please note: projects will be expected to complete an impact measurement tracking
Here we are trying to gauge how well you as a provider
understand the need to capture outcomes from learners
13. Learning Activity (ies)
Overview – please describe your activity (ies) and what you hope to achieve.
Activity Title
Overview/Content
Total
Hours
Number of
Learners
How detailed
should you
be?
What do we
mean by total
hours and
number of
learners?
Total number
of learners?
Total Number of Individual Learners on the project i.e. not per activity.
(PLEASE DO NOT DOUBLE COUNT)
14. Section 5 Progression of Learners
How will your activity help individuals progress to further
learning/volunteering/employment:
Please indicate how you intend to work with relevant agencies/organisations to assist
learners in progressing and what referral processes you have to these organisations.
For example Adult Advancement and Careers Service, Job Centre Plus, JET, local
colleges, Voluntary services.
What are we looking for here?
15. Examples
Example 1
We work in conjunction with the local college and have a Maths course running at the centre
and we have visits from the Community education worker who gives students information
on what is available at the college for progression routes.
We work closely with the local CVS and the projects they have available for students to
progress to in the future. We have a visiting worker from the CAB who advises what people
are allowed to do in line with their benefit criteria.
We have a broadband connection to allow students to look at job sights and information
from job centre plus.
Short but it says a lot
16. As stated, the programme is a recovery focused employment programme – that will
provide learners with effective preparation, (i.e. via its training programme and
themed and work focused peer-support groups) and pre-engagement activities for
work, (i.e. through linkage with C’s volunteering programmes).
C will continue to build on and develop links with local JCPs and Work Programme
Providers, and Making Space’s Mental Health Employment Service.
In order to both attract and support the progression of learners, Advance will continue
to utilise reciprocal referral pathways with a range of partner organisations, i.e. in
addition to receiving referrals from the following, Advance will continue refer learners
to the following organisations in order to progress them towards their employment,
education or mental health goals:
JHP Employability Burton (Work Programme Provider)
JHP Employability Tamworth (Work Programme Provider)
Moorlands North and South CMHT (NHS
C mental health services, (including opportunities for volunteer placements and its
NOCN accredited Coordinator training programme).
A will continue to facilitate volunteering engagement by utilising volunteering
opportunities available within the organisation, (i.e. Wellbeing Centres located in
Uttoxeter, Burton-on-Trent, Lichfield, Burntwood, and Tamworth), along with existing
links with South/East Staffs Community Volunteer Centres. C is able to provide
ongoing support, training and supervision to users wishing to perform volunteer work
in various areas of the organisation, i.e. as part of C Executive Committee, (the
charity's management body); an Office Worker, (involved in administration,
fundraising, PR work etc); a Group Co-ordinator, (involved in service delivery).
A will continue to provide learners with access to both accredited and non-accredited
learning opportunities. Learners will have access to Cs’ National Open College
Network accredited Co-ordinators Training Programme and Volunteer Training
Course, (carrying NVQ Level 3 equivalent accreditation). They will also have access
to a range of ‘wellness-focused’ ACL training courses currently provided by C.
Importantly, A will continue to utilise links with other employment agencies, (i.e. JCP,
Work Programme Providers, Making Spaces); training and educational
establishments; ACL training providers, and third sector training organisations – to
ensure learners are provided with relevant and effective learning opportunities.
The whole premise of the programme will continue to be to enable those with
disabilities or experiencing physical or mental illness, (amongst the most
disadvantaged groups in society), to develop the knowledge and wellness tools to
promote the recovery, wellness and social inclusion.
17. Employment
Voluntary Work
Other Learning
Opportunities
Community
activities
L works closely with Jobcentre Plus and the JET
service to support unemployed people with learning
disabilities in N. Staffs. Referrals both from and to
are via Disability Employment Advisors at JCP, the
Jet Team, IAG advisors, National Careers Service
and Entrust within the area. L has also built
substantial links with many local employers and staff
are experienced in developing good relationships
with new employers.
L is a member of all voluntary infrastructure
organisations (VAST, and SMCVS). L works closely
with a wide range of other voluntary organisations
both in gaining referrals and helping unemployed
people progress into voluntary placements. The
courses we run will help clients to progress to further
support with L which will include:
Supported work placement
Accredited short course
Healthy living
Gaining independence
The full range of support is designed to help clients
to progress to employment, voluntary work or to
engage in further education or training.
Attendance at our Work Clubs, running Tuesdays
and Thursdays. Support is provided by a tutor to
help people to look for jobs, to apply and to attend
interviews.
Where possible L also encourages and supports
learners to progress to further training opportunities
with local colleges and training providers and we
have good links with these
L’s Cornerstone Café is used as a venue to engage
with the local community and we will seek to arrange
community events throughout the year. Our client
group will have opportunities to volunteer and take
part in activities. We also encourage our client group
to take part in community activities through contact
with the local CVS.
18. Costs
Breakdown the costsper hour costs,
Describe any materials,
Pay attention to what
we cannot fund,
Completing “a”, “b” and
“c”
Describe Resource
Cost £
In-kind £
a
b
Additional
source £
c
19. TOTAL COST
(a+b+c =A)
How much of the Total Cost (above) are you
or another organisation contributing to this
project?
(b+c=B)
£
How much money are you asking us for?
(A-B=C)
£
COST PER LEARNER
(C ÷ number of Individual Learners, as
section 3)
£
20. Monitoring Your Delivery
Information and advice to you as a provider
Staffordshire County Council - Provider
Information
And the systems we need you to use!
Why are we asking this of you?
21. Who have we funded so far this year?
Pulse for Music – deliver short music song writing and making
computerised music tracks. Mainly in East Staffs but can deliver at
any local venue
Chesterton Salvation Army (Newcastle) – First Aid, Food Hygiene,
Manual Handling
Landau – Chatterbox, Made of Money, Cookery skills, crafts in
Newcastle area
Staffordshire Care Farm Development – variety of activities
designed to increase confidence of mental health adults plus
volunteer training in Sudbury and South Staffs
Dyslexia Association – dyslexia awareness for parents in Stone
Mid staffs Mencap – budgeting in Stafford
West Chadsmoor Family Centre – crafts, confidence building, BSL,
stress busters to name a few in Cannock
Changes – Advance – course for adults recovering from mental
health issues across the district
Media Climate – Photography, music, food hygiene and cooking in
Cannock but can bring learners from elsewhere
22. Who have we funded so far this year? cont
Aspire(Stafford)- learn2earn course with young adults with
learning difficulties and ex-offenders, in Stafford
Chase Aqua Rural Enterprise –wellbeing for work course
through woodland crafts in partnership with Quest
Cherry Orchard Gardening Services- developing work skills and
micro business in the gardening trade in Burntwood
Community Together – IT training for volunteers to assist at
Work Clubs in Tamworth
Gartmore Riding School- basic riding and stable management
courses in Hammerwich
Lichfield Scrap Barn- developing skills and confidence through
craft skills, working with adults with learning difficulties and
disabilities in Burntwood
Pathway project – developing confidence and self-esteem
courses working with abused adults in Lichfield
Stafford CVS – introduction to PTLLS and CTLLS across the
county
