PA Bulletin 5th August 2010
The Connexions Surrey bulletin is produced every two weeks and we aim to keep you up to date with current issues and aware of news that is relevant to your day to day jobs. The bulletin sits alongside the PA Resource section of the website.
1. NEET: Update, Job Opportunities, Apprenticeships and Activities Calendar
2. Children and Young People Now Magazine
4. Summertime Volunteering – Vinvolved
5. Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development (SOLD) has new residential accommodation at High Ashurst
6. Active Leaders Course - Sports Provision Farnborough
7. Surrey Fire and Rescue's Youth Engagement Scheme new course dates…
10. Useful Link For People With Learning Disabilities
11. Human and Equine Physiotherapy Seminar
12. Surrey Teen Talent – Looking for sponsors
13. Xtreme Fun Summer Programme
15. Traveling Ahead booklet for young Gypsy and Travelers
17. Children, Schools and Families Bulletin July
UPDATE: How well are we doing? Click Here for the latest graphs on NEET & Unknowns.
Job Opportunities for Young People: Our Centres produce regular listings of local opportunities. Vacancy Bulletins are now listed on the Connexions website Job search page and you can also pick up copies from your local Centre to share with the young people you are currently working with. Please also direct your young people to our website and encourage them to spend a few minutes completing a few questions which will open up a database of jobs relevant and available to them.
Apprenticeships: Please go to our Apprenticeships page to make sure you are aware of the most recent opportunities in Surrey. Ensure you promote these to your clients (particularly vacancies that are in red as they have received no applications). Below are some guidance links for Apprenticeship vacancies online.
- Candidates guide: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/avtm/Candidate.aspx
- Support Service Partner’s guide: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/avtm/Support-Service-Partner.aspx
- The Apprenticeship Resource Pack for teachers, careers and IAG providers:http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Partners/Marketing/ResourcePack.aspx
- E-learning guides on how to use the Apprenticeship vacancies site Apprenticeships vacancies - online support guides
- Unsuccessful Candidates Letter
New ESF grant available for employers
There is a new grant available to encourage employers to take on unemployed 16 – 24 year olds as apprentices. This funding is from the European Social Fund and will provide up to 1,025 Apprenticeship grants to employers in the South East with a grant of £1,500. The grant will be available from April 2010 until October 2010. It is recognised that young people in the current economic climate face particular issues and this grant is a way of supporting them and ensuring that we are training a new generation for economic recovery. There are criteria around which employers can benefit from this grant and further information is available in the attached flyer if you are interested. 16-24 Grant flyer.doc
When these vacancies are advertised on the Apprenticeship vacancies online system, they will be marked on the vacancy lists with ESF Funded Opportunity in the vacancy title column – for e.g. ESF Funded Opportunity - Trainee Chef.
NEET Activities CALENDAR: There are several events relevant to your clients on this calendar now, please utilise this facility and promote. To publicise an event please contact: Jemma Campbell-Scott at Connexions Surrey jemma.campbellscott@surreycc.gov.uk - Tel: 01483 519350
2. Children and Young People Now Magazine
Please feel free to access this website for all the latest information, news and articles about working with young people – please use the log in information which was sent out to you with the bulletin email from Jem – if you don’t have it please give me a call 01483 519350.
Please note that the PA training course pages are updated as and when new courses become available and that this section has its own dedicated page on our site:
http://www.connexionssurrey.co.uk/continuousprofessionaldevelopment.html
Full details of courses available to all PAs are available on the Connexions and Multi-agency training sections and details of dates, how to apply and who to send application forms to, are outlined in detail for your convenience.
4. Summertime Volunteering – Vinvolved Newsletter #2
5. Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development (SOLD) has new residential accommodation at High Ashurst
High Ashurst Outdoor Education Centre, located in the beautiful Surrey Hills, on Box Hill, near Dorking now offers fully catered accommodation and activity packages throughout the year. Three brand new eco-friendly deluxe log cabins have been built, nestled within trees on the 23-acre site. The log cabins provide accommodation for up to 48 young people and their leaders. Full on-site catering and a comprehensive range of activities makes this the ideal location for schools, youth support organisations and youth groups looking for fun & adventure or an educational programme with the minimum of fuss; for those groups who want to experience outdoor activities but are not ready for a camping experience or are looking for a bit more comfort! Read the attachments for full information:
6. Active Leaders Course - Sports Provision Farnborough
“We are a provider that has a mission of preparing young people aged 14-18 for a career in the Sport and Leisure Industry
We offer a COURSE UP TO 18 MONTHS (5days a week) with the training objectives of;
- Improving student’s fitness levels
- Increasing student’s academic abilities, with a link to sport and fitness
- Improve student’s personal qualities
Qualifications linked to the course are as follows:
- BTEC (level 1 - Diploma) sport and active leisure
- Lifestyle Management award level 1
- Fitness instructors Award Level 1
- Circuits Instructor
- Advanced Personal Trainer and sports coaching related qualifications.
Learners are able to earn up to £30 EMA per week plus a 50% travel refund. Our actual centre is based in oak farm School that is in Farnborough”
Any queries should be directed to: Matt Ray - Active Leaders Course Manager - 07791351791
7. Surrey Fire and Rescue's Youth Engagement Scheme new course dates…
Autumn Courses - October and November 2010
Referrals to YES courses are now invited.
Referral Deadline - 16 September (noon) Please see the front page of the relevant referral form below for your area's exact course dates.
What is it?
- A one-week intensive course run by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.
- Open College Network accredited - 3 points towards a further education course.
- 2 Follow up activity days aimed at consolidating skill set developed on course.
The skills learnt seek to inform, educate, challenge and motivate the participants. The scheme also encourages them to start thinking about the implications of their actions and about how they can make themselves and others safer.
Who is suitable?
- Year 9 – 11 (14-17 years old).
- Has less than 80% attendance at school.
- At risk of exclusion and/or anti-social behavior.
North Area Referral Form
- Runnymede
- Spelthorne
- Elmbridge
West Area Referral Form
- Surrey Heath
- Woking
- Guildford
- Waverley
East Area Referral Form
- Tandridge
- Mole Valley
- Reigate & Banstead
- Epsom & Ewell
Referral Forms:
To refer a young person onto a course, please complete the relevant form for your area, and return them to either
Email: communityfiresafety@surreycc.gov.uk
FAX: 01737 227624 marked FAO: YES Team.
Please find attached some information on the set4success programme.
Please send this out to all 'undecided' school leavers who would be appropriate for set4success.
Jaime Payne is now the contact for S4S in Surrey. And will contact the Connexions centres with regards to capturing the 2010 school leavers and attending the 'provision' events (Jaime can be contacted on 01483 517 052).
Welcome to the Personal Best website. Personal Best is a training and volunteer programme, aimed at helping people furthest from employment into long term, sustainable jobs. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games will require 70,000 games time volunteers, the Personal Best Programme aims to prepare people for this challenge by offering training and volunteer opportunities in the lead up to 2012 and beyond – ultimately aiming to encourage 20,000 people into work. http://www.personalbestprogramme.co.uk/find_out_more/am_i_eligible
10. Useful Link For People With Learning Disabilities
This is a useful link for young people who would like to set up their own business, however may have a learning disability and not understand the jargon.
11. Human and Equine Physiotherapy Seminar
"Interested in a Career as a Chartered Human and Equine Physiotherapist?" The seminar will take place on Saturday 16th October 2010 at the Centre in Woking and is a one-day interactive course for young people designed to give an insight into this exciting career. The seminar will be interactive and will give participants an opportunity to ask lots of questions about the profession and find out about courses and qualifications required, from experienced professionals.
If you require any further information, please contact: Natalie Bouckaert 01403 864895 or visit the website
12. Surrey Teen Talent – Looking for sponsors
“Dear Connexions,
I am writing to you today to inform you of my latest event, “Surrey Teen Talent”. This is a singing competition, for secondary school students in Surrey. We hope to make this free for all schools and students to enter and perform, to do this we require sponsorship to cover the costs of the event. I have planned to do this because I’m currently unemployed at age of 20 and need to something to do, and gain experience in the event management field. Of which I would like a career in. Also to give something to the local community for free, during the problems with teenagers having nothing to do and getting involved with Anti Social Behavior and other crimes. I have noticed that you might be able to help because you are related in this field, because you work with people under the age of 25.
I hope you feel that even with the economy, as it is that you might be able to help with any of these costs. I have enclosed Surrey Teen Talent, Event Layout, to give you more information.
If you can help with this event please contact: Robert Otterwell - Event Manager - otterwellevents@gmail.com”
13. Xtreme Fun Summer Programme
Please find attached the 'Xtreme Fun' summer poster and leaflet. Please could you forward on to any young people or agencies / workers etc. you know or have that work with young people aged 13-19 yrs. If you would like any other information, please don't hesitate to contact Beckie Wain – Neighbourhood Youth Worker - 07854511336
Many of us today have difficulties in coping with the problems we find in our lives. We may feel angry, stressed or experience depression. Read Yourself Well is a selection of self-help books, which can help us to deal with these health problems. The 47 titles chosen have been recommended by health professionals and are designed to give practical information and advice. Self-help books can be very effective when read on their own, or when used with prescribed medication, counseling or therapy. They can encourage readers to raise self-awareness of their health issues. For more information follow this link.
15. Traveling Ahead booklet for young Gypsy and Travelers
Attached is the pdf of the Traveling Ahead booklet for young Gypsy and Travelers. Please bear in mind that it was designed based upon a Welsh policy framework, though most of the booklet refers to UK-wide legislation.
16. Children & Young People Now Magazine Article: Careers advice has little effect on young people post 16
By Lauren Higgs
Children & Young People Now
29 July 2010
“The provision of careers education and information, advice and guidance (IAG) has little effect on the decisions that young people make at the age of 16, a Department for Education research report has found. The report analysed the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England, which interviewed a sample of 16,000 young people annually for five years between 2004 and 2009. It found that careers education and IAG appeared to influence young people’s opinions before the age of 16. But when it came to actually making choices about what to do post-16, careers education and IAG had "no observable effects". The research suggests this could be because careers education and IAG provided to young people in school years eight and nine may only have a short-term impact. On Connexions services particularly, the research concludes that such provision has modest benefit. It states: "As contact with young people is minimal and only on referral, advice from Connexions has a negligible impact on both short-term opinions and on eventual choices." Despite this, the research is positive about the link between advice on training and future participation in work and training. "Some young people had spoken to either teachers or Connexions about training or apprenticeships," the report said. "They were more likely to take up either training places or full-time work."
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By Lorna Dane, Dane Partnership
The Chamber. Voice & Vision of Surrey business
A finishing school for career seekers:
Most school leavers and graduates are either blissfully unaware or already resigned to how hard its going to be when they look for their first job.
"I have been asked to recruit school leavers and graduates on behalf of local employers for apprenticeships, placements and trainee positions. There has never been a shortage of applicants, but the standard is generally poor. Last month, in a timeframe of only 6 days, I received in excess of 100 responses to one single advertisement, and from those applications I can provide some startling statistics. 9 respondents forgot to attach a CV; only 8 individuals addressed me correctly i.e. 'Dear' rather than 'Hi', 'Hiya' or nothing at all; several wrote in reference to the wrong job title/company name and more than half the CVs were littered with spelling mistakes not to mention poor grammar and layout!"
"Things didn't get much better at the interview stages. Many candidates saunter in awkwardly and seat themselves waiting lethargically for something to happen. A few of the applicants got it right and at least seemed eager (if nervous) to start the discussions. In particular, one candidate came in, looked me straight in the eye, extended his hand to shake with an appropriate "Good afternoon" by way of greeting and just the way he walked into the room set him apart from the others."
"Having had similar experiences in the past, I developed a training course designed to give practical help to those making the transition between education and employment. It's been described as "a finishing school" but I see it as an intense one-on-one training programme which ensures the kind of mistakes I have written about in this article are not repeated by those who attend. The results have been excellent, and the testimonials speak for themselves. This is the type of hands-on support desperately needed to boost self-confidence, presentation and employability."
"I recruited a trainee in January. By giving someone their first taste of permanent employment made a massive difference to them and is hugely rewarding for me in terms of watching their confidence and self-esteem grow. I'd encourage employers everywhere to do likewise so if you want to know more about employing a trainee, or indeed about JumpStart, get in touch."
17. Children, Schools and Families Bulletin: July
- May 17, 2011 The latest May apprenticeships list published today
- May 04, 2011 Seventy different apprenticeship opportunities recruiting in Surrey right now!
- April 04, 2011 More new apprenticeships available today
- March 21, 2011 This week's apprenticeship oportunities published today
- March 14, 2011 Latest apprenticeships recruiting now!
- February 28, 2011 Business Admin to Hairdressing...