10. Local man awarded at charity AGM

11. Woking YMCA takes the Ypod to the streets 

1: NEET

UPDATE: How well are we doing in 2009? Click Here for the latest graphs on NEET, Unknowns and NEET by Borough Breakdown.

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.

2. NEET Activities CALENDAR - NEW

This has been revamped!! You will see to the top left of this screen there is now a Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET) Activities Calendar. This will help to cut down on reams of text in the bulletin. You can see the calendar where ever you are on the site, there is an option at the bottom of the calendar to flick forwards or backwards between the months. NEET Events will be highlighted by a blue box on the particular day its being held and you just click on the highlighted date and it will bring up all the information. You will see at the moment the calendar is not very full – I need your help to fill it! Please let me know about any events you are running and I can get the following details uploaded onto the calendar. My email address is below.

Course/Event title

Brief description, to include, number of weeks, core content, referral process etc

Agency/Provider

Dates

Time

Costs (if any incurred by young person)

Contact name

Contact details i.e. telephone number and email address

Jemma Campbell – Connexions Surrey - jemma.campbell@surreycc.gov.uk  - Tel: 01483 519350

3. Choices Publications

DCSF produce printed and online Choices publications to ensure that young people and their parents/carers have the support they need to make wise choices.  'Which_way_now?'  click here for related document (ref 383-0) provides information on how to choose key stage 4 options. 'It's_your_choice' (ref 382-3) provides information on how to choose post-16 options. Each booklet will include an integrated supplement targeted at parents/carers. Both publications will also be available in interactive formats via Connexions_Direct along with an online version of the parents/carers’ booklet.  'A_Practitioners'_guide' (ref 384-7) is available to support effective use of the Choices publications.  The booklets can be ordered free of charge for delivery at the beginning of the autumn term by calling Prolog on 0845 602 2260, by e-mail from connexions@prolog.uk.com.

4.Connexions Training Programmes - To register for any of the following courses:  Please complete the attached application form and email it to Corinne Ford at mailto:corinne.ford@surreycc.gov.uk and cc your line manager.

Introduction to the new IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) standards.

It is important that all Personal Advisers have a good understanding of the new IAG standards covered by the workshops between May and July. Could those PAs who have not attended any of the courses and have not sent in the distance learning questions they are required to complete, please do so ASAP.

Please post your answers too:

Corinne Ford, Connexions, First Floor, Quadrant Court, 35, Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7QQ by the end of July.

Introduction to ADAPT

Aim - To provide training on the use of Adapt and obtain a good understanding of the system. As a result of the course participants should have a good understanding of Adapt and be able to record work with clients

The course covers:

·         Adding and amending records for clients

·         Recording contacts/plans

·         Recording letters and telephone contacts

·         Joining and leaving clients to NEET

·         Recording a Potential/Actual Endorsement

·         Recording Group Sessions etc

·         Be able to record work with providers/opportunities

·         Adding new providers

·         Amending records

·         Recording a visit

·         Adding and submitting to an opportunity

·         Recording the outcome of a submission

·         Putting an opportunity on HOLD and then back on to LIVE & Canceling an Opportunity

 ADAPT Workshop

Aim: To provide training on the use of Adapt and obtain a better understanding of the system and to:

Manipulate data in a record card

Manipulate data in the daily planner

Run both formal searches and a magic search

Manipulate search result

Print search results

Run a report to obtain statistical data

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – “Everybody’s business” workshop and e-learning

The course material is divided into 4 sections

•   Section 1 – Raising awareness (what is mental health, risk and resilience factors)

•   Section 2 – Mental health (diagnostic labels, mental health disorders, assessment, child development)

•   Section 3 – Roles and responsibilities (structure of CAMHS, what can be done by front-line, case studies, when to refer on)

•   Section 4 – What helps (listening skills, engaging young people)

End of course workshops are available to  PAs who registered on this course as below.

Could any further PAs interested in starting this e-learning course please send a Connexions nomination form to Corinne Ford who will either plan a further workshop or advise on independent learning if preferred 

5. Surrey County Council Courses The following courses can be booked directly using links below. Please ensure a copy of your application form is sent to mailto:corrine.ford@surreycc.gov.uk

CAF One Day Multi-Agency Training for Users

Course aim

To enable participants to gain a good understanding of the purpose and process of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). To enable participants to use the Common Assessment Framework in practice to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

Conditions of acceptance of a place on this course

All participants must have agreed with their manager to attend the course. For cancellation, please refer to the cancellation section below.

Please note: It is advisable to complete the on-line Basic Awareness Training before you attend this course.

Times for all courses

Arrival: 9.15 am, Session starts: 9.30 am, Session closes: 4.00pm. A light lunch is provided.

How to book a place on the One Day Multi-Agency Training for Users Course?

1. Click on the e-booking form link below (it can sometimes take up to one minute to display).
2. Select a suitable date and venue, click on 2009 at the top. This will put the dates in order from January 2009. The form will display by clicking on the selected date.
3. Complete and submit the form. Please allow a few minutes for your form to go through the system.
4. Make sure you print a copy to keep a record of your booking with the reference number and details of the venue.
5. If you experience any difficulties with the system, please contact Françoise Noël, CAF Project Assistant for help on 020 8541 7108.

On-line booking form Please ensure a copy of your application form is sent to corinne.ford@surreycc.gov.uk

CAF training -Half day refresher course for users

This course has been designed for professionals who have received training eight to twelve months ago and for professionals who are already familiar with the ECM Agenda and the Assessment Framework

It is vital at this time for the CAF implementation across the County, which is gathering pace that all professionals are up to date and secure in their understanding of the CAF 5-Step process.

Attendance will give an opportunity to professionals to update their knowledge on current CAF processes and new arrangements to query if a CAF Assessment has already been undertaken on a child.

To book a place, complete the attached e-booking form online and keep a copy for your records once you have submitted it. Please ensure a copy of your application form is sent to   corinne.ford@surreycc.gov.uk

6. Online Vacancies for Young People

Please remember to direct your young people to our website and encourage them to spend a few minutes completing a few questions on our Job Search page which will open up the database of jobs relevant and available to them. With over 120 vacancies on the database this is a valable resource which we are keen to promote.

7. Facebook – Your Help Please…

Connexions Surrey has set up a Facebook Profile, so far we have 100 members, but we would love to make it more like 400!! We would very much encourage PA’s to help get this off the ground.

Social networking is an excellent platform for engaging with and linking Young People.

We have used opportunities for consultation, prizes, and days out and meeting new friends as incentives to get young people to join. Please promote this to your clients and encourage them to make friends with: Connexions Surrey by logging on to their www.facebook.com profile and searching for us. Any queries about this should be directed to:

Nicole Bradshaw: Involving Young People Worker - 01483 519 082

8. Student Finance 2009

Please see the latest developments summarised below which may help when giving advice:

The main changes to the support package are as follows:

•        Support to cover the cost of full-time tuition fees and for those on part-time courses will increase by 2.04%.

•        The full-time student support rates for living costs and for targeted support have been maintained at 2009/10 levels.

•        Student support for new students on full-time and part-time post graduate and equivalent initial teacher training courses will be brought in line with that available for full-time and part-time undergraduate courses.

•        Students in receipt of EMA and who wish to go onto higher education will be given a quote of the support they could receive if they choose to do so, instead of a guarantee of future support. 

Changes to the support package: detail

Full time tuition fees

•        The maximum tuition fee for a full-time course will be increased to £3,290 in 2010/2011 a rise of 2.04%.

•        The maximum full-time student loan for tuition fees will also be increased to £3,290 in 2010/11.

Other help for full time students

•        There will be no increase during 2010/11 to the Student Loan for Maintenance (A K A the loan for living costs), the Maintenance Grant, the Special Support Grant, or targeted support (Childcare Grant, Adult Dependants’ Grant, Parents’ Learning Allowance, Disabled Student’s Allowances).   

•        The maximum amounts and thresholds for these grants, allowances and loans will be maintained at 2009/10 levels.

Help for part time students

•        Maximum amounts and thresholds for part-time students will be increased by 2.04% in 2010/11.  Students will be eligible for a means tested Fee Grant of up to £1,230, and a means tested course Grant of up to £265.

Changes to the help available for Post Graduate Initial Teacher Training

•        New students undertaking full time PGCE and equivalent courses in the Schools and Lifelong Learning Sectors will be eligible for the same package of support as full- time undergraduates

•        And new students undertaking a part- time PGCE or equivalent course will be eligible for the same support package as other part- time students: a means tested fee grant, and a means tested course grant

•        Students on full time PGCE and equivalent courses will continue to get a much better package of help than most other postgraduate students.

Practitioners’ Website

If you have registered for updates from the Practitioners’ website, you should already be aware of recent additions to the site, including: -

• Announcement about Interest Changes from 1^st September 2009.
• A new online service presentation, taking you through the online application, together with an explanation of the quicker and easier way for customers to reset their secret answer and password.
• New Needs Assessment Report and Guidance for Disabled Students’ Allowance assessors.
• More detailed Guidance Chapters.
• The 2009/2010 Access to Learning Fund Guidance Chapters.
• Updates to the Designated Courses list

The updated version of the Practitioners’ Pack is also now available, including a presentation on part time study and the recently completed Adult Learner Case Studies. These three new case studies focus on non-traditional students and have been developed in close working partnership with practitioners. To support these case studies we have also produced fact sheets on:

• Part time study
• Disabled Students’ Allowances
• Childcare Grant & other dependants’ grants.

To ensure you are kept up-to-date with developments on the site, please register your email details in the right hand margin of the home page at:

http://practitioners.studentfinanceengland.co.uk

9. Year 11 Planners

The Year 11 Planners have now been dispatched and should be delivered to you within the next few days. We have about 160 remaining, which we will hold in stock at Quadrant Court. If you need some more please contact Alanah Harrington on alanah.harrington@surreycc.gov.uk or 01483 519349. Alanah will issue these on a "first come, first served" basis.

10. Local man awarded at charity AGM

Woking & Maybury Sports Club (WMSC) held their AGM at Woking YMCA on Thursday 28^th May. The keynote speaker was Terry Eckersley, Chief Executive Officer of Woking YMCA and long time supporter and friend of WMSC.

Terry gave a ‘motivACTIONal’ message to the community, young people, the sports club, the Asian community and community and business leaders.

Terry presented Geoff Ward (Woking Borough Council) with a prestigious Woking YMCA community award. G Ward has gone the extra mile within many communities in Woking, and is a man of excellence, integrity, compassion and humour! Everything we are all about! Geoff is an outstanding man and genuine public servant. Mr Ward is only the 4^th person to receive this award in the 3 and a half years that Woking YMCA has been operational. Previous recipients are Ray Morgan (CEO Woking Borough Council), Chris Ingram (owner of Woking FC and Patron of Woking YMCA) and Jid Hussian (project manager of WMSC).

11. Woking YMCA takes the Ypod to the streets

Woking YMCA Ypod Centre in conjunction with Woking Borough Council is proud to announce the re-opening of Ypod Extra (formally The Barnsbury Project) on Ash Road, Barnsbury. The local Police are also close partners and have provided support and funding.

The centre aims to provide for young people in the Barnsbury area in the same way as the Ypod centre , only closer to home. The Monday night drop-in has been busy so far, with 20-30 young people coming through the doors every session. The dedicated team only hope to grow this as word spreads and more young people come to see what’s on offer.

Ypod Extra is designed to provide young people within Barnsbury a free safe environment where they can look forward to developing new skills or just having fun with other young people on the estate. Play stations and various indoor and outdoor games are provided free of charge and plans are in place to purchase further sports and games equipment for the centre.

CJ Farrow the head youth worker for Ypod Extra said:

 “Ypod Extra reopened on July 21^st but looks forward to an official launch on Monday 17^th August. I am truly looking forward top working closely with the community and value any suggestions from young people and parents about what resources and activities they would like at the centre.”

What makes this project stand out is the input form the young people. The Youth team are encouraging all new ideas on how the centre should look and the kinds of things they can get involved in. One of the first projects underway is ‘Wallpaper Graffiti’.  The young people are creating designs for the previously blank walls that represent them and bring their personalities and interests into the centre.

Ypod Extra is open to all young people on Barnsbury estate every Monday between 6.30 and 9pm

For more information about the project please contact CJ Farrow on 01483 757 160 or  cj.farrow@wokingymca.org.uk.