WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 2010 EDITION OF THE E-BRIEFING FROM EGSA, CONNECTING ADULTS WITH LEARNING…

EGSA’s e-briefing is currently circulated to approximately 2,600 contacts. If you have any events, activities or information you wish to be considered for inclusion in the December 2010 e-briefing please submit your information to the Communication and Quality Team (CQT) at E: ebriefing@egsa.org.uk no later than Thursday 25^th November 2010.

Please note that depending on the volume of material submitted we might not be able to include everything we receive.

If your colleagues wish to receive the e-briefing they can register online at http://bit.ly/cnrdsD.

EGSA NEWS…

Free Pre-Redundancy Advice

EGSA’s career planning services are aimed at employees facing redundancy. EGSA’s experienced, qualified advisers can help employees identify opportunities and plan for next steps through:

· Confidential interviews

· Group workshops

Recently, EGSA has provided crucial and timely advice to companies across N Ireland, including: Tyrone Brick, BE Aerospace, Arntz Belting, Seagoe Technologies, Stream International and Hughes Christensen.

Supported by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), EGSA’s pre-redundancy services are available free to employers across N Ireland.

For further information contact Nikki Sullivan on T: 028 9024 4274 or visit http://bit.ly/dyRlEb.

Plain English Training

Wednesday 1^st December 2010, 10am-12.30pm

EGSA, 4^th floor, 40 Linenhall Street, Belfast

Want to learn how to make your organisation’s written material clear and easy to understand? EGSA’s Keep It Clear training session aims to raise awareness of plain English techniques and the importance of reaching as wide an audience as possible. The introductory level course is aimed at anyone whose work (paid or voluntary) involves writing regularly. This can include letters, flyers, reports, booklets, factsheets and PowerPoint presentations.

“Short, snappy chunks of information kept my interest from start to finish”

“I found this training very enjoyable – it was useful, relevant and very practical.”
(Keep It Clear participants)

Booking is essential. Cost = £35 (includes materials and light refreshments). Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

For further information contact Anne Welsh on T: 028 9024 4274 or visit http://bit.ly/aeqNAn to download a booking form.

Introduction to Digital Photography – for anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing

10^th November 2010, 6.30-8.30pm

Camera Club Room, Old Library, Downshire Road, Banbridge

This event is free of charge and is funded by the Big Lottery. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information or to book a place please contact Roisin Linden, EGSA Guidance Adviser, on M: 078 34 10 07 02 or E: roisin.linden@egsa.org.uk.

EGSA Annual Report 09-10 – now available

If you would like to download a copy of EGSA's Annual Report 09-10 please click http://bit.ly/9lPKZw. If you would like a copy of the Annual Report posted or e-mailed please contact Leigh Veighey on T: 028 9024 4274 or E: info@egsa.org.uk.

Room Hire Rate Reduced

EGSA has meeting rooms for hire and some vacant office space in its Belfast office, 40 Linenhall Street.

Meeting room available for hire Monday to Friday. The room can facilitate up to 20 people.

· Room hire for one day = Now £50

· Room hire for half day = Now £30

Small, serviced units available for short and long term lease. Contact Ann Osborne on T: 028 9024 4274 or E: ann.osborne@egsa.org.uk.

EGSA Connect2... Factfile – Top 10
Connect2… Factfile contains factsheets covering a comprehensive range of subjects related to adult learning. The factsheets have been designed to help adult learners, and those who advise them, make choices about courses and careers. To view the top 10 downloaded factsheets in October 2010 go to http://bit.ly/drEFj9.

EGSA RECRUITMENT…

Guidance Adviser – Enniskillen

EGSA – the Educational Guidance Service for Adults – is a leading, local provider of independent information, advice and guidance on learning and careers.

EGSA wishes to recruit the following:

Guidance Adviser (Ref: GN/01/11/2010)

Salary: £24,089 - £30,520 per annum

Based in Enniskillen 36 hrs per week

For further details and to download an application pack go to http://bit.ly/94E9Ej. To receive an application pack by post, please send an A4 SAE to the value of 50p to Leigh Veighey, EGSA, 4^th Floor, 40 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BA.

NEWS IN e-BRIEF…

Early Years Programme Helping to Tackle Sectarianism

Experts in early childhood from across the world were in N Ireland recently to hear the results of an in-depth research project that Early Years - the organisation for young children, hopes will lead to more effective measures to tackle racism, sectarianism and bullying in N Ireland.

The research which assessed the impact of the ‘Media Initiative for Children Respecting Difference Programme’, developed by Early Years and the Peace Initiatives Institute in the USA and aimed at pre-school children aged 3-4 years old, was conducted by a multidisciplinary research team from Queen’s University, Stranmillis University College and the National Children’s Bureau (NCB). To read the press release in full click http://bit.ly/cFdYlb.

Advance notice – Development of new NOS for Career Development roles

During November and December 2010 Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) will be seeking views on the new National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Career Development roles, including:

career and educational information advice and guidance and
employability support within the lifelong learning sector

In April 2010 LLUK inherited the Advice and Guidance NOS from ENTO. Following research into the current use of these NOS it became apparent that many other sector areas have developed and are using their own sector specific NOS to meet the needs of information, advice and guidance where it appears in their sectors.

LLUK will soon be seeking feedback on the new NOS from those working in the sector. Opportunities to get involved will include an online feedback form, and a number of focus group events held in each nation of the UK.

Attend an event

Belfast – 7^th December, 9.15am-12noon or 12.45-3.30pm

Registration will be open from 5^th November. Please check the review webpage to register after this date.

Visit LLUK’s website to find out more, including how to provide feedback online. www.lluk.org/4823.htm

COURSES/TRAINING/PROGRAMMES…

Creativity Thirst Taster Sessions

Taster 1: Monday 8^th November at 7.30pm, University of Ulster, Magee Campus

Taster 2: Monday 15^th November at 7.30pm (for venue contact Carole Kane)

A partnership between the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and the University of Ulster, Magee Campus, this project is made possible by the Creative Industries Innovation Fund which is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure.

Creativity Thirst is a project designed for those considering setting up their own business in the Creative Industries or looking to make some extra income with their creative skills. The programme has been developed by the WEA in response to specific needs identified in the Creative Industries.

As part of this project, two Taster Sessions are being delivered in University of Ulster, Magee Campus. They will be presented by professionals who work both locally and internationally in the Creative Industries. These role models will give some background to their work and explain how they approach commercialising their business ideas. The sessions are FREE to attend.

For further information contact Carole Kane on T: 028 9032 9718, E: carole.kane@wea-ni.com or go to www.wea-ni.com.

The Open University – Individual Advice

13^th November 2010, 9.30am-12.30pm

110 Victoria Street, Belfast

You will be able to get answers from OU advisers to your questions about courses and qualifications, study methods, and financial packages to support your learning with the Open University. Faculty representatives will be available to deal with subject enquiries. The OU library will be open and course materials will be available to view. To find out more about postgraduate courses contact the OU firstly on T: 028 9032 3722 or E: Ireland@open.ac.uk to ensure they have specialists available. Students requiring careers advice and guidance should contact the Careers Team through www.open.ac.uk/careers.

Learn about study with the Open University in Ireland

September-November 2010

Various locations

If you haven’t studied with the Open University before, or you have had a few years away from study, this is for you! Come along for an informal conversation with an OU representative to get answers to your questions about courses, study methods and other aspects of learning with the OU. Just drop in - no appointment necessary. For locations, times and dates or for further details contact Ally Hill on T: 028 9024 5025 or click www.open.ac.uk.

Level 4 Certification in Exercise for the Management of Lower Back Pain

Saturdays and Sundays, 9am-5pm

11^th & 12^th December, 18^th & 19^th December 2010 and 22^nd & 23^rd January 2011

Fitness First, Connswater, Belfast

Back pain accounts for over £1 billion of public spending and almost 5 million working days lost each year. The course is suitable for Level 3 Personal Trainers wishing to train to become accredited Level 4 specialist instructors. This course covers the multi-modal nature of lower back pain, its management and how to prescribe and deliver exercise programmes for this client group. The cost is £400 and the course code is C4033/A02P. Open enrolment at the 4 main Belfast Metropolitan College sites or T: 028 9026 5265.

OCRNI November Training

The OCRNI team in Belfast are delighted to offer a comprehensive training programme to teachers and trainers of OCR qualifications. Training includes IT User Skills, GCSE English, Text Processing and much more.

All events are held in Riverwood House, Newforge Lane, Belfast unless otherwise stated. For further information please contact T: 028 9066 9797 or E: ocr-ireland@ocr.org.uk. You can also follow OCRNI on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OCRNI and Facebook at http://on.fb.me/b6Vm6e.

The Rural College and Derrynoid Centre hobby/leisure courses

Draperstown, November 2010 – January 2011

One Day Courses: Speak Up Speak Out, Flower Arranging
Weekend Courses: Bead Weaving, Patchwork, Stick Making, Wine Appreciation, Colour Me Confident, Watercolour/Acrylic Painting

For further information or to book your place contact Pauline Fullen on T: 028 7962 9100.

Armagh Prince's Trust Team Programme

· Have you 12 weeks on your hands?

· Aged 16-25?

· Want to get on in life and gain a qualification?

The next programme starts 17^th January 2011 and will run in Southern Regional College, Armagh. For further information contact Frances Murphy on M: 078 09 75 65 69, E: murphyfm@src.ac.uk or visit http://bit.ly/bxzdW7.

EXHIBITIONS/CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/LAUNCHES…

Adult Life – ‘Managing Money’ Seminar

The National Autistic Society (NAS)

Thursday 18^th November, 10am-2.30pm

Wellington Park Hotel, Malone Road, Belfast

This seminar is for parents of teenagers/adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Topics covered will include:

Discussion of The New NAS Managing Money website and workbook for people with ASD
Helping your sons or daughters to budget
Practical advice relating to ASD and managing money (e.g. compulsive spending and debt).
Understanding mental capacity and the options available for people with an ASD and their parents
Money choices relating to employment and benefits
Planning for the future, wills and trusts
Where to get financial help

Parents of teenagers (aged 14 and over)/adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders can attend the seminar. NAS are not currently delivering this seminar for people with Autism themselves. The seminar will be delivered by Louisa James and Andrew Powell of the NAS help! Team. For further information contact Louisa James on M: 078 24 47 33 32.

Sustainability of Later Life Learning for 50+

Thursday 18^th November, 10.30am-1pm with light lunch

The Verbal Arts Centre, L/Derry

Later life learning encourages people to come out and learn with others and develop new skills. Classes and activities for older people help to increase confidence whilst socialising and learning together helps to ease isolation. Classes enable people to make new friendships and have fun. However, the recent economic climate is making the sustainability of later life learning more difficult than ever before. Whilst the maintenance of any project is not a new challenge to our community leaders, the idea of self help where you the members run, maintain and even teach them and sustain their own group’s activities may be.

The WEA want to tap the experience and knowledge of older people to help you take control of your learning and create a learning culture that is not dependant on the ups and downs of funding. This half day session will support you in the development of sustaining later life learning for you and your group.

For further information or to register please contact Carolyn Hale (Belfast) on T: 028 9032 9718, E: carolyn.hale@wea-ni.com or Sinead Devine (L/Derry) on T: 028 7136 9947, E: sinead.devine@wea-ni.com. Please note that WEA is offering members travelling from Belfast transport to the venue and back.

Disability Convention – have your say

1^st December 2010

Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick

Making the Disability Convention rights a reality in Northern Ireland – have your say. A joint Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission event. If you would like to attend the event, or would like to find out more information, please contact Naomi Roberts at the Equality Commission on T: 028 9050 0645, E: nroberts@equalityni.org or click http://bit.ly/bSKFem.

Grundtvig/Comenius Seminar: Learning in Later Life – Generational Cooperation

25^th-29^th May 2011

Limassol, Cyprus

Ref: CY-2011-063-001

Info: http://bit.ly/afLYiT

Deadline for applications to the National Agencies is 14^th January 2011. Contact Klitos Symeonides, President of the Cyprus Adult Education Association (seminar-course manager) on T: 00357 9947 0810 or E: klitossy@cytanet.com.cy. In order to apply for funds to cover the expenses, you need a letter of acceptance from the seminar manager.

CAMPAIGNS…

N Ireland Anti-Homophobia Week

1^st-7^th November 2010 marks N Ireland Anti-Homophobia week. The Rainbow Project, Cara Friend, LASI, PSNI, Unite Against Hate and The Equality Commission have developed a travelling billboard which will be making its way throughout N Ireland over the course of the week. For further information and a schedule of events click http://bit.ly/cyS0ZK.

BBC N Ireland’s Community Bus

The BBCNI Bus had a recent makeover with an eye-catching design that captures some of N Ireland’s natural beauty and most famous landmarks. The new look coincides with the launch of the BBCNI Community Bus website showcasing content produced by groups and individuals working with the BBC team.

The BBC Community Bus works to promote media literacy with groups and organisations across N Ireland. Activities include:

Training in Digital Storytelling (including research, recording and editing)
Advice on how to use new technologies
Recording local stories for BBC programmes and the Community Bus website
Recording audience feedback about local BBC services

To find out how the BBCNI Community Bus team could work with your group, or about the support they can provide on a range of media literacy themes, T: 028 9033 8844 or log on to www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/community/bus/.

FUNDING…

Benefits Information Session – for anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing

11^th November 2010, 7pm - 9pm

Wellington Park Hotel, 21 Malone Road, Belfast

There will be a guest speaker from the Benefits office to provide up-to-date information. Communication support and a light supper will be provided. For more information please contact Christopher Wightman, RNID Employment Adviser, on M: 079 57 95 84 13 (text only) or E: Christopher.Wightman@rnid.org.uk.

BIG opens gateway to civil society knowledge

The Big Lottery Fund has allocated £200,000 to the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) to create a one-stop knowledge resource that will be available to the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. Birmingham University-based TSRC will collaborate with the British Library in establishing a “Knowledge Portal”, an online catalogue and library of published material on and for the VCS in the UK that will become a permanent part of the British Library’s Social Sciences collection. The grant comes from the learning strand of BIG’s Replication and Innovation Fund. To read this press release in full click http://bit.ly/csoMEj.

AWARDS…

Recent Investing in Volunteers Achievers!

Congratulations to four new groups who achieved the Investing in Volunteers Award (IiV) at the recent Quality Assurance Panel – Northern Ireland Policing Board, Belfast Central Mission, Little Hands Sure Start and The Link Family and Community Centre. The latter was funded through Building Change Trust after having successfully applied for and received a bursary. BCM have actually gone through the award twice – being one of the first groups to achieve Investing in Volunteers in NI they were keen to renew their award after the three year period and did so in record time.

If you would like to hear more about how you too could achieve the Investing in Volunteers Award please contact Lizanne Frawley, Volunteer Now on T: 028 9081 8308 or E: investinginvolunteers@volunteernow.co.uk.

RESOURCES…

Career Development National Occupational Standards (NOS)

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) is developing new Career Development National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the lifelong learning sector. This piece of work has been funded by BIS. The new NOS will be relevant to those in advice and guidance roles working with all ages across the UK. Developing new, fit-for-purpose NOS for the sector will enhance and support the skills of the advice and guidance workforce.

The Career Development NOS will cover the roles of those providing advice and guidance to learners, career changers, those in employment or looking for training, as well as those seeking employment.

NOS are practical resource tools with the ability to support staff at every level of the workforce. They can be used to support the full range of human resource development activities including performance management, training and development, and recruitment and selection. Long term benefits include increased effectiveness, reduced workloads, and a reduction in resource expenditure.

For further details contact Crystal Minors on T: 0845 226 1712, E: crystal@stratagia.co.uk or click www.lluk.org/4823.htm.

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EGSA Connecting Adults with Learning, 4^th Floor, 40 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8BA
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