Archive News
LSC launches new advisory group to work with Voluntary and Community Sector - 20 December 2006
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has launched a new advisory group to focus on the Council’s work with the voluntary and community sector (VCS). The LSC Advisory Group, will be chaired by Shirley Cramer, and will bring together experts from across the VCS to advise the LSC on policy and help strengthen the LSC’s links with VCS partners. more...
“On 30 October 2006, the Department for Work and Pensions launched a consultation on the European Social Fund (ESF)
in England and Gibraltar in 2007-2013. The consultation seeks views on the draft ESF Operational Programme.
The deadline for responses is 22 January 2007.
If you want further information about the consultation and how to respond, please go to www.esf.gov.uk”
Advisory Group - Working Together 11.09.06
Interviews took place early September for the Advisory Group Working Together
The advisory group has now had its first meeting – the minutes of the meeting can be found here: Advisory Group Minutes
LSC agenda for change Event - 18 October 2006
Papers from the LSC agenda for change Event held on 18 October 2006
Autumn Road Show - 18 10 06 (ppt)
Presentation (pdf)
VCS Event 2006
Quality in Learning Project: supporting the voluntary sector in quality delivery
This project was a capacity-building project, supported by LSC ESF co-financing to support quality improvement of learning programmes offered by voluntary sector organisations (VSOs), including self-assessment procedures and reporting. The project was originally designed to use the Common Inspection Framework as the basis and support voluntary sector organisations to plan and prepare for ALI (Adult Learning Inspectorate) inspection, undertake RARPA (Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement in non-accredited learning) or similar quality systems.
The format was that each organisation would undertake two workshops and then would have an allocation of time with the tutor, Liz Johnston, for mentoring through their self-assessments (SAR) and development plans (DP); reviewing, improving and adding to their quality systems.
Our target was to take 16 VSOs through the quality improvement programme. We recruited 16 and 14 engaged in our quality improvement programme; they utilised quality improvement techniques to establish effective self-assessment mechanisms and produced detailed action plans to develop and implement more robust quality improvement mechanisms within their organisation. We feel the project was a success in that all 14 organisations now have quality systems in place and are ready to undertake inspection.
For further information contact; Irena Grajewska, 01768 242128
Full details, downloadable documents and report available on www.cumbrialearninglinks.org.uk
4th July is Local Sector Independence Day
Compact Voice is calling on local groups and councils across England to strengthen the voluntary and community sector’s independence and celebrate campaigning on 4th July. Councils and communities will benefit if what Local Compacts say on independence is matched by practice. The Compact Voice briefing can help you identify issues and organise activities. See here for the briefing:
Local Sector Independence Day
Improving trustee knowledge and skills online 16 November 2006
Learning to Drive is a new e-learning programme written specially for those new to trusteeship or those wanting to brush up their skills.
Produced for the Governance Hub, this innovative 12-module programme enables people to learn at their own pace, in their own time and to the level of complexity that they need for their role.
Its interactive approach includes self-assessments, quizzes and challenges provoking reflection and practical actions that can be applied in any management committee setting.
Learning to Drive has been written by Suffolk-based practitioners from Suffolk Association of Voluntary Organisations, who work daily with boards and staff on improving governance performance. It covers leadership, roles, legal issues, business planning, managing people in an accessible, yet dynamic way.
The programme is recruiting e-tutors, so that all using Learning to Drive will have direct support.
To register for Learning to Drive log on at www.trustee-elearning.org.uk, for more information or details of becoming an e-tutor ring Ionne Hammond on 01473 273273
Train to Gain launch
With the launch of Train to Gain this month, the dedicated Train to Gain website is now announcing how to become registered as a training provider for this service. Find out more...
Map of Third Sector Learning Consortia
You can download a map of Learning and skills Third Sector consortia in England. This was prepared in 2006 with the backing of both LLSC offices and the Third Sector. The map is currently being updated by NIACE. We will provide a linkto the new map when it is available.
Third Sector Learning & Training Consortia in England - LSC Map, June 2006 (doc 338KB)
If you wish, you can find out the contact details of any of the consortia listedon the map at http://www.vcslearninglinks.org.uk/
LSC National Employer Service welcomes applications from Third Sector organisation
The LSC National Employer Service is welcoming applications from Third Sector organisations to be included in this service, if the organisation meets the criteria of the NES.
The criteria will only be applicable to a small number of Third Sector organisations that have large numbers of staff without level 2 qualifications and work across multi site locations. Notwithstanding that, it is great that the NES are wishing to include THIRD SECTOR organisations so if you are a large national Third Sector organisation do have a look at the NES website to see if you apply.
Third Sector Briefing
This is the first of a number of briefings that inform the sector and stakeholders of the work that the LSC is involved with in engaging with the Third Sector. Each of these briefing papers will be available on this web page as and when they are published. Click below for the first briefing.
Third Sector Briefing Paper #1
Working Together - An update on the LSC strategy for working with the third sector
Third Sector DfES document
Compact
The Compact is the agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector to improve their relationship for mutual advantage and community gain. There are a number of codes of practice associated with the Compact, including codes on procurement and consultation. The LSC is carrying out an on-going review of its processes and systems against the Compact Codes of Good Practice. The first stage has been a survey of regional funding, procurement and contracting and consultation practices. The review has identified examples of good practice together with potential for improvement in some areas. The results of this review are being considered at present. If you have a concern that the LSC is not acting within compact good practice then please contact Cheryl Turner(Cheryl.turner@lsc.gov.uk)
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/
New commissioning process opens up opportunities for Third Sector
Since 2007, LSC have opened up opportunities for new providers through an open tendering process covering a wide range of LSC and ESF funded provision. The first round resulted in 43 new contracts for Third Sector organisations across England for delivery in 2007 and 2008, 16 of which were brand new contracts for the third sector. The value of these contracts was £7.61million.
House of Commons reception
Please follow the links below to a press release detailing our recent House of Commons reception and also an update on our strategy for working together with the third sector.
LSC marks progress in improving its outreach to the third sector
Working Together - An update on the LSC strategy for working with the third sector
The Working Together Advisory Group
The Advisory Group was established in 2006 to support the LSC in implementing the Working Together Strategy. Minutes of the meetings can be found below.
The Advisory Group - Working Together met on 07 September 2007. These are the minutes of the meeting.
Working Together Advisory Group - meeting minutes 07 September 2007(165KB)
The Advisory Group - Working Together met on 02 July 2007. These are the minutes of the meeting.
Working Together Advisory Group - meeting minutes 02 July 2007(147KB)
The Advisory Group - Working Together met on 9 May 2007. These are the minutes of the meeting.
Working Together Advisory Group - meeting minutes 09 May 2007
The Advisory Group - Working Together met on 22 February 2007. These are the minutes of the meeting.
WorkingTogether Advisory Group - meeting minutes 22 February 2007 (64KB)
The Advisory Group - Working Together met on 15 January 2007. These are the minutes of the meeting.
WorkingTogether Advisory Group - meeting minutes 10 January 2007 (46.1KB)
The Advisory Group - Working Together met on 15 November 2006. These are the minutes of the meeting.
WorkingTogether Advisory Group - meeting minutes 15 November 2006 (38KB)
The Advisory Group - Working Together met on 9 October 2006. These are the minutes of the meeting.
WorkingTogether Advisory Group - meeting minutes 9 October 2006 (52KB)
