NEWS
The new Professional and National Occupational Standards for Youth Work have now been approved by the UK Co-ordinating Committee. They will be made live on the SSDA NOS Directory website (www.ukstandards.org) shortly.
Many thanks to all who contributed to the development of the Standards.
The Common Standards for Community Learning and Development have also been approved by the UK Co-ordinating Committee and will be available live on the UK Standards and the LLUK websites shortly www.ukstandards.org; http://www.lluk.org.uk
For further information, or if you are having difficulty accessing the standards, please contact Claire Kelly at clairekelly@lluk.org or Maureen O’Mara at maureenomara@lluk.org.
The CATS bursary is a scheme to support training in vocational skills. The bursary is eligible to young people (16 - 24) living in the National Park, and supports "snap shot" type training courses in skills that will help them get jobs in areas that are aligned to the aims of the National Park e.g. conservation management, land management (game keeping, farming), outdoor activity instruction, guiding and so on.
Click here for further information
Strengthening Standards: Improving the Quality of Community Learning and Development Service Delivery
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm officially launched the long-awaited report “Strengthening Standards: Improving the Quality Of Community Learning and Development Service Delivery".
The report was compiled by a short-life task group of Community Learning and Development professionals chaired by Professor Ted Milburn between 2003-2005.
It recommends the set up of a professional body specifically for the Community Learning and Development (CLD) sector.
The professional body would undertake the approval of all sector training in a bid to ensure high standards and support inclusion and progression.
The report also proposes that a framework of qualifications should be developed linked with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework as well as a framework for Continued Professional Development.
Further recommendations include practitioner registration by the professional body and the introduction of a recognised system of supported induction for CLD professionals.
The Minister told delegates at the launch that he would look to Learning Connections for further advice on the detailed options for addressing the issues identified by the group, and urged them to continue to work with the Scottish Executive on these.
Click here to download the report
Youth workers back LLUK
Employers are keen that youth work remains under the umbrella of Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK), new research reveals.
This was the result of a project carried out by LLUK to determine whether youth workers, employers and representative bodies across the UK believe youth work should remain within the Lifelong Learning UK remit. The study followed discussions between LLUK, ministers and the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) relating to Every Child Matters and the Youth Matters green paper.
Seventy six per cent of respondents saw the 14-19 age group as the core focus for youth workers thus placing it within lifelong learning. Fifty-nine per cent of those surveyed thought LLUK was the correct sector skills council for youth work while just 5% thought it was not. Seventy-six per cent believed that by including youth workers in LLUK’s professional standards, they would have more opportunities to access careers across the sector.
The survey was based on interviews with, and responses from, regional youth work advisers representing more than 2,000 youth organisations.
David Hunter, LLUK’s chief executive, said he was delighted by the results of the survey but recognised the need to raise the profile of LLUK and convince the minority of youth work employers that are either unaware of the SSC or remain to be convinced that it should cover their staff.
"Clearly this is a vote of confidence from employers that recognise youth work as a key part of lifelong learning," he said. "We will continue to work with organisations such as the CWDC so that more organisations are aware of our activities and the benefits that we offer."
Individual Learning Accounts
Individual learning accounts were launched at the beginning of October 2004 as part of the Executive's Lifelong Learning Strategy. (www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/education/life-long-learning)
Up to £200 per year will be available for individuals with a gross income of less than £15,000 per year. This will be available only for quality assured learning and training, and a helpline and website will be set up by Learndirect Scotland. (www.learndirectscotland.com/)
SCVO is working with Learndirect to promote the ILAs through voluntary organisations to staff and service users in the eligible group.
A second type of ILA, without income restrictions, will be launched in Spring 2005 for anyone to undertake ICT training. SCVO is currently available to provide more detailed information to intermediary, umbrella organisations and to organisations whose work brings them into contact with individuals in the eligible group.
If you would like SCVO to speak to your organisation, or a group of organisations in your area, please email celia.carson@scvo.org.uk or shamin.akhtar@scvo.org.uk .