It is with mixed emotions that I welcome you to the eleventh and final edition of METRO3.

All Pan London 2 projects finished delivery at the end of July 2008 and project providers are now busy gathering final pieces of evidence and making their final claims (and we are getting ready to do the same). As we have highlighted through previous editions, there have been a number of successful projects and stories coming out of the programme. Pan London 2 was the first London LSC programme to be closely aligned with mainstream LSC activity and it has allowed us to pick up on a number of successes as well as areas for improvement. These lessons will be analysed further in an evaluation of the programme we are commissioning and are already informing both the 2007–10 London LSC ESF and mainstream programmes. I know as well that a number of providers have been able to use their experience delivering Pan London 2 projects in other areas of work and the final project evaluations should give us all a clear picture of the impact of this experience.

The final report following the evaluation of the programme, along with other useful information relating to the programme and its projects, will be available on our website in December. In addition, the overall impact of Pan London 2 and the local LSC ESF programmes will be featured in December’s issue of The Magazine (the London LSC’s publication for partners and stakeholders), which is also available on our website.

Many projects were aiming to have beneficiaries complete their qualifications and to assist their progression into work or further training in the final months of delivery and I’m looking forward to the seeing the final results. Even before the final claims have come in, the programme has already assisted over 16,000 individuals, helped them gain over 6,300 qualifications (including over 2,000 Skills for Life qualifications) and has supported over 1,200 unemployed people into work.

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the LSC to thank all the staff who have worked on Pan London 2 projects and at ECOTEC for their efforts to assist thousands of Londoners improve their own prospects.

In this edition we have news from a number of project celebration and dissemination events. One of the pleasing features of these events has been the opportunity they have presented beneficiaries to make links with prospective employers, as well as the stories you will read of individual success.

With the number of high-profile regeneration projects now underway across the city, including most obviously preparation for 2012, construction is a key sector for London. A number of Pan London 2 projects have focussed on this sector, aiming to ensure that the London workforce has the appropriate skills to take advantage of future opportunities as well as assisting groups that have been traditionally under-represented in the sector. Women are one such group and our learner’s story this edition is about Gemma Woolrych. Gemma is a self-employed painter and decorator who has gained a Level 3 qualification through the Constructive Learning for London project. Our two case studies in this edition also focus on construction. As you will read about, Tribal Consulting’s On-Site Training Centres on Major Construction Projects and Mace Sustain’s Construction Works! projects have helped individuals overcome personal obstacles to gain qualifications and work in the sector.

We hope that you enjoy this final issue and that you have found METRO3 both useful and inspiring.

Best wishes
 

MOVE project congratulates beneficiaries 25th July

The MOVE project celebrated beneficiaries’ success at an event at City Lit on the 25 July 2008. They were awarded with completion certificates for Level 2 training including NVQ in Housing and VRQ in Supporting the Development Needs of Vulnerable People by Alison Benjamin, Deputy Editor of Society Guardian.

The event was opened by Joe Manifold, Vice Principal of City Lit, who congratulated beneficiaries and spoke about the organisation’s commitment to widening participation. Wendy McKaig, Head of Programme Community Outreach, praised the efforts of beneficiaries, staff and partners and highlighted the positive findings of an independent evaluation of the project. Chester Richards and Leroy Whittaker spoke about their experience of training with MOVE.

Chester completed the Level 2 VRQ Certificate in Supporting the Development Needs of Vulnerable People in May. He feels he was lacking direction and had no ambition prior to the course. He started with low expectations and says he was looking “for something to do to kill time and keep out of trouble.” However, training proved to have a far greater impact. He says “Through doing the course I learnt to put my pride aside and ask for help. I learnt to care for others and myself. It changed my life beyond recognition.” He feels taking the training has helped him find his niche, given him new friends and helped him get a job he is passionate about at St Mungo’s, where he is now responsible for homeless clients.

Leroy completed an NVQ Level 2 in Housing in 2007. He feels a loss of direction contributed to him becoming homeless and living in communes for two years, during which he was the victim of a violent attack. He started to find new direction after getting a place in a hostel where he did voluntary work and began to put his life back together.

Leroy wanted to take an NVQ so he could help other people in a similar situation to his own. Reflecting on completing the NVQ in Housing he says “I am really thrilled. I want to help other people. Giving is the name of the game.” Leroy is now able to use his training and personal experience in his job at a family hostel and says he loves every minute of it.

The MOVE project (2.2A), led by City Lit, helped homeless people progress towards work. Contextualised Skills for Life at Entry Level and Levels 1 and 2, NVQ Level 2 programmes and City & Guilds Level 2 qualifications were delivered. Delivery was underpinned by a programme of Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) and tutorials, including a full assessment to identify learning needs and to guide the beneficiary towards and through the most appropriate course of study and ultimately towards work.

DISPELS Kick It On 25th July

Project partner SkillsActive hosted a lunchtime event, entitled KICK IT ON, at their premises on New Oxford Street on 25 July 2008 to offer advice and guidance on progression opportunities for the Disabled People Engaged in Learning through Sport (DISPELS) project beneficiaries. The event was attended by a number of guest speakers: Sarah Lee of Clapham Park Homes, Shaun Powell of the London Sports Forum for Disabled People and Mark Cole of Greenwich University / Charlton Athletic Football Club.

Lambeth College, along with Fulham Football Club, Southbank University and Greenwich University, provided stands with course progression materials and experienced course advisors to give advice on progression routes. Beneficiaries of the DISPELS project were shown how to make use of the SkillsActive ‘Career Pods’. Pods are portable online tools that guide people through careers information and point them in the direction of advice and guidance and sector-specific employment opportunities. Beneficiaries were also able speak to representatives of the Football Association who came along to chat to the group on an informal basis. The event also offered the opportunity for project beneficiaries to apply for the London Careers Coaching Bursary.

The DISPELS project, (2.2H), led by Lambeth College, aimed to engage, recruit and train 105 of the estimated 26,000 disabled adults from Lambeth, Newham and surrounding areas. The partnership provided one to one support, advice, guidance and training at NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in the sports and leisure sector, building skills, motivation and confidence of the beneficiaries so that they could become economically active.

Community Interpreting and Advocacy project, celebration reception 8th July

The Community Interpreting and Advocacy project’s celebration reception on Tuesday 8 July 2008, at the October Gallery in Holborn, was organised to thank all involved for the support and commitment that made the project so successful. Approximately 70 guests attended, including 55 project beneficiaries, four interpreting employers, tutors, public service speakers, community partners and staff from all partners — Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT), Mary Ward Centre, Select Training Partnership and Workers’ Educational Association (WEA). Guests had the opportunity to meet other interpreting professionals in person, exchanging ideas and experiences while enjoying artwork and refreshments. Beneficiaries and employers were introduced to each other and many made valuable contacts.

Suzanna Jackson, Vice Principal at the Mary Ward Centre, and Sharmini Kotecha, Director at Select Training Partnership, thanked everyone for supporting the project. Fatema Jahangir, Senior Language Specialist, and Shelly Phelan, Recruitment Coordinator, from Language Line commended the project for training beneficiaries to such a high standard. They explained that this made their jobs much easier as everyone who was referred to their company by the partnership was ready to be employed as an interpreter. They also thanked CALAT, Mary Ward Centre and the WEA for organising recent job fairs.

Two beneficiaries spoke about what the project meant for them. Firstly, Nsaka Ejiba, who achieved a Level 3 OCN Community Interpreting qualification, talked about how he had enjoyed his course at the Cockpit Arts Centre. He thanked his tutor, Irem Bennetts, for her support and encouragement, and the Mary Ward Centre for organising the training. His tutor thought his coursework was some of the best she had seen and commended him on his professional approach. Nsaka, who speaks both Lingala and French, had just been inducted at Language Line, a company he met at the project's job fair in June, and was looking forward to starting a career as a community interpreter. He felt the job fair was a really good idea as it gave him the chance to meet potential employers face to face and find employment quickly.

Adam Shawn, who achieved a Level 3 Community Interpreting qualification from CALAT, talked about the positive impact the project had on his life and thanked his tutor Miriam Citron. Adam decided to retrain in 2007 and much prefers interpreting to working as a painter and decorator as the profession is so varied and no day is ever the same. He currently works for Croydon Council and Merton Interpreting Services and continues to work as a painter and decorator part-time. He speaks the Sorani Kurdish dialect, and has found his language and interpreting skills are often in demand. He attended a job fair at CALAT and felt this, together with the encouragement from his tutor, helped him find work.

The Community Interpreting and Advocacy project (2.2I), led by the Mary Ward Centre, provided unemployed ethnic minority beneficiaries with customised accredited training and employment provision in Community / Health Interpreting and Bilingual Advocacy to enhance their skills base and enable them to access interpreting / advocacy employment opportunities, within the public, private and voluntary sectors across London. Outcomes included IAG provision, accredited qualifications, ESOL accreditation, progressions into employment or self-employment and progressions into further training.

Level 2 @19 celebrate achievement 1st July

Stratford Circus hosted the NewVIc Level 2 @19 celebration event on 1 July 2008. The event celebrated the success of over 120 young people from diverse backgrounds with differing abilities and experiences who have gained vocational and employability skills aimed at the sports and construction sectors.

Alan Kunna, NewVIc Centre Manager, opened the event congratulating beneficiaries on their achievements. Certificates of completion were awarded to all beneficiaries and outstanding achievers were recognised with special awards. Specially invited guest speakers set the project in context and spoke about future opportunities for beneficiaries. Shelia Weeden from the LSC discussed how vocational skills gained through the project and personal development will stand beneficiaries in good stead in today's employment market. She also pointed out the wealth of new opportunities anticipated from the regeneration of Newham and Stratford in particular. John Appleton from the Building Crafts College, a specialist craft college based in Stratford, spoke about how the project enriched learning by funding extra activities. Phillip Rudling from Leyton Orient Sports Programme discussed future opportunities for employment and volunteering linked to the Olympics. He also offered beneficiaries the chance to apply for six-month paid work experience places with the Leyton Orient Sports Programme.

Outstanding achievers Melithi Sellapperuma and Zahra Haji, both 17, gave a short talk on their experience of the Certificate in Coaching. Melithi said, “The course helped me gain better communication skills.” She valued the fact that it helped her learn to work with youngsters and the chance to coach in her own way. She plans to increase her skills by taking the Level 2 Certificate in Coaching next. Zahra said the course “helped us try out games, challenge each other and work in a team.” Since completing the course she has successfully gained a job working in the community for West Ham United.

The Level 2 @19 project (3.1G), led by Newham VI Form College, was funded under the On Your Marks programme as part of the Pan London 2 Programme. It had a sports and construction theme aligned to Newham's 14–19 strategy. All the students were offered a programme of support which aimed to ensure they enjoyed and achieved their Level 2 learning outcomes.

For further information on Level 2 @19 please
e-mail: dkolli@newvic.ac.uk
or phone: 020 7540 0680

Community Interpreting and Advocacy project Job Fair 5th June

The Mary Ward Centre and the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) held a job fair for beneficiaries of the Community Interpreting and Advocacy programme on 5 June 2008. The event gave qualified interpreters a chance to meet potential employers. Interpreters in a wide range of languages attended including Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Farsi, Kiswahili, Latvian, Lingala, Mandarin, Pashto, Polish, Russian, Somali, Turkish and Urdu as well as many others. Thirteen employers recruiting interpreters attended — ranging from Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities to private interpreting and translation companies. One of the employers attending was Language is Everything. The Yorkshire-based company has approximately 3,000 linguists on its books and operates nationwide, contracting them into a wide variety of assignments many of which are for public sector organisations. Typical assignments in London include face-to-face interpreting for businesses and telephone interpreting for doctors’ surgeries. Carol Curtis, Managing Director of Language is Everything, stated that it is preferable to meet linguists face-to-face as it is not only more personal but also more efficient. This is evident in the fact that she met 30 potential employees on the day with completed application forms and CVs, putting them well on the way to gaining employment through the company in the future.

Eileen Bernard, a Kishwali and French-speaking beneficiary, thought the Job Fair was a great idea. She commended staff at both Mary Ward Centre and WEA for organising such a successful event and was very pleased that there were so many employers for her to meet. She says “Events like this make a big difference and really help students find employment as interpreters.”

Fawwaz Zeidan had already found work as an Arabic Language Assessor but came to the event to make some more contacts. He said “It’s great to put names to faces and meet people you’ve talked to on the phone.”

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Gemma learns on site

Experienced painter and decorator Gemma Woolrych has completed an NVQ Level 3 qualification in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting through the Constructive Learning for London project, led by the College of North West London. Gemma, one of the first women recruited onto the on-site assessment programme, has been self-employed for six years, and a member of project partner Women and Manual Trades for five. She chose to take part in the project as “It just seemed like an easier way of getting a qualification, because they came to you.” Without on-site assessment she would not have been able to take time off for college study. She says “It’s really hard when you’re a small company, if there’s just a couple of you or something.”

Gemma had her future in mind when she took the course on as qualifications at NVQ Level 3 can open doors to site management. As a self-employed tradesperson, she appreciated the chance to take fully funded training. Gemma feels that the project is “particularly good for people who either work on their own, or with a small group, who don’t want to take time off to go to college.”

Gemma’s Assessor, Chris Harvey from the College of North West London, has visited her on several occasions. She says “He helps a lot, because I’ve not done anything like this before, and I’ve not been to college for many years. He leads you through it, so it’s not daunting. There’s quite a bit of paperwork, but when you sort of break it down, it’s all stuff you’ve done mainly.” Chris has also been on hand to help Gemma with her portfolio, which is required for the NVQ.

The Constructive Learning for London project (4.1B), led by the College of North West London, aimed to provide quality training within the construction sector for employed individuals working and/or living in the major regeneration area in London. It focussed on providing on-site assessment for Levels 2 and 3 combined with gaining a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card as well as providing training in English Language, Health and Safety, ICT and Essential Skills. The project targeted small or micro businesses not in scope of the Construction Industry Training Board grants.

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On-Site Training on Major Construction Projects

On-Site Training Centres on Major Construction Projects, led and managed by Tribal Consulting, works with unemployed and economically inactive social housing tenants and private tenants on housing benefit to provide training in construction with the aim of helping them gain sustainable employment in the sector. In addition to this, the project provides skills for life, essential health and safety training, work experience opportunities and job brokerage.

Project Beneficiaries

Selena Hall, a single mother aged 23, completed an Introductory Certificate in Basic Construction Skills at level 1 and gained a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card with project partner East Potential's support.

Selena left home at the age of 15 due to family problems. At 16 she was living alone in bed and breakfast accommodation in Hackney. She says “This was a really scary time for me and I found life a real struggle feeling like I didn’t belong, as I had few friends and no family. At 17 I had a beautiful daughter, but this didn’t change the way I felt. I started looking for work, but struggled with finding childcare; living on benefits was horrible, especially because I knew I had the potential to work, but not the confidence to take the steps to make it happen. I had started to become depressed and felt I had no one but my daughter.”

In 2006 Selena attended a careers fair in Canning Town with a friend. She says “I only really went because I had nothing else to do and wasn’t really serious about looking for work. I got chatting to someone and they really encouraged me to apply by explaining that the industry wants to recruit more women and that my childcare costs would be covered whilst on the course, so I decided to give it a go.”

After gaining experience in construction through East Potential’s Construct Your Career project, Selena went on to complete the Introductory Certificate in Basic Construction Skills and gained a CSCS card through On-Site Training Centres on Major Construction Projects.

After completing training, Selena went on to a two-week work experience placement with East Thames Building Maintenance. This involved working with one of the maintenance operatives and visiting people in their homes to carry out maintenance and repairs. She says “I found the experience really rewarding and especially enjoyed making the tenants happy by sorting out their problems. Following the placement I was one of three people offered an apprenticeship with the company, which I am really excited about.”

Selena’s outstanding achievements were recognised when she was named Young Builder of the Year at the 2007 National Youth Building Awards.

John Burundu completed a Certificate in Adult Numeracy, an NVQ Level 1 in Construction and Civil Engineering Services and progressed to an NVQ Level 2 in Construction Operations with project partner UNOCO.

John arrived in England from Sierra Leone in 1999 aged 20 with no formal education. He left Sierra Leone to escape the civil war and circumstances under which education was impossible with schools facing frequent raids in which large numbers of people were killed or taken hostage.

John attended an adult learning college in England where he learnt to read and write. Over the next few years he had a number of jobs including cleaning and kitchen work.

Keen to gain new skills, he decided to approach Bromley Council for support, saw ESF construction opportunities advertised through UNOCO and decided to sign up. He soon found that despite having no previous construction experience, he was good at practical work and learnt new techniques quickly. Staff and students alike picked up on his positive and friendly attitude. He even helped out voluntarily in his spare time.

John applied for several jobs whilst training and secured a permanent position as a Technician with UNOCO. His new job gives him the chance to put his construction skills to use assisting trainers and assessors deliver practical construction training.

Objectives and Outputs

The project began in August 2006 and finished in July 2008. It reported the following in June 2008:

• 131 Skills for Life qualifications
• 126 NVQ Level 1 qualifications
• 105 NVQ Level 1 equivalent qualifications
• 97 NVQ Level 2 qualifications
• 183 beneficiaries progressing into employment

For more information about On-Site Training Centres on Major Construction Projects contact Alina Lubinska
phone: 020 8519 7790,
e-mail: alina.lubinska@triblagroup.co.uk

The full case study is available at
http://www.esfnews.com/doc?id=955

Construction Works!

The Construction Works! project, led by Mace Sustain Ltd, aims to help women benefit from the opportunities available in the construction sector, especially at higher levels. Construction Works! enables women already employed in the sector to increase their skills to NVQ Level 3 and supports unemployed women to gain training needed to enter the sector, namely obtaining CSCS training and certification.

Project Beneficiaries
Ambitious to work in construction, Samantha was signposted to the Construction Works! project by Jobcentre Plus (JCP) in Clapham. Although Samantha held an NVQ Level 2 in painting and decorating, she had not gained any paid work experience and had been unemployed for over six years. She says “I've been in prison and did a painting course there. I've always been on benefits and never had a job so the help I've had from Gez, the support coordinator, has changed my life.”

With the project’s support, Samantha gained a CSCS card after improving her literacy skills through a course arranged by JCP. Samantha was supported by the project in negotiating a suitable work placement, which gave her the chance to readjust to employment. After demonstrating her commitment to working in the construction industry by completing her placement as a building site cleaner, the host organisation went on to offer her a full-time paid position. Again, the project support coordinator was there to help out arranging for Samantha’s first pay check to be paid into a post office account at her request as she did not have a bank account. She says “Gez has been brilliant. He is really helpful and made me realise I can get out and do something. It has made such a difference.”

Samantha was given the opportunity to decorate one of the company’s refurbished properties on a trial basis, which led to her being offered the chance to move into decorating permanently. During regular contact with the support coordinator, Samantha has described how her decorating skills are progressing — she is being given the opportunity to learn new finishes and is thinking about further vocational training. She says “I absolutely love painting and decorating and I would like to be self-employed.”

Objectives and Outputs
The project started in February 2007 finished in July 2008 and has reported the following delivery to June 2008:

• 11 NVQ Level 3 qualifications
• 8 progressions to employment
• 14 CSCS Cards

For more information on the Construction Works! project contact Gez Carr
e-mail: info@macesustain.com
or visit: http://www.esfnews.com/doc?id=956

The full case study is available at http://www.esfnews.com/doc?id=957

Transforming the Teaching and Learning of Skills for Life training materials available

Peer coaching formed part of a partnership project focused on the professional development of Further Education (FE) staff, Transforming the Teaching and Learning of Skills for Life.

Three pilot programmes of up to thirty guided learning hours were delivered across London. During the first two pilots an e-learning platform was used to supplement learning. The usual model of delivery was one day a week for three or four consecutive weeks. By Pilot 3, the participant pack and trainer notes enabled most activities and written tasks for accreditation to be completed during the sessions.

In the words of one of the 38 teachers who attended the pilot delivery of a new training programme, Peer Coaching for Embedding Language, Literacy and Numeracy: “It takes the fear out of embedding and gives you new ways to work.” Other feedback from learners, drawn from a wide cross-section of FE providers, identified that engaging in the programme clarified “how to approach a peer to coach them” and enabled participants “to understand the process of appreciating the knowledge the partner has and come up with practical ways of embedding.”

As part of the dissemination activity of the Transforming the Teaching and Learning of Skills for Life project, the training materials and teacher notes are downloadable through the London Southbank University’s Talent website at www.talent.ac.uk There is potential to use them as a practical tool to support the development of an in-house embedding strategy or offer the unit as continuing professional development that would enable progression towards the new stand-alone embedding unit (QCF Level 5).

The comprehensive trainer pack includes lesson plans, optional PowerPoint presentations and supporting resources. The participant pack has coursework proformas that enable completion of OCN Level 3 accreditation; they could also be used as stand-alone activities to support the development of embedding practice.

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TThe LVSTC ESF Unit continues to deliver training and events for projects co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) 2007-2013 to improve their delivery and organisational capacity.

Equal Opportunities and Diversity 19 August 2008
A seminar to ensure that all ESF providers and potential ESF providers can implement this cross cutting theme (via embedding equal oppertunities in policies/procedures, monitoring/equality-proofing, targeting excluded groups) and share good practice.

Sustainable Development 27 August 2008
This event will enable ESF providers to fully explore issues of this cross cutting theme under five broad themes (energy, water, waste, procurement and transport) and will also inform participants about attainment of the Green Mark.

For further information please visit http://www.esfnews.com/doc?id=959

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Do you have any comments on this issue? If so, please
e-mail: LondonO3_2@ecotec.co.uk

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