24/05/2021

Cambridgeshire Skills - Latest updates

Message from Sue Watsham - Senior Manager - Learner Experience

Our New Brochure - Sept 2021 - Jan 2022

We are excited to announce our new brochure is coming soon!

It will be packed full of brand new courses which are being delivered in a variety of ways!

For more information or to enrol please call our helpful admissions team on 01353 613013

Upcoming Courses

Volunteer Opportunities

We are currently looking for a number of volunteers at Cambridgeshire Skills! Please see below posters for more information

Curriculum Assistant

Receptionist

Fenland Families Recipe Book

Sessional Tutors

Cambridgeshire Skills are looking to recruit some sessional tutors

More information can be found here

Sew Positive free community events on 5 & 19 June live and online

Message from Melissa Santiago-Val - CEO & Founder

'Don't Throw, Sew' - Free community events 5 & 19 June, 10am-12pm, Haslingfield Village Hall. (Live and online, limited places, pre-booked only).

If you’d like to learn:

* Simple ways to give life to old clothes

* How to upcycle your fabric masks into something useful

* How sewing and creativity can support your mental health

* About charity volunteering and how it can support our own wellbeing

Sew Positive, the mental health charity tackling social isolation through creativity and sewing, is running two free events in Haslingfield with Cambridgeshire Skills, which you can choose to attend in person or book online. Both events can be pre-booked using this form.

Founder and CEO Melissa Santiago-Val said "Many people have been considering moving away from fast-fashion over lockdown, charity shops have seen an enormous rise in donations and sales, and supermarkets are starting to have vintage rails in-store. Sewing skills from previous generations are however being lost, so we want to provide tips and fixes to mend or give new life to clothing. Also, we will be giving ideas for turning fabric masks we have been wearing into something useful instead of throwing them away! This event is to bring families together as restrictions start to lift, to share skills, to just slow down and be mindful, as the creative act of sewing is a great way of improving our mental health."

If you enjoy sewing or crafts, Sew Positive is keen to find sewing volunteers, workshop tutors, and other volunteering roles including social media and web roles, event admin and delivery. It also welcomes Gold Duke of Edinburgh applicants to get in touch if they are interested in a placement working across creativity and mental health.

Attending this workshop will help deliver Sew Positive services to vulnerable groups. Registered charity 1192682.

Sign up via the online form, Facebook or Instagram @sewpositivecharity, or email info@sewpositive.org

SPS Advance IT L3

Message from Ben Wyse - Director of Funding - SPS

SPS Training Solutions are offering residents the opportunity to gain a Level 3 qualification in IT user skills where they have not achieved a full level 3 or higher previously.  This qualification can be started and studied towards at times convenient to the learner and will be delivered remotely with trainer support.  If you are interested please contact SPS Training on 01438 537699 or enquiries@sps-training.com

New Courses - Longhurst Group

Message from Michael Pike - Skills & Development Tutor

New Courses - Adult Learn & Train

Message from Zoe Sweet - Officer - Adult Learn & Train

ENGLISH AND MATHS 5 WEEK CONFIDENCE BUILDER COURSES             

FUNDED ONLINE SHORT COURSES STARTING IN JUNE

These courses would be perfect for learners ready to start their learning journey.  Specific outcomes are planned to give learners more confidence in either English or Maths.

There will be two different options for both English and Maths:    

Entry level / Level 1: Suitable for lower level learners - there will be an opportunity to continue onto a Functional Skills course.              

Level 2: Suitable for higher level learners - there will be an opportunity to continue onto a Functional Skills course or a GCSE course. Upon contact the learner will be offered an initial assessment and the tutor will advise as to the best course.

There are no fees to join this course but as it is funded learners will be expected to complete paperwork. Funding comes from Cambridgeshire Skills

Please direct anyone who may be interested to the English and Maths section on our website - HERE  Alternatively please ask them to contact us: EMAIL: learnandtrain@cap.education TELEPHONE: 01223 712340

Comberton Adult Education are looking for tutors for their evening classes and day schools for the 21/22 programme

Message from Mandy Draper

We are looking for any subject to enhance our current programme but would specifically like to hear from anybody who can offer cookery courses, Spanish language at intermediate level, IT and book-keeping.  Our classes take place at Cambourne, Comberton and Melbourn Village Colleges.

Please contact Mandy Draper by email on commed@catrust.co.uk with details of the skill(s) you are able to offer. 

Talking Together in Cambridgeshire

Message from Helen Wootton - Early Years Literacy Adviser for Talking Together in Cambridgeshire

Talking Together in Cambridgeshire

We have quite a bit of news to share with you today.

Funded project groups

Many of our funded projects had to be put on hold or in some circumstances changed to an online offer due to lockdown. We’re delighted that several of our groups are now either running again or getting ready to open up including those offered by: North Cambridge Community Partnership; The Rosmini Centre; Groundwork East; Kettle’s Yard; Peterborough Environment City Trust; Oasis Nursery, and Melbourn Primary School PTFA.

Project leaders should continue to adhere to Covid-19 government measures regarding social activities and group sizes, and keep risk assessments under constant review. 

Further details about the projects we’ve funded can be found on our website.

Training offer

Our training courses are offered free of charge to those working with children aged under five who operate in the Talking Together in Cambridgeshire reach areas of March, Chatteris, Wisbech, Huntingdon, NE Cambridge City, Duxford, Melbourn and Meldreth. Details of the courses currently on offer can be found in the attached flyer. Please  take a look at our reach area maps if you want to check whether you can access the training at no cost: https://www.cambslearntogether.co.uk/early-years-and-childcare/narrowing-the-gap/talking-together-in-cambridgeshire

If you are interested in learning more about our work, please take a look at our Talking Together in Cambridgeshire Facebook page and website. If you have any questions about our work, please do contact us via community.literacy@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or 01223 699671.

Upcoming CPD courses from the ETF

Message from The Education and Training Foundation

New modules available on ETF Enhance Digital Teaching Platform

The final set of bite-size training modules for developing use of educational technology (EdTech) on the ETF Enhance Digital Teaching Platform is now available.

The 23 modules complete the EdTech training offer mapped to the Digital Teaching Professional Framework, the ETF’s national EdTech competency framework. The new modules address themes including collaborative practice, improving outcomes, and managing learning.   

ETF's TLPD programme can make you T Level ready 

If you’re interested in finding out more about how the ETF’s T Level Professional Development programme is helping provider organisations prepare for and commence the delivery of T Levels, a new selection of blogs on the ETF website will be of interest to you.

It includes accounts from Carmel College of how an in-house Understanding T Levels course has increased staff engagement, and New College Durham’s Head of Improving Learning, Wayne Park, about the New Teacher Programme.  

IPFREC and Early Career Researcher Conference booking open

Registration for the first International Practice Focused Research in Education Conference (IPFREC 2021) and ETF’s sixth Early Career Researcher Conference is now open. The events, which take place consecutively from 5 July to 8 July, will be held online.

The new IPFREC event is dedicated to encouraging international disciplinary and interdisciplinary discussion and debate surrounding the relationship between practice, theory and research in Education. Its theme will be ‘Shifting Horizons of Educational Practice, Theory and Research’. 

Courses coming up soon

Thursday 27 May

• Whole College Approach (WCA) - project meeting 1

• Imagining better outcomes for learners with SEND - EHCP series - Workshop 1

Friday 4 June

• Understanding what employers need to employ learners with SEND

Friday 11 June

• Centres for Excellence in Maths forum meetings - summer term

For a full list of our available courses which you may be interested in please visit our courses page.

Bedazzle are Recruiting

Message from Diane -Bedazzle

Please see attached Job Description - SEND Bespoke Education Service Manager

Please see attached Job Description - SEND Teacher

Please see attached Job Application Form

CWRC Recruitment

Message from Ally Jones - Administrator - CWRC

Empowering Women Everywhere Project:

A partnership project supporting vulnerable women engaged in street sex work in the Peterborough region of Cambridgeshire. CWRC engage in women-centred working, this role is to provide care-coordinated support for women with complex needs who want support or to exit street based sex work.

The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, with energy, and experience of working with vulnerable adults. A developed sense of self-awareness who can work in a gender and trauma informed way.

Support Worker:

CWRC is seeking to hire 4x Support Workers who will be supporting our street sex working project in a housing project. This task involves liaising and engaging with vulnerable women, providing support plans, working in partnership, problem solving, and organising and participating in meetings, and ensuring that deadlines are met in a timely manner. Line management will be with Project Coordinator of  CWRC. This is a position for 1 year which we will be developing to support the partnership work of the Sexual Exploitation and Sex Working Partnership.

30 hour posts £18,668 pro rata for 37 hours. 4 posts available.

Some evening and weekends required.

This post is restricted to women applicants only and is exempt under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Closing date: 01 June 2021

Interview date: TBD 

Sessional Project Worker

CWRC is seeking to hire 2 x Sessional Project workers who will be supporting women within the housing project. This task involves liaising and engaging with vulnerable women, working to support plans, working in partnership and problem solving. Line management will be with Project Coordinator of CWRC.

This is a position for 1 year currently with the potential to be increased.

This post is restricted to women applicants only and is exempt under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

£9.50 per hour - 10 hours per week - Weekends. 2 posts available.

Closing date: 01 June 2021 4pm

Interview date: TBD 

Interested applicants should visit our website at https://www.cwrc.org.uk/volunteeringjobs.php for more information and to download and application pack.

Job Opportunity with Sharing Parenting

Message from Michelle Youngs - Sharing Parenting Admin Team

Please see attached Job Description - Project Manager

Please apply with CV & Covering letter: www.sharingparenting.com

Closing date 6th June 2021

CECF Job Vacancy

Message from Cambridge Ethic Community Forum

Excellent community-focused job opportunity

Message from Graeme Hodgson - Commissioning Manager - Adult Social Care

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/community-catalysts-c-i-c-/community-enterprise-catalyst/737616?tsId=2

https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/join-our-team/

Community Enterprise Catalyst (Cambridgeshire)

Salary £32,960 per annum 37.5 hours per week 2-year fixed term contract

Community Catalysts CIC is a busy, buzzy social enterprise that tries hard to live up to its name. We’re starting a new piece of work in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and need an energetic, and imaginative person to coordinate things for us.

You will lead the Cambridgeshire Community Enterprise Project which will support local entrepreneurial people and community organisations to offer new and creative care and support options for older people who need help at home and in the community.  In this way we will help people to get the support they need to live the life they want.

To do this job you must:

• Understand the world of care – but maybe feel it could do with a bit of a shake up!
• Be a real people person – able to work well with all sorts of folks with confidence.
• Instinctively make connections – and join up dots that are sometimes less than obvious.
• Be able to spot what people are good at and nurture it.

Have a look at our website and the job description and person specification for more information about us and the job. You will be employed by Community Catalysts and based in the Cambridgeshire area, the project will focus first in the East of the County and Fenland.

If you have any specific questions or would like to talk about the role contact: Jill Wighton, Director of Business Operations, jill.wighton@communitycatalysts.co.uk.

Follow the link to download an application pack which includes the job description and person specification

Closing date for applications is on 4^th June 2021 at 12.00pm and interviews will take place on 11^th June 2021 virtually.

We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community.

Growth Works with Skills launches new online platform to support employers, learners and workers

Message from CPCA

A new digital talent platform has been launched by Growth Works with Skills to help employers, learners and workers across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Growth Works with Skills is an innovative demand-led skills service connecting learners and employers with opportunities that enable growth.

The online platform will allow employers to post their job and apprenticeship vacancies free of charge and access a detailed database of workers and learners across our region.

Learners and workers can register for the platform, creating an online account, to help them find relevant opportunities based on their experience and skills.

The first phase of the online platform, which be found by clicking the link below, will initially focus on the immediate needs of those seeking opportunities and the Growth Works with Skills team are reaching out the local employers to encourage them to add their current vacancies to the site.

Future phases of development of the online platform will include:

• Expanding the platform to also provide a dedicated careers, skills and employability resource portal, supporting careers leaders, teaching practitioners and young people across Cambridge and Peterborough
• Advice on, and access to, educational engagement activities to promote your business and sector, and to support the next generation of learners
• Resources to support employers in finding the skills they need, including in utilising apprenticeship levy, taking on apprentices, using apprenticeships to up skill, finding the right training, recruiting the right people

Automated job alerts for candidates and saved searches to keep in touch with any new opportunities

Develop your peer-to-peer network. Register today.

Many of us face challenges in our businesses where it feels like there are no clear solutions.

We work with individual SME leaders to create strong peer-to-peer networks where these challenges can be explored through an action learning approach.

You will have the opportunity to explore an important, sometimes difficult, issue with the support of others who operate within a similar environment or sector. Through structured facilitation in a safe and supportive environment, your peers will enable you to view your challenge from different perspectives and thinking that could unpack new possibilities for your business.

Our peer-to-peer networking programme is ideal for business leaders and entrepreneurs who want to grow and develop their organisation for future success.

Register your interest

We are now launching the next series of our (fully funded) peer-to-peer Action Learning cohorts. Due to popular demand, please register your interest and be the first to find out when applications open.

Upcoming live workshops and events

We’ve got a number of great workshops coming up. Interested? Find out more here and reserve yourself a place!

Build your business bootcamp for female entrepreneurs > Starts 19 May 2021 | 10.30am – 2pm

Growth Accelerator programme > Starts 20 May 2021 | 2pm – 5pm

Angels & Demons – All you need to know about raising equity > 16 June 2021 | 10.30am - 12.30pm

Staying mindful of your mental health

South Cambridgeshire District Council have organised a series of free webinars for local businesses addressing different aspects of mental health.

Mental health problems are increasingly affecting people during the Coronavirus restrictions and is among the leading cause of sickness absence in the workplace. Added to the stress of keeping your business going during the current pandemic, there are many reasons people need support; financial insecurity, not seeing family, friends, colleagues or customers. Whatever the size of your business, everyone needs help sometimes. Our guest speakers Nick Elston and Zoe Thompson are hosting a series of free to attend webinars to help you cope through difficult times. Click on the links below to register.

Managing diversification and change: Thursday 27 May, 1pm

There are many stresses in having to pivot, diversify and run new operating models quickly. Many businesses have had to move their businesses online or change the way they operate very quickly. How can you manage and cope being always on, always needing to be agile and learning new skills and ways of thinking?

Coping with financial stress: Tuesday 15 June, 12:30pm

Many business owners are facing up to having to do more with less as a long-term option. How can you look after your mental health and physical well-being in that stressful situation?

Redundant apprentices still need your help

Message from Apprenticeships

Since August 2020, we have supported hundreds of apprentices affected by redundancy. Thank you to all those who have helped us by spreading the word about the Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices and by sharing employers' opportunities for redundant apprentices.

We still need employers’ support in hiring redundant apprentices. They can let us know about any opportunities they may have, and we'll share their details with apprentices who may be interested, so they can contact employers directly.

Apprentices who have been made redundant already have the knowledge, skills and behaviours to add value to organisations. Please share this information with the employers you work with to make sure they don’t miss out. Thank you for your continued support.

Application deadline for the incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice

The deadline for employers to apply for the incentive payment for new apprentices hired between August 2020 and March 2021 is approaching. Eligible employers must apply for their incentive payment by the end of 31 May 2021.

Please support the employers you work with by reminding them of this deadline and sharing the below information, to make sure they don’t miss out.

Incentive payment for apprentices who joined organisations before 1 April 2021

• Employers with apprentices who have a contract of employment start date between 1 August 2020 and 31 March 2021 and who also have a practical period (training) start date between 1 August 2020 and 31 May 2021 are eligible for an incentive payment
• For new apprentices aged 16 to 24, employers will receive £2,000
• For new apprentices aged 25 and over, employers will receive £1,500
• Employers must apply for these apprentices by the end of 31 May 2021
• Employers can visit our guidance page for more details

How to apply

Employers can apply for the incentive payment via the Finances section in their apprenticeship service account. For a walk-through of the process, employers can watch our support video.

Reminder: steps to take before employers apply

There are 6 steps employers need to have completed before they apply for an incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice:

1. They need to have registered an account on the apprenticeship service
2. If they do not pay the apprenticeship levy, they need to have reserved funds in their apprenticeship service account
3. They need to have recruited an apprentice
4. They need to have added their apprentice to their apprenticeship service account
5. They need to have agreed a start date for apprenticeship training to begin with their training provider
6. They need to have accepted the latest version of the ESFA employer agreement

If employers require support with any of these steps, they can watch our how-to videos or visit our help portal, where they can access help articles, webchat with an adviser, call or text our helpline, or email our helpdesk.

Incentive payment for apprentices who join organisations from 1 April 2021

We’ve recently increased incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice. Employers could receive £3,000 for new apprentices of any age who join their organisation from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. Visit our guidance page for more details.

The latest news from Form the Future

Message from Anne Bailey - CEO

A new careers programme for young people with SEN/D

We're looking to create a new careers programme that provides targeted support for young people with Special Educational Needs / Disabilities (SEN/D). We're still in the early planning stages, but want to include the voices and experience of people with SEN/D from the start of the process. As much as possible we want to follow the mantra "not about us without us" and make this a programme that has the genuine needs of the community we seek to support at its heart.  We're looking for individuals in the world of work who would like to participate in in-school activities, who themselves have special educational needs and/or disabilities. You will be provided with training and materials to help make your interactions with students as meaningful as possible and receive ongoing support from Form the Future. If you could take part in this programme we would love to hear from you. Equally, if someone you know might be interested in getting involved, please do pass this information on to them and/or put them in touch with us. For more information or to register your interest, please contact David Brockway here. 

We're on Instagram

We recently joined Instagram! We've got lots to share - from upcoming events, to resources and careers insights. Check us out here. 

Apprenticeship vacancies

Many companies are still looking to recruit apprentices to their team. For more information on how we can help your young people with apprenticeships, get in touch or visit the website.

Degree Apprenticeship in Software Engineering at Arm The apprenticeship comprises of both paid work and study, allowing you to earn while working towards a three-year BSc Honours degree, funded by Arm, where you'll work with the latest Arm technology on a variety of exciting projects.

Level 4 Finance Apprenticeship at AstraZeneca This apprenticeship will provide you with a broad exposure to global operational finance to support your professional and academic development. You'll also be given exposure to strategic elements of finance during your apprenticeship, working with a team of talented finance professionals in a fast paced and dynamic function.

Level 2 Administrator Apprenticeship with the NHS This is an apprentice administrator role within liaison psychiatry at Addenbrookes Hospital. The apprentice would work alongside the liaison psychiatry admin team and the clinical student’s mental health service admin team, providing administration support across the teams.

Level 6 Nursing Apprenticeship with Spire Healthcare Spire Healthcare's Registered Nursing Degree Apprenticeship programme offers a great opportunity to gain practical work experience while working alongside experienced clinicians, to build clinical skills and expertise. You will be fully supported professionally and academically to achieve your nursing degree.

Illuminate Charity - May 2021 Newsletter

Message from Illuminate

We have had a busy month since our last newsletter and, as restrictions ease regarding COVID, at Illuminate we continue to proceed with caution. All our staff and team members work from home and this is not new for us, but with the uncertainty of variants and with many of our community with vulnerable health, we are not in a rush to get back to face to face work. However, we will review the situation in the autumn. Our services this month have included our monthly workshops to beneficiaries, talks to businesses, Mental Health First Aid courses, coaching and delivering a training and coaching programme for Anchor Hanover Group.  We look forward to more of the same over June.

Join Maria for her engaging and informative Stress At Work session on Tuesday 25th at 12pm, with tips to manage stress for both individuals and organisations.  The session is free and 40-minutes long so bring along your lunch and get involved! There are a small number of tickets left so click here to head through to our Eventbrite page to order yours. 

We presented a 45-minute lunch and learn session to 68 learners and staff from Cambridge Spark this month, delivered by our excellent Associate Trainer Susie Peters, and it received great feedback. Topics included tackling the stigma of mental health, top tips for resilience during the transition out of lockdown, and how to set and maintain healthy boundaries.  Contact us directly for further information on how we can support your staff with a variety of services, including the 45-minute lunch and learn sessions. 

In June, we will be beginning a series of short videos containing top tips for good wellbeing which we will share on our social media platforms.  Click here to subscribe to our You Tube channel!

Our wonderful Coordinator, Anna Gilchrist, lead a group of Illuminate beneficiaries earlier this week, and they enjoyed a beautiful morning connecting with nature and one another at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week with Find Your Wild, supported by Living Sport. It was focused on getting out and noticing the nature, even in the city, and was a really uplifting and positive session for the group.

“I would like to say that despite the nerves and worry about finding the venue, I arrived to find a kind and a comforting welcome. I recognised other Illuminate beneficiaries from our Zoom meetings and community, and it was an absolute delight to actual meet with everyone in person and in such a great setting.  It was my first trip out and I loved every second of it, I will be back!” - Szara

Please see details of our latest online confidence sessions - https://illuminatecharity.org.uk/confidenceforchange_1.php

Click here to see the latest from our Linked In Page!

Virtual Pathway to Employment Additional Needs Event

Message from Marty - SEND Services

We would like to invite you to book our first ‘Virtual Pathway to Employment Additional Needs Event ‘which will take place on 28^th May 2021- 10-11.30am via ZOOM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pathway-to-employment-online-skills-event-tickets-152377133107

Cambridge County Council is excited to be collaborating with CTM Pathway, a social firm which supports schools and college leavers with work, training and employment options; we will also be working with our other partners: Papworth Trust; Pinpoint and VoiceAbility and Speak Out Council.

As part of this event, we will have guest speakers, including employers, talk about the different roles within their industry and the support they can offer people with additional needs. The event will also include short success stories of people moving into work, useful tips, as well as myth busting views!

If you would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail please contact Martine Simpson-Thomas on 07876 068830, or email martine.simpson-thomas@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Mental Health and Wellbeing package

Message from Holex

The Department for Education has today, at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, announced a mental health and wellbeing investment package, with £17.4 million to improve support in schools and colleges.

Funding will go towards training thousands of senior mental health leads, a new Wellbeing for Education Recovery programme and an adapted ‘Link' programme, designed to improve partnerships between health and education leaders in local areas.

The department has also announced the date of the next Mental Health in Education Action Group, to take place on Monday 24 May, and in the higher education sector, a new roundtable on suicide prevention to take place in June.

Further details are available in the press notice, available on GOV.UK. DFE  has also refreshed our comprehensive list of accessible and free mental health resources for all ages

East Anglia Labour Market Report March & April 2021

Message from Jonathan Hewitt - DWP - East Anglia District Performance Team

Please see attached report for March

Please see attached report for April

Monthly Partnership Update Newsletter - April 2021

Message from Dave Winterton - DWP

Please see attached report

Prepared by the Cambridgeshire Skills Team

https://www.cambsals.co.uk |Cambsals@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

01353 613013

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