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The 26th January was a special day for many of the disabled and disadvantaged volunteers at the Newbury Community Resource Centre (NCRC) when they were presented with certificates of achievement by Cllr Billy Drummond, the Mayor of Newbury. The volunteers, who attend NCRC’s Training and Community Support Centre in Bone Lane and their Growing 2gether project near Kingsclere, had successfully completed accredited training courses in a range of skills, including woodwork, horticulture, bicycle repair, health and safety and customer service.
All courses can be tailored to suit all ability levels and are accredited by LASER (Learning Awards South East Region) with support from West Berkshire Council’s Adult and Community Learning service.
Kevin Uprichard, one of the volunteers said,“I can’t believe that the Mayor has come in to see me and give me my certificate! I feel very proud.”
Click here for information on NCRC’s training courses. https://www.n-c-r-c.org/tcs/tcs-training/
Adult and Community Learning has had a very busy few months at Newbury College. They have successfully run several workshops and courses covering employability, health and wellbeing and functional skills within the community and are planning an extensive programme to the end of July.
The College has already developed the Future Options programme which focuses on developing IT and communication skills with a strong emphasis on job search and application support. The first Future Options program was delivered at Thornford Park in Thatcham and achieved a 100% pass and success rate. The next Future Options programme is scheduled to start on the 27th of April 2022. Contact Lucy Davey for more information l-davey1@newbury-college.ac.uk
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Link Up trainees had a great time trying out new sports and activities as well as researching subjects such as sports in their local area and how much it would cost to kit themselves out with all they need to take up their favourite sport. Click here for further information about Link Up https://www.wbmencap.org/our-services/adult-day-services/link-up/
Another busy term for Creative Communities, they have been running courses aimed specifically at people struggling with their mental health. Working with local primary schools the team has been developing a Parents Art for Wellbeing programme with the next course starting on at Whitelands Primary in Thatcham.
Creative Communities also have a more general Art for Wellbeing course taking place at Alice Bye Court in the second part of the summer term. For more information on all Creative Communities courses contact Sarah Hemmings or Tanya Reid
s.hemmings@creative-communities.org.uk
t.reid@creative-communities.org.uk
 Community cafes are weekly FREE cafes that will be taking place at different places across West Berkshire starting with Newbury.
For the month of February 2022, the community cafe’s will be held at Newbury library every Wednesday from 11am – 2pm. This is a chance for you to come and join.
Educafe Chatty Corner outing to Reading 1st April - Visit to Forbury Park, The Abbey Ruins, This RISC Cafe and had a tour of Reading Museum. For many, it was a first experience of using Public Transport.
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Educafe and Berkshire School of English learners - Chatty Corner Educafe Community Café
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Reminder for all partners to come along and enjoy Educafe - the perfect place to network and meet new learners/clients. Everyone welcome.
Claire Richards is the new Interim Executive Director of West Berkshire Training Consortium (WBTC), succeeding its longstanding Managing Director Matt Garvey, who has moved to pastures new. It is a great privilege for Claire to lead WBTC having worked there for 16 years, first as a Training Consultant and more recently as Director of Curriculum.
Claire believes it is important to continue the strong tradition of WBTC as a high quality and supportive training partner for their many learners and employers.
Click here for more information on WBTC’s diverse range of apprenticeship and training programmes. https://www.wbtc-uk.com/
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Community-led Housing Training offered by CCB
CCB will be partnering with the Collaborative Housing Hub to deliver a training event in June to support local communities to address the chronic shortage of affordable homes in Berkshire.
This issue is particular relevant to West Berkshire which has seen a rapidly ageing population and a decline in young people able to afford to live in the district. West Berkshire Council is committed to the issue with “a housing mix with something for everyone” stated as a priority in its West Berkshire Vision 2036.
The training event will give communities the opportunity to explore the many options they have to take control of the whole process, from understanding local need to owning and managing their own homes,
In addition to training CCB has supported the development of three Rural Exception Site developments in West Berkshire: Chaddleworth, Woolhampton and Hungerford. These tend to be small sites, not usually used for housing, that are designated for affordable homes in perpetuity. The training will explore this approach and other initiatives such as cooperative housing, co-housing, community self-build and tenancy self-management which are enabling local people to stay in the area and live in affordable homes.
For more information, please contact Tim Parry at tim.parry@ccberks.org.uk
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Bounce Back 4 Kids (BB4K) supports families affected by domestic abuse, once the perpetrator of the abuse has left the family home. It is a therapeutic support service to assist families in healing from trauma. To be able to receive a therapeutic intervention, families must be safe physically, emotionally, and ready to access support.
Parent feedback:
- ‘I have learnt to be more assertive and now have a voice whereas before I didn’t ‘ ‘I used to hate the school run but now enjoy it’ ‘Children are getting on so much better with each other thank you so much’
- The relationships with the children and understanding there [sic] feeling and that its ok to say No to them. I’m now using the positive reinforcements with the kids and nagging them less meaning they are going into school in a positive mood. I feel that this course would be helpful for everyone and not just ones in domestic abuse
- Through boost I have learned a few strategies that I can use on daily basis at home. Sad to end the sessions.
- BB4K Boost gave me amazingly timely reminders – it was the right time for me I’m devastated to end the sessions.
- Learning about the boundaries and being more assertive and not a helicopter parent.
Click here for further information about PACT: https://www.pactcharity.org/
This year’s event was held at Shaw House on Friday, 3rd December. The tutor forum provided an excellent opportunity for community learning tutors to update their professional skills, gain an update on the community learning service and develop links with other West Berkshire learning and training providers.
If you have any ideas for tutor CPD or other training opportunities please contact the Community Learning team at aclteam@westberks.gov.uk
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The Community Learning Partnership brings together West Berkshire based learning providers and community organisations to provide a high quality, accessible, safe and varied community learning programme for adults and families across the district.
Members include adult and family learning providers, local apprenticeship and training organisations, funding bodies and local communities groups and services. The Community Learning Partnership is open to any organisation involved in the delivery of post 19 education and training within West Berkshire.
If you would like to become a member please complete the on-line registration form.
The next Partnership meeting will take place at 10am on Wednesday, 20th July at Shaw House.
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Alex Teixeira is Community Learning’s new Digital Champion and will be working with colleagues across the sector to develop digital skills and initiatives. Co-ordinated by HOLEX, the professional body for adult and community learning services, the Digital Champions will focus on identifying local need, develop a range of digital guidance and support and work together to share ideas and experiences.
With the growth of remote courses and the continual development of new on-line platforms Alex will be working with all local providers and tutors to ensure the West Berkshire community learning service continues to offer good quality courses that address learner needs and requirements.
Contact Alex if you any questions about on-line delivery and digital tools. Alex.Teixiera@westberks.gov.uk
Impact of a Digital Champion in our service:
Contact us
Community Learning Team
West Berkshire Council, West Street House, West Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1BZ - Tel: 01635 519060 - e-mail: aclteam@westberks.gov.uk
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