SOCIAL NETWORKING (16 July 2008)

Social Networking - How can it help my learners?

A FREE course running at Forster Community College

Wednesday 16 July 2008 (9:30am – 1pm)

Do you have learners who are difficult to engage?

Are your vocational learners employed in different locations who need to be working with each other?

Do you need to evidence activities quickly and easily in one place?

The course will introduce social networking sites, explore their possible use to aid learning and start you off developing your own social network there and then!

For further details telephone 01274 308707 or call in at Captain Street, Bradford, BD1 4EL.

Forster Community College – School of Management Practice: Innovation and Support for the Third Sector

IN A NUTSHELL (18 July 2008)

An event about e-learning, Quality and CPD in a nutshell.

Aimed at new and existing VCS learning providers, the event will enable you to stay ahead with the new learning landscape. In a Nutshell, will cover what community trainers need to know regarding professional registration, the new qualifications structures for trainers, putting the learner at the centre, the use of MIS, developing e – learning and getting an overview of what is going on.

At Carlisle Business Centre on the 18th July at 9.30-12.30

followed by lunch and networking.

The new learning landscape will have a dramatic knock on for all learning providers. Whether you are an existing provider or you are thinking about providing learning you need to know about the new ideas affecting the provision of learning.

To book a place contact fizzah.akhtar@atlenterprise.co.uk or visit www.atlenterprise.co.uk or telephone 01274 735844.

FREE TRAINING FROM BRC

Funding Crisis? Saving your organisation, a one-day workshop
This workshop is being run twice on: Thursday June 26th or Monday July 7th

A number of Bradford's voluntary organisations are facing closure or the possibility of making staff redundant at present. This seems to have come about following dramatic changes in the local funding environment such as:
* the ending of some funding regimes (e.g. NRF and ERDF)
* restructuring in Bradford Council
* the winding up of Bradford Vision
* mergers in local NHS organisations (notably the PCT)

This one-day workshop will cover a number of courses of action you might wish to take - we will not be pushing any particular line of action - that is up to your group - but we will introduce you to the skills and information you will need:
* How to keep in touch - who to contact to find out what's going on, what funding is available and what help you can get
* How to go about lobbying and campaigning against closure or cuts in your funding
* How to go about merging your organisation with another voluntary organisation or forming a consortium with other voluntary organisations (and what the TUPE (transfer of undertakings) legislation says about this
* How to conduct a fair and just redundancy procedure.

The workshop is FREE and lunch is included.

Both workshops are being held at the Arts and Resource Centre, home of BRC (Bradford Resource Centre & Community Statistics Project), 17-21 Chapel Street, Bradford BD1 5DT.

Contact BRC (01274 779003 or mike@brc-net.org.uk) to book a place on one of these sessions.

Delivered by PERS (Pay and Employment Rights Service), BRC (Bradford Resource Centre & Community Statistics Project) and ABCD (Action for Black Community Development).

Organised by the B-Supported Consortium (funded by the Big Lottery Fund)

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM BRC, ALSO FREE:

Using Social Statistics one-day course:
Tuesday 8th, Monday 14th & Monday 21st July 10am-4pm.
Tutor: Mike Quiggin & Bal Athwal

Campaign skills one-day course:
Wednesday 9th, Thursday 17th & Tuesday 22nd July 10am-4pm.
Tutor: Peter Dwyer

Introduction to research methods one-day course:
Friday 11th, Wednesday 16th & Thursday 24th July 10am-4pm.
Tutor: Britta Kristensen & Bal Athwal

Finding market information for social enterprises one-day course:
Friday 18th July
10am-4pm. Tutor: Mike Quiggin

Promoting your group on the internet: A beginners guide, 2 half days:
Wednesday 23rd July, 10am-1pm & Monday 28th July, 1pm-4pm.
Tutor: Britta Kristensen

For further information and booking contact:
Bal / Britta @ Bradford Resource Centre. Telephone: 01274 779003.
Email: bal@brc-net.org.uk / Britta@brc-net.org.uk
http://www.brc-net.org.uk/training.htm

LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP (9 July 2008)

Leading from the front line:
A workshop on empowering approaches to building leadership
in community organisations

10.30 am to 3 pm Wednesday July 9th 2008.
St George’s Centre, Leeds

Empowerment is now high on the agenda in the Third Sector but what does it mean in practice? bassac believe empowering leadership is about emphasising the value of involvement, equality and collective activity. This workshop is based on recent research on how community organisations are supporting the growth of leadership within their organisation and for the communities they serve. It will look at practical methods of empowerment and a framework that can be applied to your work. The workshop will be participative in style and act as a place to share your ideas and experiences.

The workshop is for:
* Staff, trustees and managers from community organisations and development trusts
* Volunteers and experienced members of community groups
* Community and development workers
* Anyone from Third and public sector organisations interested in building community leadership.

Workshop aims:
* To share the findings of the recent research on empowering approaches to building leadership in communities
* To look at how we can apply this to our own work
* To contribute experience and ideas to the future use of the empowerment framework.

The research was carried out principally in Yorkshire and the Humber in late spring 2008 for bassac and the Community Alliance; workshop participants will receive a copy of the draft report prior to the workshop.

The workshop will be run by Steve Skinner, an experienced trainer and community worker who carried out the research. Steve wrote Leadership in Communities for bassac in 2007 available on www.bassac.org.uk

Maximum 20 places – book early! Please book your place by July 1st

To book, contact: tatum@bassac.org.uk

The workshop is FREE and lunch is included. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Tatum Yip Regional Manager (Yorkshire and Humber), bassac
Direct: 0113 394 2316 Fax: 0113 394 2301
c/o Regional Forum, Suite 10D, Joseph’s Well, Hanover Walk, Leeds, LS3 1AB http://www.bassac.org.uk/

Calling for Change - The Evidence for Supporting Community Voices to Speak Out
Download bassac's new voice research findings: http://www.bassac.org.uk/pages/voice.html

AMAZE YOURSELF

Amaze Yourself @ Bradford is a FREE enterprise training and development programme delivered by the University of Bradford for those who want to ....explore a business idea ...develop entrepreneurial and employability skills ...increase knowledge and experience of business.

Who can join?
Any Bradford resident aged over 16 years, particularly people who are unemployed or not working.

The programme offers:
1. Basic modules in business planning, financial management, marketing and sales
2. Interactive sessions in networking skills, ideas development and skills development
3. Talks and master classes by local entrepreneurs who can share their experience of business set up.
4. Broker one to one business and professional support through a range of business advisers, coaches and mentors.

NEXT PROGRAMMES at the University:
9 June - 24 June
7 July - 22 July
4 August - 13 August

PLEASE PROMOTE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO YOUR SERVICE USERS AND CLIENTS.
For more information, contact Eleanor/Hina on 01274 236771 or amazeyourself@bradford.ac.uk or visit www.bradfordkickstart.com/amazeyourself

OUTCOMES TRAINING - REVISED DATES

Outcomes Training for Voluntary & Community Organisations

‘Understanding and using an outcomes focus’

20th May & 17th June 2008 (9.30 – 4.00)
OR
2nd July & 23rd July 2008 (9.30 – 4.00)

The Green Room, Christchurch, Riddings Road, Ilkley LS29 9LU.

How much do you know about the effects of your organisation’s work?
Would you like to know more about outcomes?
Are your funders asking about outcomes monitoring?

By the end of the training participants will:

* Have a clear understanding of what an outcome is and what it is not
* Be better able to identify outcomes relevant to their work
* Be aware of the main benefits of focusing on outcomes
* Know more about how to monitor outcomes
* Know more about effective ways to introduce an outcomes approach in their own organisation, and have made a start on it.

We strongly encourage you to send two or three people (paid staff, trustees or volunteers) onto the course. This may seem a big investment, but experience shows that the benefits will far outweigh the cost to you in time.

To make the most of this opportunity, we ask you to commit to:

* participants attending both days of the course
* engaging in the take-away task between the two training days. This involves holding a meeting in your own organisation on adopting an outcomes focus.
* exploring further actions to introduce an appropriate outcomes focus within your organisation.

If you require more information about the course, please contact

Mary on T: 01943 603348 or E: info@cvs.ilkley.org

BUDGETING FOR BIDS (20 May)

Budgets for Bids: Tuesday 20th May, Shipley Cellar Project

Not sure where to start with your funding application budget?

This half-day session will help groups new to creating budgets for funding bids and is taking place on Tuesday 20th May, 10am – 1pm at the Cellar Project, Shipley. The trainer is Fit4Funding.

Places are available to Bradford voluntary and community groups at a subsidised rate of £20 for this half-day session.

To help you budget for your project and activities the session will cover:
* Preparing a budget for a funding application
* Common budgeting mistakes and how to avoid them
* Estimating costs
* Identifying resources needed to deliver your project

To book a place please download a booking form from www.bradfordcvs.org.uk or telephone Diane Fox at Bradford CVS on 01274 722772

Further funding related courses, in Bradford and beyond are listed on the bfunded website at http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=05&year=2008

THINKING OF STARTING A CHILDCARE BUSINESS?

Setting up a childcare business isn't "child's play", come and listen to the experts and see what support and assistance is available

Date: Thursday 22nd May 2008
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Venue: Carlisle Business Centre, Bradford BD8 8BD

* What is childcare - governments agenda and the childcare legislation
* Working in childcare - children's workforce
* Bradford childcare market - childcare sufficiency
* Childcare Business
* Choosing and finding childcare
* Open question and answer session
* One to one information and advice.

We assess your individual needs and help you take your idea forward.
We provide dedicated business mentors and advisors to give you tailored
assistance.
We give continued support from start up to growing your business.

To book a place or for more information, please contact Shelley on:
T: 01274 223347 or E: shelley@digitalife.co.uk

For more information about the SOW Project contact Attia or Fozia at Digitalife on:
T: 01274 223 347 or E: info@sowproject.co.uk
http://www.sowproject.co.uk

For further information about Bradford Kickstart:
T: 0800 953 9503
http://www.bradfordkickstart.com

Related links:
http://www.digitalife.co.uk
http://www.be-enterprising.org

TRAINING - BUSINESS LINK YORKSHIRE

Business Link Yorkshire have published a programme of workshops
for April to June 2008.

Available at:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/Yorkshire_files/BLinkEventsMag.pdf

The wide variety of topics includes:

* Business planning
http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=5&year=2008&event=362

* Investment readiness
http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=6&year=2008&event=361

* Financial skills
http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=5&year=2008&event=360

* Managing money and making a profit
http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=5&year=2008&event=359

* Taxation and VAT
http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=6&year=2008&event=358

* Introduction to Social Enterprise
http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=5&year=2008&event=357

* Business ideas for Social Enterprise
http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=6&year=2008&event=356

Most of the courses are free of charge. All are open to voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises i.e. you do not have to be from a private business to attend.

Courses taking place on the above funding related topics have been entered in the bfunded diary of events (see links in the list above) if the course isn't being run in Bradford, the nearest venue has been entered (e.g. Leeds/ Halifax). Groups can attend any course taking place in Yorkshire and the Humber so there are a wide range of venues to choose from.

For alternative dates and venues or the full training programme visit www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk

Places can be booked online or by telephoning Business Link on 08456 048 048.

LiQiD / SOL PROJECT

Promoting quality and continuous professional development for learning in Bradford District’s voluntary and community sector.

The project is made up of workshops, e-learning, blended learning, bespoke consultancies and training for trainers. LiQiD and SOL are aimed at volunteers, support workers, trainers, tutors, co-ordinators, managers, and learning centres. These programmes would be suitable to all those VCS organisations looking to deliver learning or who are already delivering learning.

Under LiQiD we have the following workshops:

(MP 1) The Learner Journey, the Expert Learner and Soft Outcomes (14 May 2008)

Latest talk from the Quality Improvement Agency is about personalising the learner journey and encouraging the development of expert learner skills. The voluntary and community sector has a vision of empowering individuals and communities - how does the “expert learner” figure in this?

Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will:
* Know the key stages in the learner journey
* Define a working model of the expert learner
* Identify the skills required to be an expert learner
* Identify how soft outcomes can be captured

(MP 2) QTLS – Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (22 May 2008)

What is it? How do you get it? What does it mean for organisational staff development in the sector? How will we manage the requirements of the Institute for Learning (IfL)?

Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will:
* Know about the requirements of QTLS
* explore the knock on effects of the qualification in terms of personal and organisational planning for IfL requirements
* debate the benefits and costs of QTLS for the sector and
* contribute to a videocast about concerns and opportunities regarding QTLS

(MP 3) Understanding Self–Assessment, Inspection and Quality Improvement (June 2008 date tbc)

Every organisation in receipt of public funding for learning activities have to self assess, provide quality improvement plans and get ready for inspection.

This workshop provides you with the detail of what is the latest practice in these areas.

Outcomes
By the end of this session participants will:
* Know the key stages in each of the aspects of the workshop
* Formulate plans for putting in new processes and procedures
* Evaluate where you are in terms of your own quality journey

(MP 4) Capturing Data, Using Data and Using it for Quality (June 2008 date tbc)

We all have to know things about our learners. We all have to use the data to prove how we add value, how we are inclusive etc.

This workshop provides opportunities to explore the best ways to gather, store and use data for a variety of purposes.

Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will:
* Evaluate and improve their capture of learner data
* Use information to show quality improvement and performance

(MP 5) RARPA (Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement) (June 2008 date tbc)

All non-accredited learning needs to follow this process and be able to show that this process is embedded in their practice.

Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will:
* List the activities in the stages or RARPA
* Evaluate different forms used for RARPA (Get feedback on the forms you use)
* Know how to include RARPA in self assessment reports.

These workshops will run at the Management Practice Suite in the Cathedral Centre, Captain Street, Bradford, BD1 4EL. Between 9.45 and 1pm light refreshments included.

Free Consultancy for Quality and CPD

There are opportunities as part of the LiQiD project to have some tailor made solutions to quality and CPD issues your learning organisation may wish to tackle. These sessions are free and arranged at mutually convenient times.

For further information contact alan.anderton@cathedralcentre.com or phone 01274 308707

SOL (Support on Line)

Get into e-learning and blended learning see www.sonline.org.uk

E- learning and blended learning is quickly becoming an efficient way to provide information to support learning and provide a different media for introducing new ideas. It is another tool for the trainer’s toolbox and a great way to broaden activities for learners.

It is great for induction, introducing new ideas, checking knowledge and understanding and provides another means of meeting different learning styles. You can use it for staff, learners and sharing practice across the sector.

Under SOL we have a programme that aims to provide free support for VCS organisations and individuals who wish to develop online and blended learning skills. This project gives you a series of three interlinked workshops where you end up putting a basic course on the SOL virtual learning environment (VLE). This VLE is for any third sector organization or individual to use, test ideas out and practice in a supportive environment.

The best bit about SOL is you can try e learning out and see if it is something you and your learners would find useful. SOL is a VLE that will be owned by the Bradford district VCS.

From these workshops, there are a limited number of consultancies that can help you develop your e and blended learning in your own organization.

The workshops will explore:
* VLE's (Virtual Learning Environments) including Moodle
* An introduction to e-learning
* Course Creation - setting up basic courses and adding content/resources/activities
* Course Administration - Adding users and enrolling learners

At the end of the 3 workshops participants will:
* Understand the main terminology used in VLE's
* Have experienced e-learning exercises and activities
* Be able to navigate around a VLE as both a learner and a tutor
* Create a basic course
* Upload content and images
* Design basic activities

Who should attend?
Those new to the ideas of Virtual Learning Environments who want to explore developing e-learning further within their organisation - there will be a limited number of 1-1 consultancies available after the workshops. SOL gives the opportunity to try out VLEs and see which bits of virtual learning work for you. It is all free.

The workshops run on 7, 21 May and 14 June at the Management Practice Suite in the Cathedral Centre, Captain Street, Bradford, BD1 4EL.

For information and a booking form contact fizzah.akhtar@atlenterprise.co.uk or ring 01274 735844.

10 hour Accredited Training Skills Course (fit4funding)
Understanding Interactive Training Skills

Background
An innovative online course developed and delivered by fit4funding for individuals working or volunteering in the Bradford District Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector.

The course is part of the SOL project which is creating a Virtual Learning Environment for Bradford District VCS. This programme is therefore aimed at anyone interested in:
* developing their knowledge of training and learning;
* experiencing e-learning from a learner's perspective;
* seeking accreditation for their understanding of training skills.

The course is free and runs over a 4-week period beginning 28 April. The course requires people to commit to approximately 3 hours per week.

Content
An introduction to:
* Theories and concepts in learning
* Methods and resources
* Planning and Preparation
* Delivering a session
* Evaluation skills
* Assessment

There are no exams as assessment is by completion of a series of tasks over the internet.

Accreditation
The course is accredited through the Open College Network and is worth one credit (10 hours worth of study) at either levels two or three.

(This course is free and funded by the Learning and Skills Council, through Bradford Learning Partnerships and delivered by Fit4Funding in partnership with ATL (Yorkshire) Ltd and Forster School of Management Practice.

For further information and to book on email beverley.poppleton@fit4funding.org.uk or phone 01924 239063.

CREATE YOUR OWN COMMUNITY CINEMA (17 May)

FREE training and networking event at the National Media Museum in Bradford on Saturday 17 May, 1-5pm.

The event is called ‘Create Your Own Community Cinema’ and will tell you everything you need to know about how to set up a film/movie club in the heart of your community.

DISCOVER what showing films can bring to your community
SEE examples of community cinema in action
LEARN how to get started, find a venue, equipment and films
FIND OUT how a typical community cinema operates
WATCH DVD digital projection equipment in action
PICK UP hints and tips on how to attract an audience
GET the help you need
LEARN what information, advice and support is available
MEET local organisations already showing films
VIEW short film screenings
ENJOY complimentary lunch, tea and coffee.

Film clubs enable people to gather together and watch a wide range of films from mainstream classics to specific local-interest documentaries or films that celebrate the culture and heritage of a particular community. A film club is a fantastic social and educational resource, providing a central hub for your local community to meet, view films, discuss and exchange ideas. Film clubs offer a friendly atmosphere, in which every audience member can feel welcomed and secure.

If you would like more information about setting up a film club and booking a place at the event, please get in touch with:

The British Federation of Film Societies on T: 0114 221 0314 or E: info@bffs.org.uk

OUTCOMES TRAINING (29 April & 20 May)

Outcomes Training for Voluntary & Community Organisations

‘Understanding and using an outcomes focus’

29 April 2008 & 20 May 2008 (9.30 – 4.00)
The Green Room, Christchurch, Riddings Road, Ilkley LS29 9LU.

How much do you know about the effects of your organisation’s work?
Would you like to know more about outcomes?
Are your funders asking about outcomes monitoring?

By the end of the training participants will:

* Have a clear understanding of what an outcome is and what it is not
* Be better able to identify outcomes relevant to their work
* Be aware of the main benefits of focusing on outcomes
* Know more about how to monitor outcomes
* Know more about effective ways to introduce an outcomes approach in their own organisation, and have made a start on it.

We strongly encourage you to send two or three people (paid staff, trustees or volunteers) onto the course. This may seem a big investment, but experience shows that the benefits will far outweigh the cost to you in time.

To make the most of this opportunity, we ask you to commit to:
* participants attending both days of the course
* engaging in the take-away task between the two training days. This involves holding a meeting in your own organisation on adopting an outcomes focus.
* exploring further actions to introduce an appropriate outcomes focus within your organisation.

If you require more information about the course, please phone Mary on 01943 603348 or email info@cvs.ilkley.org

COMMISSIONING & PROCUREMENT (28 April 2008)

Monday 28 April, Mabel Booth Room at Bradford CVS
Trainer: Fit4Funding

Commissioning and procurement are rapidly becoming a preferred way of funding the voluntary sector for many public sector organisations such as Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts. This session will give groups an overview with details on how purchasers (funders) work in practice.

This session will cover:
What is procurement and commissioning all about?
What are the pros and cons for voluntary organisations?
How does it work in practice?
Preparing for tenders - what you need to do.

For further details or to book a place please contact:
Diane at CVS Training on T: 01274 722772 or E: training@bradfordcvs.org.uk or visit the training part of the BCVS website at www.bradfordcvs.org.uk and download a booking form.

There is a charge for this workshop of £40 for VCS groups in the Bradford District, £80 for VCS groups outside Bradford District and £80 for Statutory Organisations. Small voluntary groups with a turnover of less than £10,000 per year may be eligible for a training bursary towards the cost of this or other CVS training courses. Please contact Diane on T: 01274 722772.

ISLAM & ISLAMOPHOBIA (1 May 2008)

This one day accredited (level 2/3) course is part of the Equality & Diversity program developed by ANISSA UK. The course is suitable for: senior workers, educationalists, health care professionals, youth workers, refuge workers, police, community workers & volunteers, Councillors etc. - especially those working with diverse communities & those working with young people & women.

ISLAMOPHOBIA - the politics of language; assessing our perceptions of others, based on knowledge or hearsay; the difference between ‘tolerance’ and ‘acceptance’; examining language used by professionals when working with diverse communities.

To give an understanding of terms, commonly misunderstood, leading to Islamophobia. To look at the implications of language that is commonly used when working with hard to reach communities.

Cost £125.00 per delegate

For further information and bookings, please contact:
Ulfat Riaz T: 01274 499815 M: 07779 694292 E: ulfat_riaz@hotmail.com
ANISSA UK, 2a Duckworth Grove, Bradford BD9 5HQ.