Job Information Sheets - Check out the August Job Information Sheets now available on the CLC Website.

KISS Scholarships – KISS and Choice e-Prospectus have teamed up to give anyone aged 14-25 the chance to realise their dream of working in the music and media business. Visit the website for more information.

Activity Agreement Courses – There are still a few places left on the following courses: Goals for Young People; First Steps Youth Work; Multimedia (Music Production) and Basic First Aid. To refer a young person onto a course or for further information please contact Joe Brooke-Smith on 020 7938 8081. To view the AAP Calendar click here. 

Activity Agreement Residential – Nine young people took part in a boot camp style residential with the Activity Agreement Pilot and Oakley Adventures in the Peak District, Derbyshire from 23rd -25th July 2008 which involved outdoor activities including Abseiling, Cycling, hill walking and boulder hopping. View pictures here of the young people participating in Abseiling and Boulder hopping. 

National Youth Theatre drama courses – The National Youth Theatre are offering 3 different drama courses for young people, including a free drop in class on Holloway Road every Wednesday. For more information please contact Jim, Anna or Pete on 020 7281 3863. 

The Team Programme – A new Prince's Trust 12 week programme starts at Barnet College Grahame Park on 15 September. The course is for 16-25 year olds, targeting NEET, care leavers, young offenders and other disengaged young people. For more information please click here. If you would like to refer a young person please contact Alison Savell.  

The Prince's Trust Get into ...Parks and Green Spaces - This is a free course for 16-25 year olds who are interested in a career in the parks industry. To refer a young person on to the course please complete the referral form and fax it back to Chloe Halpin on 020 7543 1200.

Young Partners Award 2008 – NCVYS have announced that nominations for the 2008 Young Partners Award are now being accepted. The Young Partners Award is a celebration of young people's involvement in decision-making within voluntary youth organisations and projects.

CRAE Young Equals day of action on age discrimination – Young Equals is a group of charities and children and young people who are campaigning to stop age discrimination. On 28 August 2008 they are holding a day event of action to gather evidence of age discrimination from all over Britain to collect evidence against the new set of equality bills, which will only protect adults from age discrimination. 

 

 

Educational Maintenance Allowance – Connexions staff will want to be aware of some important changes to the EMA scheme that affect them, specifically the immediate removal of the extended period of entitlement (or ‘3-in-4’ rule).  This allows learners to receive a delayed 3rd year of EMA support in the 4th year following the end of their compulsory education. Connexions staff will no longer have a formal role in endorsing EMA applications from young people aged 19.  

Choosing the new Diplomas – This month's briefing from CEIAG News advises practitioners about giving information, advice and guidance on the new diplomas to young people and their parents and carers.

Connexions Direct User Survey – The results of the 2008 survey are now available online.
The findings were very positive, with 92 percent of users of the telephone, adviser online and email services reporting that they were very or fairly satisfied with the service, up from 89 percent in 2006.

Young People from different faiths and cultures – Participation Works has published its latest 'How to' guide: How to work successfully with children and young people from different faiths and cultures. The guide provides tips on how to ensure that a diverse range of children and young people can be engaged.

Young People and Employability – The OECD has published new research calling on the Government to take action to support young people leaving education without qualifications.

Teenage Parents – The DCSF has published a new guide on the commissioning and delivering maternity services for young parents. This guide gives practical suggestions on how to achieve a high-quality service that meets their needs.

Getting that Dream Career is easy according to one in four British teenagers – New research commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) has revealed that a quarter of English teenagers believe that education is not important in achieving their goals.

 

CLC Training courses - Courses running in September are Group Work, Achieving National IAG Standards and Employability.  Book your place now by logging on to the CLC Online Training System at www.centrallondonconnexions.org.uk and also view other upcoming courses available! If you need help with your login details please email CLCTraining@rbkc.gov.uk.

Free training on solvent abuse – Re-Solv is offering a free course on solvent abuse for professionals working with young people, supported by a grant from PPP Healthcare Medical Trust. It takes approximately three to six hours to complete and includes training documents, a series of assignments, online tests, surveys and case studies. Upon satisfactory completion, participants will be sent a certificate.

Qualification in Careers Guidance – Funds are available to support students employed or sponsored by organisations receiving Connexions funding to undertake the Qualification in Careers Guidance (QCG). The closing date for applications is 15 August 2008 and organisations are asked to give provisional indication to ICG of whether they intend to bid as soon as possible.

Foundation degree: Working with Young People and Young People’s Services – Canterbury Christchurch University, London Borough of Newham and London East Connexions are organising this two year Foundation Degree in Working with Young People and Young People’s Services, endorsed by the Sector Skills Council as a professional qualification. For more information please email Bob Lamb or call 07740 733 984.

Dangerous Cocktails: A Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Families – This conference, organised by the NHS Foundation Trust, not only looks at work with adults and young people, but also with families. This event will take place in London on 26 September 2008.

Engaging with Young People to Promote Positive Activity – This Unboxed conference, organised in association with Lemos & Crane, aims to generate great ideas for working with young people on projects that build awareness of risk, encourage tolerance, support participation, and develop leadership for positive peer influence.

Beverley Hughes announces further steps to improve CEIAG –In a recent written House of Commons answer, the Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families explained what the Government is doing to further improve the quality of provision. Click here to read more.

Bercow review published – The Government commissioned review into how to improve services for children and young people has been published and advises early intervention is the key to tackling the communication problems that can ruin young people’s later lives.

Transport-related issues and solutions – This research, carried out by the DCSF, explores the increased need to transport young people between learning centres and assesses how barriers have been overcome.

Good Childhood Inquiry, currently being run by The Children’s Society, indicates that adults are increasingly worried about the moral values that their children are learning from those around them. The rise in materialism, a preoccupation with celebrity, and declining networks of support from community and extended family were all cited as negative factors.

DCSF capability review – The Cabinet Office has published a capability review of the DCSF. The review examines the department’s performance on a wide range of criteria such as leadership, developing strategy and delivery. It also identifies specific measures that need to be undertaken to ensure that the department is meeting its potential.

Good Practice Guidelines in Delivering Youth Support Worker Qualifications – The Network of Regional Youth Work Units: England has produced a set of good practice guidelines for organisations that commission and deliver qualifications for Youth Support Workers in England. Article by Children and Young People Now.

London's largest shopping centre opening in White City
 
Westfield London the £1.6bn retail and leisure development at White City, is being built on a 46 acre site just north of Shepherd's Bush. Spanning 1.5 million square feet, it is expected to bring 4,000 jobs in a previously disadvantaged area.
 
It will be the largest shopping mall in Europe within an urban area, taking over from the Manchester Arndale, and be the third largest shopping centre in the UK behind MetroCentre and Bluewater.
 
The centre is due to open on 30th October 2008. There will be major main high street stores (such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Waitrose and Next), 265 smaller retail units and a wide selection of cafes and brasseries.

The scheme will have:
• A two-level retail and a mezzanine floor
• A new luxury area within the centre dedicated to luxury and design fashion brands
• A 14 screen cinema
• A new library and children's nursery
• Affordable housing schemes which will deliver over 200 new homes

An unusual aspect of the development is a new high end retail area to be called The Village. Building on experience in attracting high end retailers to its Australian malls, developer Westfield hopes to attract brands unheard of in the London shopping centres. Louis Vuitton has signed up for a unit in the area along with the likes of Mulberry, Tiffany & Co, Thomas Pink, Armani, Duchamp, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Gieves & Hawkes, Tommy Hilfiger and TM Lewin - arguably establishing The Village at Westfield London as London's third biggest luxury retailing centre after the West End and Sloane Square.
 
Recruitment for the October opening is already well under way with the full range of vacancies being advertised.

Vacancies include many part-time and full-time retail opportunities as well as support services, such as cleaning, accounts and concierge. As opening approaches Connexions advisers in Kensington & Chelsea are making contact with centre employers and discussing the recruitment of young people. Current vacancies on LOIS  include:
 
L19001084 Boots the Chemist - Sales & Healthcare Assistants
L19001085 Monsoon Accessorize - Sales Assistants
L19001086 WH Smith - Sales Assistant
L19001087 Marks & Spencer - Customer Assistant
L19001088 Debenhams - Sales Adviser
L19001089 Debenhams - Sales Adviser
L19001090 Waitrose - Supermarket Assistants
L19001091 Next - Sales Consultant
L19001092 Next - Stockroom Assistant
 
Further opportunities will be added over the coming months.
 
For young people from Kensington & Chelsea interested in applying for jobs at Westfield a number of preparation events are being offered. Contact Eugene Biggs for further details.