Southwark College are currently recruiting for a new programme aimed at NEET YP, the course will be launched w/c 12th January. An open day will take place on 18th December from 4-7pm at the Waterloo centre. Students will be offered the following options for courses:

- BTEC Art, Design and Media with Customer Care

- BTEC Introductory Certificate in Business/Retail Studies

- BTEC Introductory Certificate in Construction

- C & G Floristry Creative Techniques with Customer Service

These courses run for up to 24 weeks, young people will study two days per week in the college and in addition, will also have the opportunity to take one day per week work experience. There will be additional PA support as part of the programme, if you require further information, please contact Desrina Young on 020 7815 1817.

Careers guides for the voluntary and community youth sector – are being distributed to those working in the sector, For your copy email yokeu@ncvys.org.uk or download the guide here, limited amounts available.

Central London vinvolved Team - View the latest volunteering opportunities in the vinvolved e-bulletin.

South Thames College…are on the move - They are in the final phase of a redevelopment of the new Wandsworth Campus. For further information, click here.

Healthy eating – The British Heart Foundation has launched an online game, which allows children and young people to create a Yoobot to highlight the impact of eating junk food.

Southwark College are currently recruiting for a new programme aimed at NEET YP, the course will be launched w/c 12th January. An open day will take place on 18th December from 4-7pm at the Waterloo centre. Students will be offered the following options for courses:

- BTEC Art, Design and Media with Customer Care

- BTEC Introductory Certificate in Business/Retail Studies

- BTEC Introductory Certificate in Construction

- C & G Floristry Creative Techniques with Customer Service

These courses run for up to 24 weeks, young people will study two days per week in the college and in addition, will also have the opportunity to take one day per week work experience. There will be additional PA support as part of the programme, if you require further information, please contact Desrina Young on 020 7815 1817.

Careers guides for the voluntary and community youth sector – are being distributed to those working in the sector, For your copy email yokeu@ncvys.org.uk or download the guide here, limited amounts available.

Central London vinvolved Team - View the latest volunteering opportunities in the vinvolved e-bulletin.

South Thames College…are on the move - They are in the final phase of a redevelopment of the new Wandsworth Campus. For further information, click here.

Healthy eating – The British Heart Foundation has launched an online game, which allows children and young people to create a Yoobot to highlight the impact of eating junk food.

Student Finance England is the new service delivering student finance to new higher education entrants living in England. To read more click here.

The LCCIS bulletin - View the latest LCCIS monthly bulletin which highlights the comphrehensive range of reports that are available for you to use on LCCIS and instructions on how to run reports for your borough. For further information please contact Sue Thomas.

Choice Helpdesk e-Bulletin - Choice helpdesk has launched their new monthly e-bulletin. 

Changes to the Education (student support) regulations - The Government has announced changes to the eligibility for grants and loans for intending higher education students from 2009-2010. Click here to find out more.

14-19 Prospectuses - DCSF has published a web page for young people and parents telling them about their plans to develop 14-19 prospectuses and a post-16 common application process (CAP). Find out more, click here.

National black role model launch – Top business men, journalists and lawyers are amongst the twenty individuals being named in the first-ever national role model programme for Black boys and young Black men by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears. Read more here.

Funding for Friday and Saturday night youth activities – 77 Local Authorities will receive additional funding of £25k each to provide activities on Friday and Saturday nights in neighbourhoods where crime and anti-social behaviour are a concern.

New National billboard campaign to unite communities against knife crime – A new national billboard campaign

encouraging young people and communities to stand together against knife crime has been launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

The use of alcohol among children and young people – The DCSF has published a report into the use of alcohol among children and young people.

Muslim youth work skills – have extensive experience working with young British Muslims and offer a course for youth workers, which provides a practical guide on how to engage and empower young Muslims. You can also view their newsletter here.
 
Younger mothers at a greater risk of depression – both when they are pregnant and after they give birth, according to a study.

Britain and Beyond – YouthNet carried out research earlier in the year, to explore young people's attitudes towards diversity in the UK, European citizenship and issues such as immigration, multiculturalism, integration and racism.

Self esteem booklets – The Who Cares? Trust has published a new book which aims to tackle the chronic low self-esteem frequently experienced by young people in care. Contact Emma Wood or call her on 0207 017 2787 for more information and to order. 

The Foundation Learning Tier - CEIAG monthly briefing explains the new Foundation Learning Tier and the role that information, advice and guidance practitioners will have in helping to make it a success. Download the briefing here.

Teens on Channel 4 – Last month Channel 4 Education focused on teens, with a new TV series on family life, relationships and drugs in their morning schedule. These programmes are still available to view from Channel 4 online, including Wasted and Embarrassing Teenage Bodies. 

Work by and for young people in London: the funding jigsaw - This list provides supporting information for London Funders’ who fund specific projects for young people. Click here to view the full document.

Time for Action: Equipping Young People for the Future and Preventing Violence – Time for Action,  sets out the Mayor’s vision for a programme of action for Equipping Young People for the Future and Preventing Violence.  Partnership for Young London will be submitting a coordinated response, so please send any comments to Lucy Sandford. If you would like to respond directly, please do so by 16 December 2008.

The Education and Skills Act was also passed, which will ensure young people stay in education or training until they are 18. To view more click here.

The Narrowing the Gap Final Year One Guidance is now available on the C4EO website, which updates initial guidance published in January 2008.

What is a Children's Trust? A summary leaflet from the Department of Health setting out what Children's Trusts are, what they do, and the role the NHS has to play in them.

Children’s Trusts Guidance – This resource by the DCSF includes the revised 2008 statutory guidance for local authorities and agencies on the 'duty to cooperate' to improve children's well-being, and a short leaflet with a simplified explanation of what a Children's Trust is for and what it does.

New Resolution on Lifelong Guidance - The European Council's new Resolution on Lifelong Guidance has been published. View the resolution here.

Plans to simplify the Skills System - To read the initial report published in October, click here.

Independant Review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education - Call for written evidence - Sir Alasdair Macdonald, Headteacher of Morpeth School in Tower Hamlets is leading the review of how the Government's decision to give Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education statutory status can be achieved in an effective and practicable way. To read more click here.

Social mobility – The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit has published Getting On, Getting Ahead, a discussion paper analysing the trends and drivers of social mobility.

Practitioners’ Perspectives on Child Poverty – The Child Poverty Unit (CPU) has published an exploratory study investigating practitioners’ views about child poverty in relation to their work with deprived children and families.

Joining up workforce strategies – The 'Integrated Workforce Strategy' project, run by I&DeA, is helping councils and their partners tackle local workforce challenges. Read the first four in a series of case studies from the councils involved.

Promoting inter-generational understanding through Community Philosophy – This study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation summarises an independent evaluation of the 'Thinking Village project'.

Leaving care guidelines – The National Care Advisory Service and the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum have developed guidelines to help local authorities understand what support young people need when they leave care.

Health in Youth Work Project – supporting the inclusion of health within professionally validated higher education programmes in youth and community work. If you would like to participate in the web survey, workshop or have other information that would help to inform the project, please contact Louise Atkin or telephone 01746 764080. 

NYA’s Youth Work for Health Team is putting together a Health Activities Resource Pack and want to test the activities they are developing. They would like to hear from youth projects who can help trial the resources with young people. Please email Roger Morford for further details.

CWDC website – A rougue website (cwdc.org.uk) with a strikingly similar domain name to CWDC (cwdccouncil.org.uk) has been set up, advertising training courses to the children’s workforce. The Council is seeking legal action and is warning all users not to use it. If you have any queries about this, please contact Dave Poulsom on 0113 244 6311.

The Children and Young Persons Bill has received Royal Assent after a final reading in the House of Lords.  It aims to enable those children and young people who enter the care system to be able to achieve the same aspirations parents have for their own children.

The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 is available on the website now.

Government and charities combine to continue improving child safety – The DCSF has taken a big step towards keeping children safe across the country this week with over £1.6 million grant for practical safety education for children. To read more click here. 

Multi-million myplace in North and South London – New state of the art youth facilities in Sutton, Bermondsey, Camden and Enfield are all set for take off.  Find out more details for South London and North London.

London councils unite to support children and young people – All 33 London councils have signed an agreement to provide consistent support for looked-after children and care leavers across the capital.

£22million Family Intervention Projects has been launched by the DCSF with a 'Think Family' approach across England to help more families at risk. This announcement extends funding to all 150 local authorities, read more here.

The Mohammad Ibrahim Foundation is a private independent grant making foundation. They make grants of £500 - £10,000 to organisations which aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK, both now and in the future.

Youth Inclusion Programme – Over 25,000 children and young people in danger of falling into crime and anti-social behaviour have been reached by the Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP), according to a report published by the YJB .

Work by and for young people in London: the funding jigsaw - This list provides supporting information for London Funders’ who fund specific projects for young people. Click here to view the full document.

Time for Action: Equipping Young People for the Future and Preventing Violence – Time for Action,  sets out the Mayor’s vision for a programme of action for Equipping Young People for the Future and Preventing Violence.  Partnership for Young London will be submitting a coordinated response, so please send any comments to Lucy Sandford. If you would like to respond directly, please do so by 16 December 2008.

The Education and Skills Act was also passed, which will ensure young people stay in education or training until they are 18. To view more click here.

The Narrowing the Gap Final Year One Guidance is now available on the C4EO website, which updates initial guidance published in January 2008.

What is a Children's Trust? A summary leaflet from the Department of Health setting out what Children's Trusts are, what they do, and the role the NHS has to play in them.

Children’s Trusts Guidance – This resource by the DCSF includes the revised 2008 statutory guidance for local authorities and agencies on the 'duty to cooperate' to improve children's well-being, and a short leaflet with a simplified explanation of what a Children's Trust is for and what it does.

New Resolution on Lifelong Guidance - The European Council's new Resolution on Lifelong Guidance has been published. View the resolution here.

Plans to simplify the Skills System - To read the initial report published in October, click here.

Independant Review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education - Call for written evidence - Sir Alasdair Macdonald, Headteacher of Morpeth School in Tower Hamlets is leading the review of how the Government's decision to give Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education statutory status can be achieved in an effective and practicable way. To read more click here.

Social mobility – The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit has published Getting On, Getting Ahead, a discussion paper analysing the trends and drivers of social mobility.

Practitioners’ Perspectives on Child Poverty – The Child Poverty Unit (CPU) has published an exploratory study investigating practitioners’ views about child poverty in relation to their work with deprived children and families.

Joining up workforce strategies – The 'Integrated Workforce Strategy' project, run by I&DeA, is helping councils and their partners tackle local workforce challenges. Read the first four in a series of case studies from the councils involved.

Promoting inter-generational understanding through Community Philosophy – This study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation summarises an independent evaluation of the 'Thinking Village project'.

Leaving care guidelines – The National Care Advisory Service and the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum have developed guidelines to help local authorities understand what support young people need when they leave care.

Health in Youth Work Project – supporting the inclusion of health within professionally validated higher education programmes in youth and community work. If you would like to participate in the web survey, workshop or have other information that would help to inform the project, please contact Louise Atkin or telephone 01746 764080. 

NYA’s Youth Work for Health Team is putting together a Health Activities Resource Pack and want to test the activities they are developing. They would like to hear from youth projects who can help trial the resources with young people. Please email Roger Morford for further details.

CWDC website – A rougue website (cwdc.org.uk) with a strikingly similar domain name to CWDC (cwdccouncil.org.uk) has been set up, advertising training courses to the children’s workforce. The Council is seeking legal action and is warning all users not to use it. If you have any queries about this, please contact Dave Poulsom on 0113 244 6311.

The Children and Young Persons Bill has received Royal Assent after a final reading in the House of Lords.  It aims to enable those children and young people who enter the care system to be able to achieve the same aspirations parents have for their own children.

The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 is available on the website now.

Government and charities combine to continue improving child safety – The DCSF has taken a big step towards keeping children safe across the country this week with over £1.6 million grant for practical safety education for children. To read more click here. 

Multi-million myplace in North and South London – New state of the art youth facilities in Sutton, Bermondsey, Camden and Enfield are all set for take off.  Find out more details for South London and North London.

London councils unite to support children and young people – All 33 London councils have signed an agreement to provide consistent support for looked-after children and care leavers across the capital.

£22million Family Intervention Projects has been launched by the DCSF with a 'Think Family' approach across England to help more families at risk. This announcement extends funding to all 150 local authorities, read more here.

The Mohammad Ibrahim Foundation is a private independent grant making foundation. They make grants of £500 - £10,000 to organisations which aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK, both now and in the future.

Youth Inclusion Programme – Over 25,000 children and young people in danger of falling into crime and anti-social behaviour have been reached by the Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP), according to a report published by the YJB .

CLC Training - There are still a few spaces left on the LDD training course this course equips PAs & Professionals with the skills and knowledge needed when working with YP with LDD, it will take place on 11th Dec at the Indian YMCA. For more information or to book a place on this course please log in to the training system online.

CLC have been revising the new training calendar following your feedback. The new calendar will be available very soon, which will include courses aimed at experienced PAs/Professionals and training in new subject areas, including Brief Solution Based Therapy and Advanced Group work skills.

Delivering the Integrated Youth Offer: Making young people a number one priority – This Conference, organised by 4Children. It will seek to highlight how ambitious policy is translating into leading strategy and practice and will take place on 11 December 2008 in London.

Investing in Teenage Health: Policy through to practice – A one day conference on 15th January 09 from the Department of Health, focusing on the health needs of young people and costs £50 per delegate.

Money Mastery – This free one day money coaching seminar from the National Youth Agency, is for youth workers and other professionals who work with young people. This event takes place in London on 5 February 2009.

A budget for children? Progress in tackling child poverty – This seminar from the Westminster Education Forum will examine the Government’s record on tackling child poverty since 1997. This event will take place in London on 5 February 2009 and will cost £190+VAT per delegate.

Tackling the effects of homelessness on children and young people – This conference aims to give decision makers and those working with children and young people an opportunity to improve their services. It will take place in London on 10 February 2008.

UK Youth Health and Well-Being Challenges – A series of regional events to celebrate the launch of the new Health and Well-Being Resource aimed at practitioners working with young people aged 11-19 years. It will take place on 25 February 2009 in London and costs £50+VAT.

Young People's Rights within the Education System: A Practical Approach to Advice – This is a one day participative course for Personal Advisers and youth workers to develop confidence, so participants can give initial basic advice and identify the potential for legal challenge for young people within the education system. This course will take place in London on 5 March 2009 costs £110 per delegate. 
  
Brook Annual Health Conference and Awards 2009 – This years Brook conference will bring together representatives from across the health, local authority and schools sectors to increase an understanding of the law, including legal frameworks and government guidelines. It will take place on 5 March 2009 and costs £340+VAT for Local Authority delegates.

Free management module – Youthforce have been commissioned by the CWDC to develop a management module aimed at new and aspiring managers. The module is free and carries 20 cat points which may be able to count towards a relevant degree course. It will suit people who have found themselves in a position of responsibility, have a co-ordination role or are a senior practitioner and are keen to learn management skills.
 
Free sexual health training – Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is offering a series of free training sessions for professionals working with young people across England and Wales. From last month, THT has provided training in areas such as sex and relationships education, HIV awareness and tackling homophobia. These courses are aimed at anyone wanting to increase or refresh their knowledge around young lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s needs.

Muslim youth work – Muslim Youth Skills have extensive experience working with young British Muslims and offer a course for youth workers, which provides a practical guide on how to engage and empower young Muslims. 

CLC Training - There are still a few spaces left on the LDD training course this course equips PAs & Professionals with the skills and knowledge needed when working with YP with LDD, it will take place on 11th Dec at the Indian YMCA. For more information or to book a place on this course please log in to the training system online.

CLC have been revising the new training calendar following your feedback. The new calendar will be available very soon, which will include courses aimed at experienced PAs/Professionals and training in new subject areas, including Brief Solution Based Therapy and Advanced Group work skills.

Delivering the Integrated Youth Offer: Making young people a number one priority – This Conference, organised by 4Children. It will seek to highlight how ambitious policy is translating into leading strategy and practice and will take place on 11 December 2008 in London.

Investing in Teenage Health: Policy through to practice – A one day conference on 15th January 09 from the Department of Health, focusing on the health needs of young people and costs £50 per delegate.

Money Mastery – This free one day money coaching seminar from the National Youth Agency, is for youth workers and other professionals who work with young people. This event takes place in London on 5 February 2009.

A budget for children? Progress in tackling child poverty – This seminar from the Westminster Education Forum will examine the Government’s record on tackling child poverty since 1997. This event will take place in London on 5 February 2009 and will cost £190+VAT per delegate.

Tackling the effects of homelessness on children and young people – This conference aims to give decision makers and those working with children and young people an opportunity to improve their services. It will take place in London on 10 February 2008.

UK Youth Health and Well-Being Challenges – A series of regional events to celebrate the launch of the new Health and Well-Being Resource aimed at practitioners working with young people aged 11-19 years. It will take place on 25 February 2009 in London and costs £50+VAT.

Young People's Rights within the Education System: A Practical Approach to Advice – This is a one day participative course for Personal Advisers and youth workers to develop confidence, so participants can give initial basic advice and identify the potential for legal challenge for young people within the education system. This course will take place in London on 5 March 2009 costs £110 per delegate. 
  
Brook Annual Health Conference and Awards 2009 – This years Brook conference will bring together representatives from across the health, local authority and schools sectors to increase an understanding of the law, including legal frameworks and government guidelines. It will take place on 5 March 2009 and costs £340+VAT for Local Authority delegates.

Free management module – Youthforce have been commissioned by the CWDC to develop a management module aimed at new and aspiring managers. The module is free and carries 20 cat points which may be able to count towards a relevant degree course. It will suit people who have found themselves in a position of responsibility, have a co-ordination role or are a senior practitioner and are keen to learn management skills.
 
Free sexual health training – Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is offering a series of free training sessions for professionals working with young people across England and Wales. From last month, THT has provided training in areas such as sex and relationships education, HIV awareness and tackling homophobia. These courses are aimed at anyone wanting to increase or refresh their knowledge around young lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s needs.

Muslim youth work – Muslim Youth Skills have extensive experience working with young British Muslims and offer a course for youth workers, which provides a practical guide on how to engage and empower young Muslims. 

Workers in London and the South East are likely to be worst hit by the recession, with one in 12 jobs going, according to a Local Government Association (LGA) report in November.

To add to the gloom a report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) released on the same day, forecast that recession would drag on until October 2010, with unemployment reaching 2.9 million.

This time around it will be London that bears the brunt of recession, rather than manufacturing areas in the North and Midlands. Banks are expected to shed tens of thousands of jobs (and have already started) and construction firms have been hit hard.

The CBI said the recession will be “longer and deeper” than forecast as recently as September, but that the economy would begin to recover in 2010. According to John Cridland, deputy director of the CBI “the jury is still out on whether all the different government interventions will work”.

There is some good news: according to the LGA report anyone employed in business services, defence, public administration, transport or the service sector may be protected, with some job increases even predicted.

Another November report looked at retailers' chances of surviving the recession. Up to last month Central London Connexions retail vacancies were holding up well. However, on 30th October Westfield London opened in White City and the ‘Westfield Effect’ diminished. There are still vacancies in the centre, but the big recruitment drive is over. There are fewer Christmas temp vacancies than last year and the Retail Job Information Sheet is starting to look a bit thin.

Looking ahead the picture on the high street is a mixed one. MFI and Woolworths are in administration, but other stores continue to have good profit margins. A recent study for The Times found clothing, footwear and accessories by far the most profitable part of the retail industry. Of the top ten top performing retail companies by profit margin, nine are predominantly clothes retailers, with only Topps Tiles breaking the monopoly at number two. Of the major high street names River Island was top and Next ninth. Opticians, pharmacies, health and beauty also tend to turn in a profit margin that should see them through the recession.

DIY, home and gardening turns in the smallest profit margins, so it is probably not surprising that MFI is struggling. Phones, electricals, books and music video and gaming all have profit margins below 5%, so ‘consolidations’ can be expected (PC World and Currys are struggling at the moment). Further information from:
www.lga.gov.uk/lga/publications/publication-display.do?id=1212613
http://business.scotsman.com/scotlandseconomy/CBI-fears--longer-.4699393.jp
www.timesonline.co.uk/business

 

Workers in London and the South East are likely to be worst hit by the recession, with one in 12 jobs going, according to a Local Government Association (LGA) report in November.

To add to the gloom a report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) released on the same day, forecast that recession would drag on until October 2010, with unemployment reaching 2.9 million.

This time around it will be London that bears the brunt of recession, rather than manufacturing areas in the North and Midlands. Banks are expected to shed tens of thousands of jobs (and have already started) and construction firms have been hit hard.

The CBI said the recession will be “longer and deeper” than forecast as recently as September, but that the economy would begin to recover in 2010. According to John Cridland, deputy director of the CBI “the jury is still out on whether all the different government interventions will work”.

There is some good news: according to the LGA report anyone employed in business services, defence, public administration, transport or the service sector may be protected, with some job increases even predicted.

Another November report looked at retailers' chances of surviving the recession. Up to last month Central London Connexions retail vacancies were holding up well. However, on 30th October Westfield London opened in White City and the ‘Westfield Effect’ diminished. There are still vacancies in the centre, but the big recruitment drive is over. There are fewer Christmas temp vacancies than last year and the Retail Job Information Sheet is starting to look a bit thin.

Looking ahead the picture on the high street is a mixed one. MFI and Woolworths are in administration, but other stores continue to have good profit margins. A recent study for The Times found clothing, footwear and accessories by far the most profitable part of the retail industry. Of the top ten top performing retail companies by profit margin, nine are predominantly clothes retailers, with only Topps Tiles breaking the monopoly at number two. Of the major high street names River Island was top and Next ninth. Opticians, pharmacies, health and beauty also tend to turn in a profit margin that should see them through the recession.

DIY, home and gardening turns in the smallest profit margins, so it is probably not surprising that MFI is struggling. Phones, electricals, books and music video and gaming all have profit margins below 5%, so ‘consolidations’ can be expected (PC World and Currys are struggling at the moment). Further information from:
www.lga.gov.uk/lga/publications/publication-display.do?id=1212613
http://business.scotsman.com/scotlandseconomy/CBI-fears--longer-.4699393.jp
www.timesonline.co.uk/business