Youth Music Week (27th October – 3rd November) – Youth Music will be promoting the power of music to transform young lives and they need youth groups and organisations to join in and run their own events. For more info, email info@youthmusic.org.uk or visit their site for details of last year’s events.

Changes to the special EMA arrangements for learners on entry to employment (e2e) - e2e is moving into Foundation Learning (FL) for 2010/2011; as such the existing special arrangements that apply to e2e learners for EMA (that they receive £30 EMA per week regardless of household income) will cease. Click here to find out more.

The Central London Connexions website has been refreshed and is now live! The site will give better access to useful information, advice and guidance for young people, parents and carers and staff working with young people.

The government has announced a two-year grants programme to provide at least 40 internships with established arts companies for graduates from deprived backgrounds. Read more.

Fast forward project - In March 2010, an innovative and creative one week Westminster Fast Forward project took place to move young people from NEET to EET. It was attended by eleven young people aged 16 -18. The project was funded by the City of Westminster in partnership with Central London Connexions, by the January Guarantee and Activity Agreement Pilot (AAP) and co-ordinated by the AAP PAs. A wide range of training providers including the City of Westminster College, British Red Cross, Springboard Islington, Actors, Vital Regeneration and Camden Jobwise hosted a wide range of activities including an Arsenal tour, as well as tasters in a range of vocational areas including Construction, Customer service and Hospitality. As a result of the course almost 90% of the young people requested a start date with an E2E training provider or college. 

Future Jobs Fund - The latest round of successful bids for funding from the Government’s Future Jobs Fund includes 3,000 jobs in sport, health and fitness, 247 jobs with the National Trust and 50 creative roles with the Media Trust.

Choosing the right STEM degree course – Report detailing the need for clear guidance for students, teachers and parents, with a view to ensuring that all candidates can have access to the same information, when choosing a course of study.

Valuing Employment Now is a strategy about making sure that people with learning disabilities get the support they need to get and keep a paid job.

The number of IT jobs continues to grow - New research by e-skills UK shows that every year the IT and Telecoms professional workforce requires almost 21,000 new entrants to join directly from education.

Science: So what? So everything has looked at developments in science and technology that could happen in the next 20 years and forecast 20 jobs we could be doing in the future.

A new pilot scheme, Jobs First – will support people with learning disabilities to find paid jobs - read the full article here.

Better Never Stops: Quality and Performance in Integrated Youth Support Services – This document outlines a framework proposing a holistic method of assessing quality and performance measures to meet the needs of all professionals that work with young people.

The impact of 14-19 reforms on the career guidance profession in England - Results are analysed in seven key areas, including the impact of Connexions on professional capacity in career guidance, and a series of recommendations are made.

Fuelling Potential – In August 2010 a new careers advice service will be launched, providing access to better information about the labour market and new tools.

Poorer children’s educational attainment: how important are attitudes and behaviour? – This research focuses on a range of factors under the umbrella term 'aspirations, attitudes and behaviours', encompassing a wide variety of influences throughout childhood.

Brightside website launched – Its aim is supporting young people via online, independent information, advice and guidance. Visit the new website.

Brightside Resources - 20 free downloadable activities about university and finance, providing step-by-step instructions for facilitators and handouts for your students.

Bright Journals is BrightsideUNIAID’s pioneering e-mentoring programme for aspiring medical students and healthcare professionals. Find out more.

Weathering the recession: Young people’s experiences of the recession – BYC report found that young people are still planning for employment despite the recession, with two thirds having a career or ideal job in mind for the future.

Equality and Diversity toolkit - This is an interactive toolkit to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, (STEM) careers to young people with a range of backgrounds and needs.

Films have been produced for the Diploma website - they feature young people, their teachers/tutors and parents talk about their experiences of the Diploma. Click here to preview.

Consultation: IAG Services for Young People: Directions and Statutory Guidance for local authorities - The directions and statutory guidance provide a framework for a coordinated approach to planning, managing and reviewing IAG services.

If you would like a STEM careers representative to attend any events you have planned, please email the team at info@careersinstem.co.uk.

Quality Standards for Positive Activities (DRAFT) - Designed to help young people and their parents/carers understand the quality and breadth of Positive Activities and at commissioners.

Aiming high for Young People: 3 years on - This document outlines the achievements so far against the three main Aiming High principles.

Moving through the system: information, advice and guidance - This report focuses on the importance of providing high quality IAG to young people, as well as their parents and carers.

Tackling the NEET problem: how local authorities are getting young people back into education, employment and training – Ofsted report which highlights the strategies, partnerships and activities some local authorities have employed to attract some of the most difficult to reach young people into work or learning.

Careers guidance and participation in education findings from the YELLIS dataset - This report looks at questions about the careers guidance and future participation in education that  year 10/11 pupils have responded to over the last 12 years.

Integrated Working Without Boundaries – the London Common Assessment Framework (CAF) Protocol – Guidance on how to use/implememnt the CAF when working across boroughs or organisations.

Functional Skills: the facts - This document sets out the Functional Skills policy and is aimed at anyone involved in delivering functional skills.

Share Street is an online community of learning for the children and young people's workforce.

25,000 training places are being offered to staff and volunteers in voluntary organisations in England that work with young people as part of Aiming High. For more info please email youngpeoplesworkforce@cwdcouncil.org.uk or see the website.

All together, a better way of working – Aiming to support practitioners in working together more effectively, CWDC has launched a microsite for Integrated Working.

The New Vetting & Barring Scheme - The Independent Safeguarding Authority requirements and your organisation (13th April) - This course will comprehensively review the latest developments from (ISA) Independent Safeguarding Authority.

Decisions at 18 2010 - Flexibility for careers of the future (20th April) – Three day residential for those who advise and work with young adults, disseminating valuable information on the broad field of school and college leaver career options.

Integrated Working Across the Children’s Workforce (22nd April) – Conference builds on progress towards implementing effective joint working putting the child at the heart of the services they receive.

Understanding Young Peoples’ Challenging Behaviour (26th April) - This one day course aims to provide skills, information and ideas to trainers who wish to deliver a two-day training course for those who work with young people.

Relationships & Sexuality training (28th April) - This day will not be about strategy, but based around a practical ethos of inclusion for staff that work with children or young disabled people.

Not in Education, Employment or Training (29th April) - Giving delegates the chance to hear the latest national guidance and local best practice, this event focuses on the key issues facing practitioners.

Young People's Rights within the Education System - A practical approach to advice (12th May) - A one day lively knowledge-based course with a balance of relevant theory, legislation/guidance and practical tips.

Advising Young People on Housing and Homelessness (27th May) - This course will help to develop participants' understanding of young single homelessness and the relevant legislative frameworks.

Tackling Teenage Pregnancy (27th May) – This conference offers strategic support and practical guidance on reducing conception rates among young people.

Will it consolidate and harmonise discrimination legislation or “drive a coach and horses through … recruiting on merit”?

The most significant piece of new employment legislation for 2010 is likely to be the passing of the long awaited Equality Bill. However, there are widely varying opinions on the Bill’s likely impact from the negative “will also drive a coach and horses through the principles of recruiting on merit” (www.recruiter.co.uk 31/3/10) to the positive “The Equality Bill has the potential to further improve recruitment” (Carol Baxter, Head of Equality, Diversity and Human Rights at NHS Employers).

The government intends for the Bill to get royal assent in April 2010, with the majority of its provisions coming into force in October 2010 or thereafter.

There is particular concern about the extension of positive action provision, along with the duty on public authorities to consider reducing socio-economic inequalities. Where two candidates are equally well qualified, public sector bodies will be allowed to choose the person who is from the group which is under represented in the workforce.

While the intention is to promote fairness in the workforce, according to www.recruiter.co.uk critics argue that it is impractical. Chris Tutton, a solicitor in the employment department at law firm Irwin Mitchell warns that this ’tie-breaker’ provision could open recruiters, both in-house and agencies, up to the risk of employment tribunals. “It will still be unlawful not to select the best candidate, so this provision of the Bill could expose recruiters to claims from unsuccessful candidates on the basis that they considered themselves to be better than the successful candidate.”

Janice Joannou, who speaks on equality for the Public Sector People Managers Association, argues that people should still be recruited strictly on merit. “They should only be hired if they add value to that job”.

Whether it is seen as a positive or negative move it is clear that employers and agencies will need to review their recruitment systems. For example, it seems that the Bill will effectively ban health-related questions until after a job offer has been confirmed. Susan Scott-Parker, Chief Executive of the Employers’ Forum on Disability, believes this is the correct approach and employers only need to know if people need any adjustments to enable them to do the job.

More than ever employers and agencies will need to ensure selection is based on objective criteria.

“In view of these new rights, employers and agencies should review their selection criteria and interview procedures to ensure they are as objective as possible to avoid any claim under the Equality Act. There is no limit on damages for discrimination claims, so getting it wrong can be very expensive.”
Tessa Fry, a partner at GSC Solicitors.

More details on the Bill can be found at www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_bill.aspx