Lowerhouses Childrens Centre - September Courses

A taster session for the Skills For Jobs programme is to be run at Lowerhouses Childrens Centre, starting Monday September 6th and running for four weeks. The sessions are aimed at helping learners get back into work by providing support in job search and preparation - CV building, job search and applications, increasing confidence skills and assessments. The Children’s Centre will provide light refreshments during the session.
Time: 12noon – 2pm.
Date: Monday, September 6th

A similar four-week course at Lowerhouses Children's Centre for those with under 5's will run from Tuesday, September 14th as a free crèche for children under 5's will be available.
Time: 1pm – 3pm.
Date: Tuesday, September 14th

Anybody interested can contact Paddock Learning Centre on 01484 431400.

Adult Learner Award Success

Peter Ray, who took part in the Campus Skills For Jobs programme, won a most determined learner award at the Adult Learner Awards held in May at Huddersfield Town Hall. Peter had worked in engineering for most of his adult life and had no knowledge of computers when he enrolled on a Skills For Jobs introductory course at Paddock Learning Centre. He successfully completed the first course and eventually completed further training for his full Level One qualification in IT. He now works full-time for Kirklees Council in the Estates Department. Peter (left) is pictured with the former chief executive of Kirklees Council Rob Vincent.

Update on Newsome Grapevine Project

Newsome residents have successfully completed a number of UK Online courses at the Newsome Scout Hut as part of the Newsome Grapevine project. Paddock Learning Centre has supplied laptops and staff to help visitors to the Friday drop-in sessions get to grips with the Internet through a series of short on-line courses. The sessions finish on Friday July 16th but we hope to secure further funding to enable the drop-in to continue in September.

Drop-In Sessions, Newsome Scout Hut, Huddersfield

Weekly drop-in sessions starting Friday May 21st at Newsome Scout Hut will allow residents to find out about how local people and community groups are using technology to share information - and how you can do it too.
The sessions will offer:

• Drop in any Friday to use the Internet for free
• Get help with basic computing skills and using the Internet
• Learn how to access local information online and by text
• Share what you know about Newsome in words, photos, audio and video
• Find out how to create a simple web site for you group or project
• Help create a web site for the Newsome Ward
• Get started with Twitter, Facebook, blogs or other sites.
  

Session Time: every Friday from May 21st to July 16th 10.30am - 12.30pm
Newsome Scout Hut, Newsome Road South.
For more information call 01484 431400 or Diane on 01484 414823

Drop-In Sessions, Bleak House, Batley

We are now running weekly IT drop-in sessions at Bleak House on the Wilton Estate in Batley. The sessions - run from 1pm - 3pm every Tuesday - will help residents improve their computer skills, learn more about going online and offers support in finding employment. There are also opportunities to move onto our main employability programme from these sessions. Skills For Jobs offers a range of vocational qualifications and one-to-one mentoring. The Bleak House weekly sessions are free and suitable for all ages and levels of experience - from complete novices to more confident computer users. For more information please call 01484 431400.

Paddock Over 60's IT Courses

Over the last couple of years Paddock Learning Centre has worked with a number of groups of older learners in helping them get more out of the Internet and to develop social contact through regular IT sessions. The video below, made with the support of Community Media Matters, highlights the benefits and impact of the work so far. Kirklees Community Liaison have supported the delivery of these twice weekly sessions.

Training Fair Update

Although not as well-attended as hoped the Training Fair held on Saturday, March 6th proved successful for many of the participating organisations most of whom recruited people onto various employment support and training provisions. The Key2Work programme was particularly successful and the Mission even managed to sign up a new volunteer tutor for their training sessions. Organisers now hope to repeat the exercise - though bigger and better - early in September. Pictured: Diane Gledhill Learn Direct Project Coordinator (CWU)