Skills for Jobs Level 1 Courses 2011

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MyGuide at Twin Chapels Batley

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Work Club at Paddock Village Hall

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Paddock Village Hall Christmas Fair

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Introduction to IT course

The next Introduction to IT course at Paddock Learning Centre will be running starts Tuesday 2nd November.

For any information regarding this or any other course please contact 01484 431400 alternatively email us at admin@paddockforum.org.uk

New Courses Continued

Paddock Learning Centre - PC Technicians
5 Week Course 2 days a week (Mondays and Wednesdays)
18th October - 17th November, 9.30am - 3pm

Chestnut Centre, Fartown Village Hall - Developing Customer Service Skills
3 Day Course, 20th - 22nd October, 9.30am - 3pm

For any enquiries contact
Tel: 01484 431400

New Courses for the September Term 2010

Our Skills for Jobs program Courses for the September term are as listed:

Paddock Learning Centre - IT Maintenance and Word Processing Level 1
12 weeks - 7th September - 30th November

Ravensthorpe Community Centre - Word Processing Level 1
10 Weeks - 20th September - 29th November

Lowerhouses Sure Start Centre - Employability Workshops
4 Weeks - 14th September - 5th October

Birkby Junior School - Introduction to IT
5 Weeks - 23rd September - 21st October

Newsome Scout Hut - IT and Employability Skills Drop In
24th September - Ongoing

Ravensthorpe Community Centre - Level 1 Customer Service Skills
10 Weeks - 28th September - 7th December

Ravensthorpe Community Centre - Level 2 Customer Service Skills
5 Day Course - 27th September - 13th October

For any enquiries contact:

Tel: 01484 431400

New Co-ordinator for IT Buddy Scheme

The IT Buddy Scheme aims to help people with little or no IT experience access training and development in the use of technology by utilising the skills of people from local communities. The project is currently looking for people who would like to give a little of their time and become Paddock Community Forum volunteers, who then pass on their IT skills to others.


The scheme aims to promote adult learning and bring together people from all walks of life, especially those who feel isolated or are in need of a confidence boost. There are opportunities to learn about effective job searching and employability skills, digital photography, social networking, the use of the IT to make financial savings. The objective is to work together in order to benefit from each other’s knowledge, in supportive learning environments throughout Kirklees.



For more information on the IT Buddy Scheme please contact Giles Harrison on 01484 440 798 or send an e-mail to Giles@paddockforum.org.uk alternatively contact the Paddock Community Forum on 01484 431 400.

Correction from old blog post, 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.
Taster session with creche for under 5's
Time: 2pm - 3.30pm
Date: Monday, September 6th

Four-week follow on course at Lowerhouses Children's Centre will run from Tuesday, September 14th.
Time: 1pm – 3pm.
Date: Tuesday, September 14th
Anybody interested can contact Paddock Learning Centre on 01484 431400.

Level 1 ICT qualification at Thornhill Lees

Learners at Thornhill Lees Community Centre ,Dewsbury, have successfully completed a Level 1 ICT qualification through the Skills for Jobs Project.

IT taster course held at Birkby Infants School.

Parents of children attending Birkby Infants School attented a short 5 week IT taster course run by Paddock Learning Centre. We hope to be able to hold another short course in the autumn. This project was funded through the Reducing Inequalities Grant.

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)

Crosland Moor Learning Centre Open Day

Crosland Moor Learning Centre, partners in the Kirklees Community Campus, are to hold a Skills For Jobs Open Day on Saturday, March 27th 1 - 4pm. Visitors will be able to find out more about the range of IT and other other provision available under Skills For Jobs programme at Crosland Moor.

UK Online Funding

Paddock Learning Centre has been successful in a £15,000 bid to UK Online, under the Smarter Government Grant funding scheme. The bid was successful in part because of the intended contribution to the UK online centres vision in respect of the smarter government funding, which is to support an extra one million people to get online by the end of 2012. Also for indicating the intention to use the online basics, public services and employability courses within www.myguide.gov.uk, in order to enable clients to gain the skills and confidence to effectively use the internet to improve their lives.
The award follows the recent successful £7,000 application for capital funds to UK Online which has enabled the Centre to update and replace much of its IT facility.

Computer Sessions For Older People - Dalton

Regular computer sessions for older people entitled Understanding Your Computer will commence every Wednesday morning at the Greenfields Family Centre in Dalton from April. These sessions, which explore the basics of using a computer - including accessing online services - are aimed at overcoming social isolation and providing a leisure activity and learning opportunity that is therapeutic in its own right. The work is funded by Kirklees Council Community Liaison and also provides an opportunity for individuals to volunteer their time to support fellow learners.
Please contact 01484 431400 for more details.

Venue: Greenfields Family Centre, Dalton Green Lane, HD5 9TR

Taster Session at St.James' Church Rawthorpe

Paddock Learning Centre are to deliver two taster sessions at St. James' Church in Rawthorpe during March. The sessions are aimed at IT novices who wish to improve their computer skills in order to help them find work and progress into further training. Learners will have the opportunity to progress onto the full qualifications pathway in IT and other skill areas offered through the Kirklees Community Campus Skills For Jobs Project.

The dates and time of the courses are:
Wednesday, March 24th 9.30am - 12.00pm
Wednesday, March 31st 9.30am - 12.00pm

Please contact 01484 431400 for more information

Advanced Digital Photography: Paddock Learning Centre

Do you have a basic knowledge of using a digital camera and are confident in using computers?
Would you like to develop and build on your existing knowledge and learn how to produce better photographs?
Would you like to learn new skills and build on your confidence to guide others in taking better photographs?

Course Content;
• Developing simple photographic styles
• Understanding lighting both indoors and outdoors
• Editing images for a greater impact
• Understanding composition and framing techniques

This course will be a fun and lively course with a mix of practical and studio work.

When: Thursday 15th April 2010 starting 10.30am to 12.30pm for 6 consecutive weeks
Venue: Paddock Learning Centre, Paddock Village Hall, Paddock, Huddersfield HD1 4TX
All courses are free, all we ask is that you pass on and share your new skills and knowledge to your community/voluntary groups.
Interested? Then contact Gemma on 01484 225142 or gemma.jenkinson@kirklees.gov.uk

Training Fair

Training Fair at the Huddersfield Methodist Mission
Saturday March 6th 10am - 2pm
Skills for Jobs partners including the Kirklees Community Campus will be attending the Training Fair at the Mission to offer information about the opportunities, help and support available for local people who want to get into work.
The Campus will be promoting their range of accredited training in such skills as Office IT and general computing, Work Experience and Customer Service Skills along with the one to one support available through learning mentors.
Information about the employment assistance available in the Fresh Horizons Key2Work programme, and construction focused training through the Accent Community Partnership will also be on hand from staff representing these organisations.

Free Community Websites

The Talk about Local project in partnership with UK Online is offering community groups in the area the chance to build their own simple, free website with the support of Kirklees Community Campus. We aim to help two or three local organisations create and maintain their own site using the free wordpress and ning platforms. Free community websites can be used effectively for a wide variety of issues, from local community activism and politics to organising local sports or arts groups, or simply talking passionately about your interests online. The offer is open to all community groups in Kirklees but we only have sufficient resources to help up to three organisations.
For more information please contact 01484 431400.

Campus Customer Service Courses

The Community Campus are to offer a Level One Customer Service Skills courses at both The Chestnut Centre, Huddersfield and Ravensthorpe Community Centre, Dewsbury over the coming weeks.
Both courses lead to nationally recognised Level One accreditation through the Open College Network, and provide learners with the opportunity to progress onto the Level Two certificate.
The dates and times of the courses are as follows:

Course Description:
In today’s competitive market is is essential that front line staff possess the skills required to deliver a quality driven, customer focused service. This Customer Service Course is designed to demonstrate the tools and techniques necessary for the implementation of an effective customer service strategy, demonstrating how to build and maintain effective relationships with customers and ensure cutomer loyalty.

The use of practical exercises illustrate how to handle customer complaints effectively. Focus is placed on ensuring learners are aware of why customer service matters and how to translate the theory into practical eveyday relevance to prospective employers.

The Chestnut Centre, Deighton:

• Tuesday, March 16th 9.30am - 5pm
• Tuesday, March 23rd 9.30am - 5pm
• Tuesday, March 30th 9.30am -5pm

Lunch is provided. Childcare and travelling costs can also be met.
Centre Telephone. 01484 551521
or call 01484 431400

Ravensthorpe Community Centre:

• Wednesday, February 24th 9.00am - 12.30pm
• Wednesday, March 3rd 9.00am - 12.30pm
• Wednesday, March 10th 9.00am - 12.30pm
• Wednesday, March 17th 9.00am - 12.30pm
• Wednesday, March 24th 9.00am - 12.30pm
• Wednesday, March 31st 9.00am - 12.30pm
• Wednesday, April 7th 9.00am - 12.30pm
• Wednesday, April 14th 9.00am - 12.30pm

Childcare and travelling costs can also be met.
Centre Telephone: 01924 510030
or call 01484 431400

Laptops and Broadband Grants

Home Access provides grants to low income families to buy computer and/or internet packages so they can learn safely, have fun and achieve more at school. Following the successful pilot, the Home Access programme is now available nationally across England.

Paddock Learning Centre is now a partner in the Home Access programme.

More details here

Campus Capital investment

The Kirklees Community Campus was recently successful in a £30,000 capital bid for new equipment across all six centres. This investment will replace some existing ageing resources and offers new opportunities for learning in both the Campus Centres and their outreach work. The money has been spent on replacing old computers, printers and servers, purchasing new sets of laptops, teaching aids, and other e-learning technology. The cash was made available through the National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education (NIACE).
Pictured with some of the new equipment at Chickenley Community Centre are Jayne Noble, Community Development Worker, and learners Clair Smith and Tony Mowvley at a Chickenley Community Centre drop-in IT session.

Campus Courses and Skills For Jobs

The Campus is currently offering accredited courses and Level 1 qualifications though the Open College Network (OCN) in Office IT, Customer Service Skills and Work Experience in variety of venues throughout Huddersfield and Dewsbury. This work is being funded by the Skills For Jobs programme - financed through the LSC and the European Social Fund, and managed locally by Kirklees Metropolitan Council. In addition, there are a number of short courses available including a Basic IT introduction for those new to computers, using the Internet and Email, Health and Safety in the Workplace, and help with CV development and job applications. These courses are aimed at helping learners acquire the necessary skills and confidence to compete in the job market. All courses are free for eligible participants and help can be provided with childcare and travel costs to Centres. All participants will receive the personal support of a learning mentor.

For more information contact 01484 431400

Kirklees Community Campus Skills For Jobs project has been funded by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) in Yorkshire and the Humber and the European Social Fund (ESF)