Organisation Name: Tasker Milward VC School

Project Description: Pilot an innovative approach to the thematic development of competencies and skills, focussing on the learning process, not the content. The planned delivery system will support all students, stretch the most able groups and will be particularly effective in engaging those at risk of disaffection. Data from a similar scheme operated by an education authority in England provides evidence of improvements in attendance, attainment, behaviour and the gender gap.

This will build on the good practice in thematic learning in primary schools, and will continue to develop and improve the transition arrangements.

The project will also broaden access for students with severe learning difficulties. The planned method of delivery will allow students with severe learning difficulties to follow the programme in it's entirety. This is not currently possible given the traditional methods of delivery that are in place.

Students will: - develop competencies and skills for learning thematically; - overtly connect curriculum areas, avoiding repetition; - encourage students to think three dimensionally; - promote responsibility for own learning; - experience and develop a stronger teacher / pupil relationship.

Email Address: n.howells@pembrokeshire.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Pembrokeshire

Organisation Core Business: Education

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Existing staff will undertake training and development activities to equip them with the specialist skills and knowledge necessary for the successful delivery and subsequent implementation of the project. Local community groups will also be involved.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The 11 - 13 age group of students. The intake of students due to enter secondary education with effect from September 2008 will be the first group to experience this approach to learning and will gain benefit from this project for a full three years. Ensuing cohorts of students - 2009 intake and 2010 intake will also benefit.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Pembrokeshire, the Haven

What might the outputs be (activity measures): - support for independent and sustainable and increased participation skills and experiences; support for the development of teachers in order to better engage disadvantaged young people; improved environmental awareness amongst young people through learning opportunities; support to help young people develop their learning skills and motivation to facilitate entry to more testing learning routes and higher level qualifications and make more effective decisions in their learning careers; provide access to a wider choice of learning and future career related programmes, including the provision of community-based learning opportunities outside the formal and traditional curriculum.

What might be the results of the project: Participants gaining qualifications; participants gaining other positive outcomes; increase in attendance and attainment, measured against baseline data and rolling averages; reduction in behavioural referrals and exclusions; increased parental involvement in learning; improved pedagogy; greater use of ICT.

What would its impact be: Greater involvement and enjoyment in learning within the target groups, across all socio-economic backgrounds; better progress, both qualitative and quantitative, in other areas of the curriculum; improved behaviour, particularly with regard to the repercussions of poor basic skills; confident learners; inform future curriculum development and delivery to further extend pupil progress.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 570 participants in total. Of these, 190 will benefit from three year's involvement (September 2008 intake), 190 will benefit from two years of the project (September 2009 cohort) and the forecast intake of 190 for September 2010 will benefit for one year.

Estimated Cost: £90,000 total project cost for the three years.

Where might the match funding come from: Local authority budget

Date: 9/7/2008

Organisation Name: Green Links Community Interest Company

Project Description: Future Links Project

The project will expand the provision of skills training in South Pembrokeshire by delivering nationally accredited vocational training programmes and employment opportunities for young people. Targeted groups will include:

§ Disengaged youth at risk of exclusion and facing a future not in employment, education or training (NEET). § Those with learning difficulties § Young people who are currently not in employment, education or training eg young mothers, youth offenders, members of the travelling community.

The project builds upon the successful Green Links program, developing basic, social and vocational skills by engaging young people in sustainable environmental projects.

This innovative project is in line with the Welsh Assembly Government's Skills and Employment Action Plan 2005 and Pembrokeshire County Council's 14 - 19 Pathways. It also supports the key themes of the Leitch Report. The new provision will be employer led, be enhanced by basic skills tuition and will include accredited training eg:

Countryside and the Environment Woodland Management Carpentry & Construction Organic Horticulture Small Animal Husbandry Countryside Craft Customer Services

Email Address: shirley@pembrokeschool.org

Geographical Area of Operation: Pembrokeshire

Organisation Core Business: Social Enterprise - Vocational Skills Training Provider

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Green Links CIC staff, Youth Services, Pembroke School, Self-employed.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries will be young people who are at risk of exclusion, have learning difficulties, who are underachieving. Secondary beneficiaries are adults who will gain employment on the project and volunteers from the local community who will gain valuable experience.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Pembrokeshire

What might the outputs be (activity measures): Basic Skills - improvements in literacy and numeracy. Vocational skills qualifications. Improved employability. Reduce youth crime.

What might be the results of the project: Increase participant's self-confidence and belief in their abilities to learn new skills, gain employment and reach their full potential.

What would its impact be: Bring benefits to the community by engaging disaffected and disadvantaged young people. Increasing skills, reducing unemployment and youth crime. Improving woodland areas and increasing community use of natural resources.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: A four-year development program resulting in a self-sustainable project. Approximately 200 young people will benefit each year by receiving employer led vocational training.

Estimated Cost: £650,000 over four years

Where might the match funding come from: he match funding will come from: Staff & Resources - Green Links Community Interest Company. Land & Buildings - Pembroke School & LEA. Financial Support - Communities First, Dyfed Powys Police - Community Safety Partnership and various grant awarding bodies.

Date: 25/6/2008

Organisation Name: Technology Alliance Wales (Lead Partner).

Project Description: STEM CYMRU

The primary aim of the project is to encourage a progression for young people in the 9 to 21 year group to participate in innovative technological & engineering activities that will increase the stream of STEM students into employment, FE and HE. The partners are all centrally involved in encouraging students into careers in engineering, science and manufacturing and committed to linking students to real life partners in industry and FE/HE education by developing an integrated programme of STEM activities throughout West Wales and the Valleys.

The project will have five main strands:

Go4SET The project strand aims to link teams of six Year 9 pupils with companies and universities to offer a 10 week science, engineering and technology (SET) experience. It will empower young people to make informed decisions about Key Stage 4 Grade options particularly with regard to SET subjects. By providing a real and live SET project, Go4SET will raise the pupil's awareness and highlight the exiting future career opportunities in SET and feed potential candidates into the future stands of the project. It will provide pupils with; Work related learning Experience of industrial enterprise Wider awareness of SET within a global context Team work and problem solving Promotion of creativity and innovation Project management and presentation/communication skills Personal Development Education Improved knowledge and understanding of the world of work.

Support will be provided to pupils, mentors and teachers throughout the project phase.

The Engineering Education Scheme in Wales EESW strand aims to encourage the brightest of our Science Sixth Forms, throughout Wales, to take up professional engineering as a career, particularly in those areas of West and North West Wales where engineering is not seen as relevant to the locality How the scheme works Students at the start of their first year of A level (or equivalent) undertake an real problem of an engineering / ICT nature outlined by a local company. The students work in small teams on their "project", guided by a manager from the company and a member of their school staff. Solving the project is facilitated an induction day when project management techniques, team working, report writing and presentation techniques are introduced. This is followed by a three day workshop held in the Engineering Faculty of one of the Universities in Wales. The project is brought to fruition by teams working at school / at the company and presented as a display and a written report at one of our public Presentation and Awards Days which, are normally held at Llandudno Conference Centre (North Wales) and the Celtic Manor Resort (South Wales). Most teams also make a formal presentation to senior staff at the company which commissioned the project. At these Presentation and Awards day over seventy teams of young people from all areas of Wales will present their solutions to the real problems put forward by local companies.

Headstart Headstart is the third strand in the project and is a well established educational programme which aims to encourage students in year 12 interested in STEM subjects to consider technology - based careers. It provides an opportunity for those in Year 12 to spend up to a week at university prior to making their UCAS application. The programme will consist of four-day residential experience courses held at major universities during the summer period and will be able experience life as a first year undergraduate participating for up to a week in design, build and test activities interfacing with Aerospace & Aeronautics, chemical engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics, civil & architectural engineering, computing & information systems, electrical & computer engineering and Environmental engineering. The students will: Participate in practical problem solving activities Attending lectures and seminars Visit local companies Experience life as an undergraduate Identify sources of funding and support to attend HE Meet academics and recent graduates.

The Year in Industry

The Year in Industry programme strand is intended to provide relevant work experience to students in all branches of engineering, science, technology, computing, in response to employers who demanding graduate employees within relevant work experience. The project will raise awareness of this opportunity for Key Stage 5 pupils in Wales and preparation support so that they can make the most of their placements. Young people will get the opportunity to undertake interesting projects and learn how business works, and develop skills that will enhance University education and maximise graduate job prospects. The project will find quality, paid, degree-relevant work placements for students for about a 12 month period where students will receive a competitive salary. Participants receive full support throughout the placement and management training.

EEF Apprentice of the Year Competition For Wales.

The fifth strand is a competition which builds upon the Welsh Assembly Governments commitment to developing apprenticeship skills within industry. It takes a sector based approach in order to encourage interest, support and the uptake of Modern Apprenticeships in engineering, engineering manufacture and technology by Young People, Training Providers and Employers, and contributes to:

Encouraging young people to stay on in learning Maximising the contribution of education & training to economic performance Raising standards Increasing the overall number of Modern Apprenticeships undertaken in Wales

It seeks to address employers concerns regarding skill gaps, skills shortages and their ability to recruit high calibre young people with STEM skills by promoting career opportunities that are available within engineering and manufacturing.

Email Address: tawwarterton@aol.com

Geographical Area of Operation: all Convergence local authority areas

Organisation Core Business: Encourages the further development of skills for students who are studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and other science subjects to consider further specialising in the study of these subject areas leading to a potential career in the fields of engineering, science, technology.

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Technology Alliance Wales (lead partner), The Engineering Educational Scheme in Wales, Engineering Development Trust and Engineering Employers Federation Wales (Apprentice of the Year), link teachers at schools; project engineers at companies; technical and lecturing staff at universities across Wales.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Welsh students aged 9 - 21 and Welsh businesses.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: West Wales & The Valleys

What might the outputs be (activity measures): Numbers of participant students. Key skills obtained /used by participating students. Number of participating schools. Numbers of participating companies & universities. Key skills development amongst teachers in STEM mentoring skills.

What might be the results of the project: Increase skill levels in Welsh businesses, increase graduate retention, increase entrants to STEM careers. An increase of awareness in student participants of; Team working, communication skills, project management techniques, report writing, written and verbal presentation of reports. An increase in awareness in student participants of; University life; Engineering course availability in Wales; working in an industrial situation. Personal development of the individuals Participating companies and particularly their engineering staff in Wales will be more aware of the high quality of student being produced by the schools. Participating schools and their students will be more aware of the diversity and extent of industrial opportunities in Wales

What would its impact be: Increase in Keys Skills of participating students in STEM subjects. Increase in awareness in schools of the industrial opportunities existing in their areas involving skills in STEM subjects. Increase in awareness in participating students of the requirements of engineering science, technology courses. Increase in awareness within companies of the capabilities of students from their locality. Increased take up of STEM based courses within universities. Greater retention of higher skilled STEM students within Welsh Universities and companies. Increase in the numbers of student from Wales looking for their first employment opportunities within Wales.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 10 - 20 Go4SET teams, The Engineering Education Scheme in Wales 240 - 300 pupils, 2-3 Headstart programmes, Year in Industry 25 - 30 YII 12 month placements

Estimated Cost: TBC

Where might the match funding come from: Company donations, WAG, HEFCW and supporting universities and sector industry forum

Date: 14/05/08

Organisation Name:  South West Wales Colleges Consortium

Project Description: This project will identify current and potential young people in the partner colleges who are in need of additional support to allow them to access learning opportunities, remain on their programme of study, achieve recognised qualifications, and benefit from enhanced personal support to allow them to develop work ready skills, knowledge and attitudes.

The target groups are young people most at risk of non-participating or not being able to remain on a chosen course because of barriers to their learning and those within disadvantaged groups.

Activities will relate directly to the aim of closing the gap, through engagement and retention of those who are, or potentially may be, most 'at risk', and will contribute to raising aspirations through the intervention of guidance, mentoring, enhanced work experience and encouraging and supporting progression.

One strand of activity will target people who will benefit from part-time vocational study or from higher education opportunities.  This activity will contribute to increased levels of engagement and achievement.

Activities within the colleges involved will be closely linked to wider activity within the region, with particular consideration of activities taking place within the NEET strategy.

Email Address: carolyn.williams@colegsirgar.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: South West Wales

Organisation Core Business: Education and Training 

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Coleg Sir Gar; Gorseinon College; Pembrokeshire College; Neath Port Talbot College; Coleg Ceredigion; Swansea College - The Project will be delivered by these partners to the Consortium, in a way that is appropriate to their particular locality, market, etc.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The target group will consist of: Current and Potential students in the Colleges who are in need of additional intensive support to allow them to access learning opportunities, remain on their programme of study, and achieve recognised accredited qualifications; Young people most at risk of non-participating or not being able to remain on a chosen course because of barriers to learning; Young people in need of additional support to achieve/improve on basic skills and to increase their employability; Young people who would benefit from enhanced work placement opportunities and increased involvement in the community; Young people in need of motivational training to raise aspirations and further develop their emotional intelligence; Female participants who would benefit from receiving training in non-traditional educational areas, such as Maths, Science, Engineering and Technology; Employers who would contribute to and benefit from enhanced work placement/work experience opportunities.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Central Wales; Pembrokeshire Haven; Swansea Bay and Western Valleys

What might the outputs(activity measures 14 - 19 year old participants; Female participants; NEET participants; Employers collaborating with education/training providers - The Project outputs will be measured in relation to the number of beneficiaries supported by the Project, including comprehensive tracking of the type of support provided and subsequent progress and achievement.

What might be the results of the project: Participants gaining qualifications (16 - 19 year olds) - Basic Skills, Level 2; Participants entering further learning (16-19 year olds) - NEET participants, Female participants; Participants gaining other positive outcomes - 14 - 19 year old participants, NEET participants, Female participants; Participants entering employment (16 - 19 year olds) - NEET participants, Female participants - The results of the Project would include quantifiable data on, for example, the number of beneficiaries supported, the number of beneficiaries gaining basic skills, the number of beneficiaries improving on their academic achievements, the number of beneficiaries retained in further learning and training, and the number of beneficiaries progressing to higher learning.

What would its impact be Participants in employment, education or training at 12 months; Participants gaining part qualifications - As well as contributing significantly to the objectives of the Welsh Assembly Government's Skills and Employability Strategy, the 'customised' support offered via the Project, would impact very positively on the retention and ultimate achievement of the individual beneficiaries, ensuring that those young people involved would benefit not only from increased academic qualifications, but would also develop skills that will benefit them in future employment

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: TBC

Estimated Cost: TBC

Where might the match funding come from: TBC

Date: 17/04/08

Organisation Name:  Gate Training Ltd

Project Description: The Gate Project’s Personal Effectiveness Programme, Moving Forward Mentoring Scheme, Preparation for Work Programme and Work Shop Extra (For Youth 11-19 years).

Gate Training has proprietary rights of their Personal Effectiveness Programme, which is an adaptation of a course used in the corporate sector.  The programme is professional in approach, style, format and structure.  This project will foster new ways of engaging young people in learning, education, training and employment.  The project will target the most disadvantaged and socially excluded groups to offer a 4-tiered approach that will up skill participants in preparation for work and aims to find favour with public and private sector businesses alike towards economic integration:-

1st Tier - Personal Effectiveness Training – A group experience for 10 sessions.

2nd Tier - Moving Forward Mentoring Scheme – 5 individual sessions with a Mentor.

3rd Tier - Preparation for Work Programme – A group experience for 6 sessions.

4th Tier - Work Shop Extra – Quarterly group support network to publicise success stories.

Gate Training has delivered Personal Effectiveness Programmes since 2001 in schools across Cardiff for example, St. Teilo’s, Cathays High, Willows High and Glan Ely (now Michaelston Community College) and to three youth groups in Rhondda, Cardiff and Penarth.

Gate Training uses throughout its 4-tiered approach a coaching model in unison with group/team dynamics to achieve optimum beneficiary growth.

This enables participants to discover and strive to reach their full potential.  The programme encourages participants to engage with themselves, each other, tutors, family, friends, colleges, universities, private/public sector organisations and voluntary agencies, with a view to broadening their educational and future employment prospects. This should arise as a natural and measurable outcome of the project.

Our ultimate aim is to reach those who are or at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment and Training) and those from areas of social disadvantage and deprivation, but not exclusively.  The aim is for the 4-tiers to prepare them for re-engaging with education, employment and training by raising their aspirations, motivation, self-confidence and self-esteem whilst building up support networks to enhance and nurture the process.  Participants will gain more knowledge and practical experience from others, to aid their re-engagement and to overcome the barriers that prevent them from moving forward to achieve the goals, which they set themselves during the 1st tier of the Programme. These goals will invariably involve getting back into education, employment, further training and/or volunteer/work placements.

There are many specific vocational programmes available. However, we are offering a 4-tiered approach to Personal Effectiveness as being initially non-specific in approach and pre-vocational in nature.  The course often has a phenomenal impact on participants with no focus or direction in their lives, who would not normally have the opportunity to benefit from a programme of this kind.  The programme encourages the participants to work towards a more specific and focused vocational work ethic as tutors challenge mind-sets and provoke inner responses. As participants work through the tiers, their natural interests emerge, relationships build and levels of confidence and motivation increase encouraging them to move from a place of disaffection, disengagement and inactivity to re-engage in education, employment and in their local communities.

During the 1st tier, Gate Training makes full use of theme-related ice-breakers, games, drama role-plays and more general individual, paired and small group exercises to draw out and challenge barriers to moving forward.  Beneficiaries are enabled, empowered and equipped during 10 sessions to make full use of this support network, whilst they explore and identify their own personal stumbling blocks, negative thought patterns and cycles of behaviour that prevent them from achieving.

The Gate Project will suit young people suffering from low self-confidence, low self-esteem, procrastination, low motivation and seeking direction and focus for their lives.  Tutors challenge participants to set goals for themselves and step out of their comfort zones to strive for what they uniquely want for themselves.  The final celebration at the end of the 1st tier of the Programme is a significant milestone as participants present their own journey of discovery to the audience of invited guests.  This evidences as a natural outcome the participants’ newly found confidence, raised self-esteem levels, raised motivation and promotes enthusiastic and energetic movement forward compared to when they started the Personal Effectiveness Programme.  For some, OCN (Open College Network) accredited certificates will be the first meaningful qualification they have ever obtained.

This is followed by the 2nd tier of the Programme: 5 one-to-one mentoring sessions focused on achieving goals. The Moving Forward Mentoring Scheme assists those who partake to be accountable to a mentor for the routes they decide upon.  Mentors will help them map out the way forward and address the barriers and stumbling blocks they encounter.

The 3rd tier expands further to meet identified need by providing a Preparation for Work Programme, that consists of 6 group sessions aimed at demystifying the writing of CV’s and application forms. Participants gain a better understanding of what universities, colleges and employers are looking for in the type of core and transferable skills, which are invariably outlined in job descriptions and person specifications.

The 4th tier is about promoting success stories through ongoing quarterly Work Shop Extras, where positive outcomes will be acknowledged and publicised once group sharing exercises have taken place.  These will be sent to other agencies and promoted in the press and Gate Training News.

All this helps to raise awareness as to how Personal Effectiveness Training bridges the gap in Preparation for Work, by combating social exclusion, disaffection, disengagement and economic inactivity.  This programme will be rolled out to a range of community based agencies who would like to benefit.

Email Address: angela@gatetraining.co.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Cardiff, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Caerphilly, South Wales Valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Organisation Core Business: Personal Effectiveness Training, Mentoring, Preparation for Work, Work Shop Extra.

Who will be involved in delivering the project: A team of local self-employed tutors, mentors and coaches.

In addition, we will link into Children and Young People’s Services, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Youth Groups, Communities First Projects, other agencies, community based projects etc., pursuing all relevant routes.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Young People aged 11-19 who are hard to reach, marginalised by society, disadvantaged, disaffected and disengaged but not exclusively as this project would benefit every young person.  In addition, colleges, universities, employers and local/regional communities will see an increase of young people entering further or higher education as well as the workforce.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Cardiff, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Caerphilly, South Wales Valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan.

What might the outputs(activity measures Reduce the young people who are/at risk of becoming NEET and re-engaging them in education, employment or training.  Increase College and University student entrants from deprived areas.  Reduce unemployment by actively engaging young people to re-engage by raising aspirations and enhancing communication related soft skills and problem-solving skills.

An increase in the number of young people re-investing in themselves, each other and community life.

What might be the results of the project: By targeting the most disadvantaged and disengaged young people and providing viable alternative accredited programmes outside of mainstream provision will result in the re-engagement of a youth passionate and motivated generation that will enhance the youth workforce, thus reducing the benefit dependency of young school-leavers.

What would its impact be A more self-confident, motivated and enthusiastic young generation who will gain a smoother transition into Further or Higher Education, Employment or Training by being enabled and empowered to achieve higher aspirational goals whilst striving towards emotional intelligence.  In addition, there will be an increase in young people gaining Open College Network accredited qualifications.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: It is proposed that 10 Gate Projects be undertaken per year embracing the proposed 4 tiered personal effectiveness training approach.

This would engage 12 beneficiaries per programme, 120 beneficiaries per year and total around 600 beneficiaries over a 5 year period.

Estimated Cost: £80,000 per year for 5 years totalling £400,000

Where might the match funding come from: This will be confirmed at a later date.

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