Education Group
From AshWiki
Education Group is one of the ASH Co-op working groups a.k.a Sub-Committees. Like the other working groups, it is convened by the appropriate Officer/Co-ordinator - in this case, the Education Co-ordinator. It has at least one representative in the Committee.
The group carries out Education related activities and reviews ASH Co-op Education policies. As the other working groups, it can make recommendations to the General or Committee Meetings.
Contents |
Suggestions for Training
The Education Group would like feedback on what sorts of training ASH members and workers would find helpful that is relevant to living in a co-op such as chairing meetings, organisational management, and conflict mediation.
Please leave your suggestions here:
- training for chairing/facilitating meetings
- agenda setting (and minute taking if that's possible)
- Interviewer Skills - useful for those who want to help with shortlist interviews, and also of benefit if we decide to recruit any more staff in the future. Ash Charlton has run these before
- Effective Presentations - useful for those who want to help with hosting open evenings, but also as we are now looking at partnership working and the possibility of development it's good to be able to present ourselves well externally. Useful for members and staff alike. ASH Charlton ran one of these for us before and it was very useful
- Confidence / Assertiveness training would also be useful
- The Social Enterprise People (formerly Cambridge CDA) have helped fund courses for ASH Co-op before, for example the Fundraising for Your Organisation course in 2003.
- All training for members and staff must be agreed at a General Meeting or Committee Meeting.
What does the Education Group do?
- Recognises the co-op members’ training needs
- Finds suitable courses for the co-op members to attend
- Helps the co-op members to find suitable courses that will support their personal development
- Organises courses, workshops, seminars etc.
- Gives educational advice and information to the members
- And much more…
How to get involved
New members are always welcome. Currently the group is run by only one member, but the more the merrier! So if you are interested, please come and see me (Tuisku, 5 Sw) or speak to Mark or Lauren in the office.
Activity between March 2005 and April 2006
The education group had been hibernating for some time until Tuisku (5 Sw) volunteered for the role of Education Co-ordinator. She was unanimously elected at the General meeting on 11.11.2005. There were no other applicants for the role.
As the group had been inactive for some time, most of the paperwork held on the files and folders at the office was out of date. The coordinator took sorting them out as her first priority. Noting which course providers we had used before and what was already on file, new brochures were ordered to replace the old ones. Up-to-date information from several course providers was received, including The Shelter, the LVSC (London Voluntary Service Council) and Happy Computers. Hard copies of the brochures and leaflets were filed away and electronic copies were filed on the office computer.
Tuisku also wanted to expand the area the Education Group works on, and came up with the idea that the group could promote the other working groups within the ASH Co-op as well. After going through the working group forms the members fill in when they join the ASH Co-op, a database was created with details of toward which group each member had expressed their interest. The database could be used for example when calling up meetings or searching volunteers for working group activities. Also, to make spreading the word of the Co-op activities easier, the notice board outside of the office was given a makeover by Tuisku. A list of the working group coordinators was pinned on the notice board to make it easier for the members to contact the right person.
Skills for Life in Cambridge
Learndirect
Do you want help with reading, writing and numbers? Ring learndirect on 0800 100 900 or visit your nearest learning centre for advice on how to boost your skills! Lots of people have problems with reading, writing and numbers - so don’t be embarrassed. It's not like going back to school - there will be other people just like you. The tutors will help you - they will make sure you are on the right course.
Examples of courses learndirect offers:
- English (34 courses) If you want to get by - and get on - reading and writing skills are essential. Once you've taken that first step you'll wonder what you were worried about!
- Maths (93 courses) Maths is a part of our everyday lives. Knowing the basics will help improve your prospects - and make life a lot easier!
- Lifeskills/Lifestyles (6 courses) Our range of lifestyle courses have been designed to help you with specific aspects of your life - whether it's finding a job, helping your child or staying fit and healthy.
Address: Cambridge Central Library
7 Lion Yard, Cambridge, CB2 3QD
Contact details: Gavin Middleton / Ian Hollis
E-mail: level3learningcentre@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Phone number: 01223 712184
Opening times: Mon 9-7/ Tue 9-7/ Wed 9-7/Thu 9-7 /Fri 9-7/Sat 9-5.30
Disabled facilities: Fully accessible for all, stairs and 2 lifts to all 3 upper floors
Cambridge Regional College
Take your first step back to learning and join our flexible adult skills programme to brush up your literacy, numeracy or language skills.
Skills for Life Courses include:
- Reading, writing and spelling
- Maths
- Communication Skills
- Job Skills
- ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Address: Cambridge Regional College, Science Park Campus, Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2QT
Contact details: Geri McLaughlin/Skills for Life
Phone number: 01223 532224
E-mail: enquiry@camre.ac.uk
Useful websites
http://www.camlearn.net Camlearn is Cambridgeshire's Community Grid for Learning. Camlearn.net encourages learning within the local community by making it easy to find classes and courses to meet your needs.
http://www.wea.org.uk/Contact/eastern/index.html The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) provides access to education and learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education.
http://www.cambsiag.org.uk Nextstep promotes learning and work to all adults aged 20 and over. Whether you want to improve your career prospects, get a qualification or just make the most of your job, our services are available throughout England.
http://www.cpltrust.net Skills for Life section: Our goal is to help more than 27,000 adults in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough improve their literacy, language and numeracy skills.
http://www.colc.co.uk/learn/adult.html Cambridge Online City website: Adult Education and Lifelong Learning providers in the area.
