Hertfordshire Training & Development Consortium

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Meeting 21st January 2010 – Notes & Actions

1. Introductions and Apologies

Present Sarah Elliott, HTDC; Vanessa Levy, Watford CVS (chair); Rita Davis, WEA; Sylvia Harvey, Watford Women’s Centre; Carol Firman, New Hope Trust; Clare Teale, Clare - The Life Development Co; Teresa Harrington, Coulter Harrington; Ken Goodsell, Broxbourne HA; Loretta Borg, Broxbourne & EH; Kate Belinis, CDA for Herts; Ex Officio: Karen Farahmand, HRC; Lyn Telford, Herts Learning Revolution, Jane Devlin, Jobcentre Plus

Minutes taken by Tracy Crowley, HTDC

Apologies David Fitzpatrick, Hertfordshire Community Foundation;Nick Webb, Pro-Action; Robert Morrall, Cementaprise; Mical Siewniak, Menter; Jo Ilett, Hertfordshire CAB Network; Jeanette Harley, CVS 3 Rivers, Susan Glaister, West Herts College; Jane Rouse, HAFLS, Bev Jones, The Consortium for Business

SE welcomed the new committee and circulated HTDC Management Committee Agreements for signature/return

2. Minutes of the last meeting – 19th November

The draft minutes were accepted as being accurate.

3. Management Committee Composition We are grateful to those members from last year’s committee who have agreed to continue and would like to welcome our new members.

Amanda Rogers stepped down from her trainer post on the committee and so we invited associate member trainers and those working for full member organisations to put themselves forward. There was an amazing response to this, so for the first time it was necessary to set up a member vote. In the event 3 trainers sent through their details by the deadline and a good cross section of full members cast their vote on doodle. However the votes were split evenly across the 3 so there weren’t 2 clear favourites. We have therefore invited Clare Teale, Rosemary Estherby and Teresa Harrington to alternate attendance between them across the year. They are already in communication with each other and could become the core of the trainers’ network we want to establish within HTDC.

2010 Management Committee – election of Chair and Vice Chair. It was agreed that Vanessa Levy act as Chair with Rosemary Dodgson as Vice Chair.

www.htdc.org.uk 1 Robin Charnley has left his post and the committee would like to thank him for his support. ACTION: SE to write a letter of thanks on behalf of HTDC Committee.

Carol Firman will be retiring at the end of March. The chair offered thanks for her efforts on behalf of the committee. ACTION: CF will try to arrange a VCS alternate asap.

An update of the management committee membership will be circulated to members and put on the website, together with clarification about how they can raise items for the agenda and/or obtain feedback from their representatives. ACTION: SE

4. Chair and Vice Chair – role description A draft document was circulated for discussion and amended. Attached

5. Learning Together 3 – 11th March 2010

An update was circulated and discussed. Any amendments have been made and a new update is attached.

6. Aim 1: Promotion of Workforce Development in the VCS Nemore Hook has continued to deliver skills advice to an expanding list of organisations – to date around 30 organisations have been beneficiaries of the service. Unfortunately Nemore has only just returned this week from sick leave.

Regarding future priorities for the funders - Adult Care Services are looking for an evaluation of the impact of her role; the Consortium for Business want a particular focus on apprenticeships given the various initiatives available nationally and in Hertfordshire.

HRC can recommend a person to discuss apprenticeships and will contact NH

7. Aim 2: To Develop the Capacity of VCS Organisations as Training Providers (a) PTLLS courses – Interest in these has picked up. 5 were completed in 2009 with 57 completing the course, and hopefully gaining a level 3 or 4 qualification. We have 6 courses running currently with 75 learners. The courses are fully funded by HCC Adult Care Services and Children Schools and Families and are open to relevant staff from VCS organisations, private providers and HCC staff. A further 3 courses will be set up starting in March as the funding ceases in March 2010. It is thought that learners should be contacted in order to monitor outcomes of the course and how successful it was. Funding was given for CTLLS courses but there were very few learners wishing to do the course. It was generally agreed the timing was wrong and if it were to be offered now, there would be much more interest as a result of all the PTLLS courses completed. ACTION: Ensure this is captured in the evaluations (SE) (b) A new Learner Support qualification is being launched and there will be some funding for voluntary sector support workers from COVER’s Engage and Enable project. This would be a good topic to discuss at Learning Together 3.

8. Aim 3: Access Funding for VCS Workforce Development and Training in the Community (a) PVI Workforce Development – we are currently planning the programme of courses for our funding bid for next year (from April 2010). All 11 partner organisations have been asked to identify the main needs of their members. (b) Financial Capability – the frontline worker training is running ahead of targets, and we are seeking additional funding to run more courses. SE to make contact with Veolia in order to secure funding to support learning. www.htdc.org.uk 2 (c) Flexible New Deal – a specialist support network led by HTDC was included in the bids of several potential prime contractors. Confirmation on who has won the contracts in Spring 2010 for delivery from October. (d) LSC Transition – since gaining our QPF status there have unfortunately been no tenders advertised for this area. Currently working at forging relationships with HCC who will be taking on 14-19 commissioning. Still awaiting confirmation about the details of how the Skills Funding Agency will be set up and opportunities for the voluntary sector. No plans for local partnership roles – working to an account management structure for established providers. (e) HTDC core development funding – our current priority is to secure funding to continue the development of HTDC once the development money from LSC Herts has been spent. A number of potential sources have been identified, but this is clearly a challenge in the current climate.

9. Aim 4: Create a Resource Base for VCS Training & Development in Hertfordshire We have provisionally selected Impakt Media to build the new site (subject to contract). The next step will be to plan the project and then work on the detailed specification for each of the sections of the site. As discussed previously – we will be consulting members around the particular areas that they have an interest in. The aim is that members and associate members will have user names and passwords to update their own entries – and will be able to communicate with each other directly via the site.

10. Aim 5: Influence Policy & Practice in support of Training & Development for and by VCS organisations (a) The initial Hertfordshire plan for the new approach to ESOL is now completed. In supporting this we have built up a database of BME groups across Hertfordshire and with Michal from Menter on the Committee, we are hopeful that stronger links can be developed to support these organisations and their clients. (b) The Third Sector National Learning Alliance has launched their membership offer – Tim Ward their chair will be speaking at our event. ACTION: SE to send him details of the key concerns raised e.g. funders’ policies and documentation (c) The costs of CRB checks were discussed. Now that there is no longer support from HAFLS, is there something that can be done? Also, clarity is required regarding vetting and barring and information sharing. SE to action

11. Regional Update COVER has succeeded in obtaining ESF Technical Assistance funding via Go East for the project Engage and Enable. This will allow for the continuation of Nikki Bennett’s role, the development of Learn East and our potential to mount regional bids together with some local funding for consortia and bursaries for Learner Support qualifications. Nikki will provide an update on 11th March.

12. Development Work Meetings and events attended by SE since 19th November: 25th Nov: Michael Paul, Shaw Trust 30th Nov: Learn East Meeting 1st Dec: Hertfordshire Community Foundation Conference 2nd Dec: Regional Dialogue re New Approach to ESOL 7th Dec: PVI Panel Meeting 8th Dec: Project Monitoring Meeting with PVI 10th Dec: Skills for Life Strategic Group 15th Dec: Skills Investment Strategy Briefing 12th Jan: Eileen Gordon, 14-19 Strategy Manager, HCC www.htdc.org.uk 3 19th Jan: East of England Third Sector Learning and Skills Advisory Group (previously LSC Working Together Regional Advisory Group)

13. AOB a) VL asked if the agenda could be circulated earlier b) KB + DF are dealing with Hertset – Social Enterprise Regional level to try to get funding on a local level. c) LB asked for information regarding IAG level 6 Qualifications – KF will look into this. d) R Davis is working with Watford Womens Centre regarding “Tackling Racial Equality Funding”. This is looking at the barriers and inequalities in starting courses. RDavis is running 3 x 3 hour ‘Pre PTLLS, PTLLS’ courses in the eastern region. The first wave of these should be completed by the end of March. When finalised, R Davis will update SE and circulate more information to all involved.

The next meeting will be held Tuesday, 30th March 2010, 10am at Foundation House

Future 2010 dates:

Thurs May 27th 10am Tues July 20th 10am Weds September 22nd10am Thurs November 25th 10am

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