BUILDING A CARING PARTNERSHIP A Sustainable Approach for Supporting Care Leavers into Further and Higher Education THIS EVENT WILL Highlight the work of the Aimhigher Kent and Medway Partnership in supporting care leavers Share best practice models of joint working and collaboration with local authorities, charities, Connexions and other external organisations SPEAKERS Hear from political and educational Jenny Whittle Deputy Cabinet Member for specialists on the advocacy of care leavers Children, Families and Education Kent County Council Learn from our current care leaver students Keith Morrison Virtual Head Teacher about their educational needs in college and university Medway Council Stephen Grix Principal and Chief Executive Look towards a model of sustainability for MidKent College (Chair) this valuable work Isabel Gill Chair of the AHKM Strategy Group for the Support of Young Care Leavers Rachel Calver Cross Curriculum Manager Date: 3rd November 2010, 3.30-6pm Thanet College Location: Ramada Maidstone Hotel Travel Directions TARGET AUDIENCE Elected Representatives, Ramada Maidstone Senior FE and HE Managers, Hollingbourne Nr Maidstone Local Authority Personnel, Stakeholders, Partners ME17 1RE Tel: 0844 815 9045 Leave the M20 at junction 8, signposted to Maidstone East and the A20. Follow the signs to Leeds Castle. Take the second roundabout into the Ramada Maidstone hotel grounds. The Ramada Maidstone hotel is located on the left hand side inside the grounds. The Aimhigher Kent and Medway Partnership comprises the Universities of Greenwich and Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University; The University for the Creative Arts; The Open University in the South East; Canterbury College; Hadlow College; MidKent College; North West Kent College; Thanet College; South Kent/West Kent College; Kent and Medway Local Authorities and over 50 partner schools. In our work in this area we link closely with colleagues in 16Plus Teams; Catch 22; Connexions; Medway Integrated Looked After Children Service; The Frank Buttle Trust; The National Care Advisory Service; The Who Cares? Trust and Virtual School Head Teachers. We would like to thank the Ramada Jarvis Hotel for donating the venue free of charge. We would also like to thank the following partners and friends for sponsoring other elements of this event: Canterbury Christ Church University, Go Vicinity Creative, The Open University in the South East, University of Greenwich and the University of Kent. Event Programme BUILDING A CARING PARTNERSHIP “A Sustainable Approach for Supporting Care Leavers into Further and Higher Education” Wednesday 3rd November 2010 15.30 – 16.00 Arrival and Refreshments 16.00 – 16.10 Welcome and Introduction Felicity Dunworth, Director, Aimhigher Kent and Medway (AHKM) Sarah Hurrell, Coordinator for the Support of Care Leavers, AHKM 16.10 – 16.20 Opening Remarks Stephen Grix, Principal, MidKent College 16.20 – 16.30 What Support do Care Leavers Want? Panel of Care Leavers – Mark Forder, Shaun Rogers and Niki Speight, in conversation with Will Calver, Widening Participation Coordinator, University of Greenwich 16.30 – 16.35 Setting the Policy Context: A Councillor’s Perspective Jenny Whittle, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (Learning), Kent County Council 16.35 – 17.00 The Virtual School’s Role in Supporting Care Leavers Keith Morrison, Virtual Head Teacher, Medway Council 17.00 – 17.25 The Designated Member of Staff Scheme Isabel Gill, DMS Consultant and Chair of the AHKM Strategy Group for the Support of Young Care Leavers Rachel Calver, DMS Manager, Cross Curriculum Manager, Thanet College 17.25 – 17. 55 Question and Answer Session (Chair: Stephen Grix) Care Leaver Panel, Jenny Whittle , Keith Morrison, Isabel Gill, Rachel Calver 17.55 – 18.00 Closing Remarks Stephen Grix, Principal, MidKent College Please note, due to venue capacity, spaces at this event are at a premium and we will be operating a first come first served policy on event bookings. Conference Contact: Sarah Hurrell, Coordinator for the Support of Care Leavers, Aimhigher Kent and Medway Partnership, Hall Place, Harbledown, Canterbury. CT2 9AG Tel: 01227 782565 Email: [email protected] .