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Staff Newsletter
Download and read at your leisure
Current newsletter: Aug 08
CEG/IAG newsletter: Jul 08
Transition newsletter: 2: Jul 08
Older copies are in the Archive.
About the Bulletin
The Youth Support Services Bulletin is a regular communication for Personal Advisers, Youth Workers and other staff working for Oxfordshire Youth Support Services (YSS).
If you would like to receive the bulletin by email, or have any information you would like included in future bulletins please call Emily or Julia on (01865) 815166 or email:
Transition newsletter from Bucks Connexions
Bucks Connexions have produced this newsletter and FAQ explaining the transitions taking place when Connexions provision switches over to them.
Issue-based training to become much more convenient
No more travelling around he county! From Sep 08 issue-based training will be delivered in your locality, as and when you need it. Find out more.
Apprenticeships and Pre-apprenticeships
Bob Walding has written a letter to all regarding the range of Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship options now available to young people across Oxfordshire, how these will support the September Guarantee, and the pending launch of the National Apprenticeship Service, which will be piloted in the South East Region from this autumn.
Challenging Behaviour
A development programme to improve support for Children and Young People at risk of severe challenging behaviour and conduct disorder in Oxfordshire is available as a briefing paper, and there will shortly be a stakeholder event.
Connexions Impact Fund
The Impact Fund for 2008-09 is now available. The fund is for short term projects with young people facing particular barriers to education, training or employment. Applications can be for any amount up to £5000 and must be made in partnership with other agencies or teams - one of which must be Connexions. For more information or to apply to the fund please contact Emily Newson, emily.newson@oxfordshire.gov.uk 01865 815627
New E2E Dates published
E2E provides t wo week Engagement Projects across the County, led by Youth Workers and Specialist PAs. Universal PAs are also involved in delivering a programme of engagement activities mixed with individual assessments and IAG. The aim is to get young people referred on to E2E programmes and for them to keep engagement with the Connexions service. You can get details from Emily Newson or read the full list here:
Design a Meal Competition
The Design a Meal competition aims to increase young peoples awareness of healthy eating, local food, waste reduction and cooking skills. Submission date is June 8th so plenty of time to get an entry in! There are two relevant age-groups for youth centres, and it's a great competition to build a healthy eating project round.
Simulating Physics Project
This national project to encourage young people into physics is important to several schools in Oxfordshire. Anne Newton reports back on Stimulating Physics' progress.
Amnesty and Homelessness Sleep-out in Oxford
Highlighting the issues of refugees and people refused asylum sleeping rough. Find out more.
Vinvolved programme starting up in Oxfordshire, supporting young people into volunteering
Funding has just been agreed for the vinvolved programme, which will:
- Help young people find volunteering opportunities that match their passions and interests
- Encourage local organisations to open their doors to young volunteers
- Set up Youth Action Teams to encourage young people into volunteering
The project involves funding for projects, initiatives and new staff, who will support the Youth Action Teams, identify/open up new volunteering opportunities for young people, and match young people to new and existing opportunities.
- Read the full report (PDF)
To find out more about V visit the charity’s website www.wearev.com. For volunteering opportunities in your area visit v’s portal for young people www.vinspired.com
Support from The Princes Trust available in Oxfordshire
Calvin Sylvester from the Prince's Trust tells us they currently have two programmes operating in Oxfordshire, both eligible to young people aged 14-30. The business start-up support offers grants, loans and mentoring to young people setting up their own businesses, and the development awards offer cash awards of £50 - £500 for young people to access education, training and work.
Training and Development Opportunities
This in included in the downloadable version. Online, please see the Training page.
In 2008 there will be changes to the the EMA
The Education Maintainance Allowance (EMA) will be undergoing changes in 2008/9, to provide more financial stability and improve access to support for young people. You can read the briefing document here, more detailed information will follow later in the year.
WOODS and PODS schemes at the Riverside
Starting in the new year, the WOODS scheme provides a range of engaging activities, including woodland management, bush craft, carpentry, fencing, canoeing and navigation, alongside environmental and conservation education, while the PODS scheme is a five week development package for groups of up to 8 young people aged 13 – 19yrs, designed to allow them to develop within a outdoor setting.
These two exciting projects we are starting in January, and bBoth have capacity for extra groups/numbers in the future, and
Our Performance
The number of young people in Oxfordshire who are NEET, and the number whose status is recorded on Profile as ‘unknown’ is lower this month than ever before and we are meeting our targets for both these figures. Much of this is due to the hard work of staff involved in the Annual Activity Survey tracking exercise, so well done and thank you to all PAs who have been working on this. You can see the latest figures online here, updated monthly.
Inspection Update
The Corporate Assessment / Joint Area Review Inspectors are back in Oxfordshire for a fortnight. A lot of their time last week was taken up with visits around the county. The inspectors appreciated the variety of interesting activities they saw and were very grateful for the time and trouble taken with the arrangements. During this week the inspectors will be interviewing colleagues, partners, children and young people. Some of these interviews will take place in Macclesfield House and some in the Cricket Road Centre.
YSS funded projects
There are loads of projects going on at the moment, and some people have had problems figuring out which projects are currently funded througt the YSS. This is a list of the YSS projects and the people who are responsible for them as of of now (Oct 2007)
Need more information?
- e-clips careers information and help with choosing courses
- Visit www.connexions.gov.uk for connexions information online
- www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
for Every Child Matters - Change For Children
