GETTING
BACK TO WORK/BENEFIT
This section provides links to agencies for a variety
of your clients:
Source: DWP http://www.dwp.gov.uk/
0800 Number Launched By
Jobcentre Plus
In May, Jobcentre Plus launched a new free 0800
telephone service to speed up the process of benefit
claims
and offer advice about getting back to work. The
new numbers are:
Lines are open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday. Customers
using mobile phones may be charged, but the contact
centre will call the customer back if requested.
Face to face help with completing claims forms will
still be available at Jobcentre Plus offices if required.
For further information on the services that Jobcentre
Plus provides employers and people of working age
visit http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Source: GNN, 29th May 2007 Job Search Engine Launched on Digital TV
The new Looking Local job search engine will enable
digital TV viewers to see thousands of job vacancies
in the comfort of their own homes. Working in partnership,
Jobcentre Plus (JCP) and Looking Local, the local government
digital portal, will allow viewers to search by postcode
to find vacancies in their vicinity.
Each job advertisement on Looking Local comes with
a full job description and details of location, wages,
benefits and how to apply. The service is available
to anyone that has access to Sky, cable or broadband-enabled
Freeview boxes.
Source: GNN, 2nd April 2007
ESA Claimants Can Work and Still Receive Benefits
New rules governing work and benefits mean that jobseekers
on the income-related element of the new Employment
Support Allowance (ESA) can earn up to £86
per week for a year, while still receiving benefits.
ESA will replace incapacity benefit and income
support paid for incapacity or disability for new
claimants from 2008.
Jim Murphy, Minister for
Employment and Welfare Reform, said: "All
the evidence we have gathered shows that allowing
people to try out part-time job
options provides a gateway into the world of work,
helping them to build up their skills and confidence
and vastly improves the chances they have of getting
off benefit altogether.”
All ESA claimants will
be able to work for fewer than 16 hours and earn
up to £86 per week for
up to 52 weeks without losing their entitlement.
Source: GNN, 20th March 2007
For your clients who are not working or
working less than 16 hours a week: check
Jobseeker's Allowance – this
will take you to the JobCentre Plus website
If your client is a lone parent and wants
to move off benefit into work or just wants
help finding work: check
New Deal for Lone Parents (this will
now take you to the New Deal pages of the
JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is aged 50 or over and
looking for work: check
New Deal for people aged 50 plus (this
will now take you to the New Deal pages
of the JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is aged 25 or over and
needs help looking for work: check
New Deal for people aged 25 plus (this
will now take you to the New Deal pages
of the JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is aged 18 or over but under 25 and
needs help looking for work: check
New Deal for Young People (this will now take you
to the New Deal pages of the JobCentre Plus website)
For young people also visit the Connexions
website and see job opportunities.
If your client currently gets
a disability or health-related benefit:check
New Deal for Disabled People(this
will now take you to the New Deal pages
of the JobCentre Plus website)
If your client is an aspiring unemployed musician: check
New Deal for Musicians (this will now take you to the New Deal
pages of the JobCentre Plus website)
Two job clubs have been launched in Windsor and Maidenhead for unemployed
or redundant managers, professionals and technical staff. The clubs are
managed by the Centre for Developing Connections, and funded by the Branshaw
Foundation. Both clubs are free and are open to any manager, professional
or executive living in Berkshire. Meetings at Windsor are held on the
first and third Thursday of each month, with meetings in Maidenhead on
the second and fourth Thursday.
(Slough and Langley Observer 22nd December 2005)
SELF-EMPLOYMENT/BUSINESS START UP/ BUSINESS SUPPORT
This section will provide information and links on help and advice for
those clients who wish to go self-employed.
Berkshire Business Link Pilot
Rolled Out Across South East
Berkshire Business Link has just completed a trial
of events about Starting Your Own Business which
has now been taken up across the South East. The
pilot scheme of modular three hour workshops about
business start up ran from April to June of this
year. Interested individuals can attend up to four
workshops that run in the mornings, afternoons,
evenings or weekends.
The workshop programme is intended to be flexible,
so that people in employment can attend at times
convenient to themselves. Follow-up support for
those who choose to start their own business will
then be available over the first few years. There
are also courses specifically for women and some
for social enterprises. In Berkshire, the courses
have been in Reading, Newbury, Slough and Crowthorne.
During the pilot, around 100 people attended the
workshops with customer satisfaction measured at
90%.
For further information about the workshops, call
0845 600 9 006.
Source: icberkshire website, 1st August 2007
Berkshire Business Show to Continue
After the success of the first Berkshire Business
Show at Newbury College in July, dates have already
been set for next year’s show. 32 businesses
took part in this year’s show including
hotels, solicitors, shops and estate agents.
Next year’s show will be held on 16th and
17th July at the college’s Monks Lane campus.
For exhibitor information packs, visit http://www.berkshirebusinessshow.co.uk/exhibit_2008.htm
Sources: Newbury Today, 11th July 2007; Newbury
College website, 24th July 2007
£140m
Available in Training Grants
Four-fifths of construction companies in the
South East have not been accessing training grants.
Figures released by ConstructionSkills show that
last year, 2,200 construction companies accessed £12m
in grants to train their employees. However,
an estimated 9,000 other companies in the region
did not. From August 2007, £140m in Government
grants will be available to improve the skills
of workers in the construction sector. This includes
grants that cover a several years to ensure a
longer-term approach. Funds for apprenticeships
have also risen significantly in line with the
Government’s aim of having more young people
continuing in training and education until they
are 18.
For further information about training grants,
visit http://www.cskills.org/grant
Source: Brighton Argus, 17th July 2007
Creative Academy of Slough
Announced Most Enterprising Place in South East
The South East’s regional heat for Enterprising
Britain 2007 has been won by Creative Academy of
Slough, which is a training programme for the creative
industries including several Slough organizations.
The Academy has been named the most enterprising
place in the South East and will now go on to compete
in the national finals.
The Competition is run
by the DTI’s Small
Business Service, alongside the Regional Development
Agencies and Devolved Administrations. On September
15th the national winner of 12 regional finalists
will be announced
The Creative Academy of Slough, is a network of
creative agencies and businesses working in collaboration
to provide training, employment and learning opportunities
for local people in the creative and cultural industries.
Source: SEEDA website, 22nd May 2007
The Berkshire Business Education Alliance Ltd
is a consortium of organisations across
Berkshire that aim to foster closer links between
education
and
business through a variety of activities. The activities include
work experience for young people and businesses mentoring young people.
More information is available on http://www.berks-bea.co.uk or
0118 901 5999.
EURES – European
Employment Services
EURES stands for European Employment Services
and is a network that links the Public Employment
Services of all 28 EEA countries (Jobcentre Plus
in the UK). EEA is the countries of the EU and
Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. In Jobcentre
Plus, there is a network of 24 EURES Advisers,
with a minimum of 1 EURES Adviser (EA) per region,
with 5 in London, 2 in the South East and 2 in
East of England etc. There are over 750 EURES
Advisers throughout the EEA.
The European Commission started EURES in 1994
with the aim of assisting European citizens with
their
mobility rights and to offer advice and guidance
via their dedicated website and specialist EURES
Advisers.
If an employer within the South East region identifies
a problem with recruitment from within their local
area or throughout the UK, EURES can assist by:
Advising employers
how to advertise their vacancies EURES-wide
or in particular countries
Finding out from
the EURES network where there are skill surpluses
to match their requirements
Setting up projects
with other countries to recruit specialist
staff
EURES helps employers
fill vacancies for all types of sectors from
single vacancies to large scale recruitment – from
technical, professional, graduate to linguistic
based vacancies to hospitality and care
Taking employers
or their vacancies to jobsfairs in Europe or
targeting specialist open days in Europe
Specialist account
management of employers/vacancies
Assistance in arranging video conferencing
(if applicable/available)
This is particularly useful for employers who
have major skills shortage areas such as engineering,
linguistic vacancies, scientific/pharmaceutical,
health professionals etc.
The EURES website http://www.eures-jobs.com also allows UK employers to access thousands of
CVs from potential
jobseekers (via CV Search) throughout the EEA countries,
thereby increasing their chances of finding the
best possible candidate for their job.
The South East EURES Advisers are Susan Oyston
who is based in Kent and Aloma Onyemah who is based
in Hampshire. They cover all of the counties in
the South East region i.e. Kent, Hampshire, Isle
of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire,
Sussex and Surrey and their contact details are
below:
Susan Oyston
Ashford Jobcentre
Kent House
Station Road
Ashford
Kent
TN23 1YS
Tel: 0044 (0)1233 203356
Mob: 0044 (0)7779 356386
Fax: 0044 (0)1233 203309
E-mail: susan.oyston@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Aloma Onyemah
Jobcentre Plus
Wynnstay House
121 High Street
Cosham
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO6 3DR
Tel: 0044 (0)23 92304841
Mob: 0044(0)789 1682805
Fax: 0044 (0)23 92304898
Email: aloma.onyemah@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Women’s
Business Enterprise Council to be Launched
The Women’s Business Enterprise Council UK
(WBEC-UK) is to be launched later in the year. WBEC-UK
is a national certifying body for women business
owners, based on a US model, which has had considerable
success in America.
Working in partnership
with the women’s enterprise
association Prowess, WBEC-UK is corporate-led and
backed by companies such as Accenture, Bank of America,
Microsoft, New Technology and Pfizer.
The introduction of WBEC model will be important
for women business owners. By accrediting them as
suppliers, major purchasers will have more confidence
to work with businesses they have not previously
used. WBEC-UK will be formally launched in November
2007.
Source: SEEDA website, 12th July 2007
Gender
Equality Duty Comes Into Force In April 2007, the Gender Equality Duty (GED) comes into force, constituting
the biggest change in sex equality legislation since the Sex Discrimination
Act in 1975.
The Duty applies to all public
authorities, as well as private and voluntary bodies
that are carrying out public functions on behalf
of a public authority. The organisations will be
legally required to:
Eradicate discrimination and harassment that
is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act
1975 (SDA) and discrimination that is unlawful
under the Equal Pay Act 1970 (EqPA).
Promote equality of opportunity between women
and men.
Demonstrate that men and women are treated
fairly in the process of policy-making, public
services and employment practices
The public authorities also
have specific duties to:
Publish a Gender Equality Scheme
(including an Action Plan)
Consult employees, service users and trade
unions
Demonstrate that the Scheme sets out appropriate
actions the authority has taken or intends to
take
Implement the scheme, report annually on progress
and review and revise accordingly
Source: Redbridge Borough Council
website, 30th March 2007
Step
into Construction
Is a positive action project to support Women and
Black Ethnic Minorities to enter employment and training
in construction. For further information, contact
genia.duff-cooper@citb.co.uk
The Women's National Commission
Is the official, independent, advisory body giving
the views of women to the Government and aims to
ensure that women's views are taken into account
by the Government and are heard in public debate.
For more information, see http://www.thewnc.org.uk/
Women
Returners’ Network
The Women Returners’ Network (WRN) deals with
issues for women returning to work or learning. For
more information, go to http://www.women-returners.co.uk/cms/
Women into Science and Engineering
Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) encourages
women of all ages to consider starting or returning
to careers in science and engineering. Its
website is: http://www.wisecampaign.org.uk
Everywoman
Everywoman provides resources and support services
for women in business. For further information,
visit http://www.everywoman.co.uk/
National Women’s Enterprise Task Force
National Women’s Enterprise Task Force, http://www.prowess.org.uk is
a network of partners and organisations that support women’s business ownership.
The facts pages on the website contain a wide range of facts and figures
relating to women in the workforce.
Women’s
Business Development Agency is available to support
and
develop female run businesses and
to help women into work. Further information is
available on http://www.wbda.co.uk
This section is concerned with support services provided to people
from ethnic minority and travelling communities.
Ethnic Minorities Support
Polish Speakers Needed for 999 Calls
Polish speaking workers are being recruited by the
emergency services, in an attempt to calm calls
made by Polish residents. With the number of Polish
migrants continuing to rise, so too are the number
of incomprehensible calls made to 999 by Poles
struggling with English. Whilst Thames Valley Police
says no lives have been endangered, they believe
recruiting Polish speakers will ease pressure.
Non-emergency and 999 calls
made in Reading are put through to enquiry centres
in Kidlington and
Windsor, where at present there is a dedicated phone
line where operators answer in migrants’ first
language. Poles who wish to apply for a post must
hold four GCSE’s or equivalent, basic keyboard
skills, and the ability to work at any time of day.
Source: icberkshire website, 19th July 2007
DTI launches Ethnic Minority
Business Task Force
The DTI has launched an Ethnic Minority Business
Task force to encourage BME companies to grow. A
recent DTI survey, 'Finance For Small And Medium-Sized
Enterprises: Comparisons of Ethnic Minority And White-Owned
Businesses' found that BME firms often face barriers
to obtaining finance:
Businesses with Black African and Black Caribbean
owners are much more likely to be refused loans
than businesses with Indian, Pakistani and White
owners
On average, ethnic minority-owned businesses
pay higher bank loan charges than white-owned
businesses
For Black African and Pakistani-owned businesses
there is a significantly greater gap between
the amounts of business finance sought and the
amounts agreed
Discrepancies can be partly
explained by standard business risk factors and
factors such as the age
of businesses and available collateral against loans,
but not entirely – especially relating to margins
paid on loans and gaps in financing.
The DTI survey, 'Finance For Small And Medium-Sized
Enterprises: Comparisons of Ethnic Minority And White-Owned
Businesses' is available at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file39925.pdf
Source: GNN, 19th June 2007
Handbook and Network Launched For Forced Marriage
Survivors
The government’s forced marriage unit has launched
a new support network and handbook for victims of
forced marriage. The unit handles around 5,000 enquiries
each year, and helps to rescue around 300 women,
children and men trapped in abusive forced marriages
per year. 15% of cases involve men and 30% of cases
involve minors.
The new handbook offers
practical help and information for the survivors
of forced marriages. The survivors’ network
is also being launched in partnership with Karma
Nirvana, which is an NGO dealing with forced marriages.
The network aims to offer long-term emotional support.
The survivors’ handbook
can be found by clicking here
Source: GNN, 8th May 2007 UK NARIC – The
National Academic Recognition Information Centre gives
details about the compatibility of British and overseas
qualifications,
see http://www.naric.org.uk/
Step into Construction
Is a positive action project to support Women and Black Ethnic Minorities
to enter employment and training in construction. For further information,
contact genia.duff-cooper@citb.co.uk
In Berkshire, there are the following Racial Equality
Councils (RECs):
READING COUNCIL FOR RACIAL EQUALITY
2-4 Silver Street
READING
Berkshire
RG1 2ST
Tel: 0118 986 8755
Fax: 0118 931 4786
Email: info@rcre.org.uk
Chairperson: Ms Helen Townsend
Director: Mr Victor Koroma
For further details about
language and cultural support in Windsor and Maidenhead,
visit http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/ema_index.htm Slough Immigration
Unit is based at 29 Church Street in Slough and
is open every Monday – Thursday from 10am until
midday. It offers a free service to people
on low incomes and those who would normally qualify
for legal aid.
Source: http://www.icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk
13/04/06
The Slough Black and Minority Ethnic Business Forum
supports Black and Minority Ethnic Businesses within
the Borough. The Forum is supported
by Slough Council, Slough Business Community and the Business Link
Berkshire.
(Slough and Langley Observer, December 2005)
Asian Carers Support Group 0118 950 5177
Travellers Support
Big Lottery Fund Grant for Deprived Minority Groups
The most socially and economically deprived groups
in the South East are to benefit from the Big Lottery
Fund’s ‘well being programme’. £5.6
million is to be put into addressing health inequalities
across the region, by promoting healthy eating,
physical activity and improving mental health.
In West Berkshire, the money will go towards improving
conditions for gypsies and travellers. Schools
will also benefit from new gym equipment and healthy
eating programmes. The scheme known as ‘Chances
4 Change’ is expected to benefit 100,000
people, giving them the opportunity to develop
healthier lifestyles.
The ‘well being programme’ is
to be managed by a core group consisting of the
Arts Council
England, South East, Sport England, the Regional
Public Health Group and the Care Services Improvement
Partnership.
Source: Newbury Today website, 20th July 2007
Working with Refugees A website for
those working with refugees has
pages dedicated to helping those working
with adults and children. The children’s
pages offer advice and case studies
from Early Years through to 16-19.
The National
Refugee Integration Forum (NRIF) also offers advice on employment
and training for refugees. Visit www.nrif.org.uk
Wokingham Charity From Mayor
Councillor Annette Drake, Wokingham Borough’s
new mayor is behind a new charity for Wokingham’s
disabled children. ‘Building for the Future’ will
provide a desperately needed lifeline for hundreds
of children with disabilities, and their families.
Fundraising for a unique custom-built centre has
already begun; Councillor Drake has so far raised £2,000
for the cause. At present the charity is in the process
of being officially registered. Five existing charities
have been brought together to create ‘Building
for the Future’, which all currently provide
support, respite and activities for families across
the borough who have children with a disability.
Source: icberkshire website, 19th July 2007
Disability-Friendly Buses for Newbury
Ten new disability-friendly buses have hit the streets
of Newbury. The re-furbished four year old vehicles
feature wheelchair spaces and super- low floors,
as well as air conditioning, quality seating and
easy to clean surfaces.
The buses are painted in Newbury buses’ updated
green and silver colours. £1 million was invested
in the new buses, which have replaced the 15 year
old high floor, side entrance, single-deck buses
that were in use.
Source: Newbury Today, 10th July 2007
For information about post-16 opportunities and
services for young people with disabilities, visit
http://www.after16.org.uk/
For a list of specialist independent colleges providing
further education and training to meet the learning
needs of students with learning difficulties and/or
disabilities, see http://www.natspec.org.uk/index.php?id=4
Television Channel for Deaf People
A new television channel which is dedicated for deaf
people has been launched. The channel is called
VeeSee and viewers will be able to watch sign language
news and television programmes 24 hours a day.
The channel can be accessed via the internet or
a set-top box. Deaf film makers also get to show
off their skills through the television channel.
To view the VeeSee website visit http://www.veesee.co.uk/
New
guide to improve information for disabled people
A five point guide to improve information
for disabled people has been launched
by Minister for Disabled People, Anne
McGuire. The Office for Disability
Issues (ODI) wrote the guide following
research showing that a lack of, or
misleading information, can be an important
factor in preventing disabled people
from getting services they need.
The new guide contains five guidelines to improve
information for disabled people:
1. Ensure that disabled people are involved from
the start
2. Provide information through a range of channels
and formats
3. Ensure your information meets users' needs
4. Clearly signpost other services
5. Always make it clear who is responsible for the
information provided.
Source: GNN 06/02/07
Bracknell Forest introduces scheme for people with
special needs
Under a scheme launched in December, people with
learning difficulties can apply for funds to spend
on support and care for themselves. The council is
introducing the scheme, In Control, which involves
each person being given money based on their needs,
alongside support from the council about where to
spend it. Over time, the scheme will be available
to over 350 people with learning disabilities.
The council will check to ensure that the money
is used legally and safely.
Source: icberkshire website, 9th January 2007
West Berkshire Dance and Music club for children
with ASD
The National Autistic Society (NAS) has commissioned
a Saturday club to allow children with an autistic
spectrum disorder (ASD) to use dance and music to
express themselves. The classes at Riverside Community
Centre in Turnpike have been set up by two mothers
of autistic children. For more information about
ASD or the club, see http://www.nas.org.uk
Source: Newbury Today, 23rd January 2007
New company to provide carers
for disabled people
Appleberry Care was launched in Datchet in November
to give specialist care to disabled children and
young adults in the Thames Valley and Southern Chilterns.
The carers will visit homes or take out disabled
people to give families respite.
Lisa Vaughan, who runs the business, already runs
a recruitment agency, Nursery Staff Ltd, that provides
staff to nurseries and schools. The new company,
Appleberry Care, will assess the needs of families
and provide the appropriate specialist carers. Lisa
is also starting up training courses. For further
information, visit http://www.appleberrycare.co.uk or contact Lisa Vaughan on 01753 582211.
Source: icberkshire website, 15th November 2006
National agencies offering support to people
with disabilities include:
Directgov Click
here to see information for disabled people provided
by Directgov, the supplier of public services information.
Disability Now
Disability Now is a monthly online magazine for disabled
people. The site features information on learning,
living, news and there is also a job vacancy section.
To view the website click
here
DisabledGo
DisabledGo is a website that provides information
for disabled people. The site offers information
on how accessible hotels, cinemas, restaurants,
offices, pubs, shops and other services are across
the UK. The site also has a job searching facility
featuring inclusive employers. For more information
visit http://www.disabledgo.info/Default.asp
Ready, Willing and Able’s
website has information about work for disabled
people, and job vacancies.
For further details, visit http://www.readywillingable.net
Royal Association for Disability
and Rehabilitation – Tel:
020 7250 3222
Website: http://www.radar.org.uk
NATSPEC is a member association for specialist independent
colleges catering for people with learning difficulties
and disabilities. For further information, see http://www.natspec.org.uk/
Skill is the national bureau for students with disabilities,
promoting opportunities for young people and adults
with disabilities in education and employment. For
further information, see http://www.skill.org.uk/
Launch of images of disability website
Targeting communications professionals, the http://www.imagesofdisability.gov.uk website has recently been launched, giving guidance
about the way to portray disabled people in communications
materials. The website includes the following materials:
An extensive Media Gallery - containing examples
of positive portrayals of disabled people across
a range of media channels
'How to...' guides and templates - from campaign
briefing to production
Sample briefs
Tips and techniques about effectively applying
a disability message to a campaign
Useful research material
Case studies and articles about disability
Source: GNN 07/08/06
Supported Employment Services
Queen Elizabeth's Foundation Training College provides
work-based residential training for adults with disabilities
or long term health problems, who are hoping to gain
sustainable employment. The college offers 13 courses
in commercial, technical and trade subjects and its
holistic approach helps with confidence building as
well as the opportunity to achieve nationally recognised
qualifications (available on almost all courses). The
college begins with an assessment and offers continued
support throughout the training, following which there
is the opportunity to undertake a period of work experience
in the person's home area. A limited number of non-residential
places are available. Application can be made via the
Disability Employment Adviser at Job Centre Plus and
is available to those on Incapacity Benefit, Income
Support or Job Seekers Allowance living in the UK.
Further information, a prospectus and details of any
open days are contained on the college’s website:
http://www.qefd.org.uk.
Otherwise contact Angela Webb on 01372 841152 or angela.webb@qetc.org
BDIN Closes as Funding is Cut
Funding cuts have meant that The Berkshire Disability
Information Network (BDIN) charity, based at Brakenhale
School, Bracknell, has closed. All six unitary councils
in Berkshire withdrew their funding from BDIN. In its
place, Dis:Course, supported by the Ark Trust will
offer services to people with disabilities in Bracknell
and the surrounding area. For more information, see http://www.discourse.org.uk/
Source: icberkshire website, 22nd March 2007
In the Reading area, Graft is a partnership of local organisations
providing information and support to employers regarding employing
disabled people,
as well as to disabled candidates looking for work. For further
information, visit: http://www.graft.org.uk/
In West Berkshire, information about paths to employment for
people with disabilities is available on: http://www.p2e.org.uk/
The West Berkshire Council Pathways to Employment Project (P2E)
has found work placements for 70 disabled people and found
employment for more than 40 since January 2005. The Council
is leading by example, and has offered work placements to 20
people, and paid employment to 12 people.
Other employers supporting P2E include: Donnington
Valley Hotel, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Scats, Sainsbury's,
Co-op, Budgens, High and Mighty, Waterstones, Family
Book Shop, Wyevale Garden Centre, Newbury Manor Hotel,
Regency Park Hotel, Littlecote Manor Hotel, Chris
Fiddler Garage, Children's Action Farm, Speenhamlands
School, Mary Hare School, Charles Clore Centre, ACT
systems, Suzie's Preserves and Vodafone.
P2E is also working with employment agencies, including:
Randstad, Reed, Action Recruitment and Adecco.
2.6 Million Carers Get Right To Request Flexible Working
From April 2007, 2.6 million carers will get the
right to request flexible working as the Work and
Families Act comes
into force.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said:
"Over 2.65m carers
will have the right to request flexible working
for the first time. It will make
a real difference to those who give so much. It takes
the number of people with this right to more than
six million since it was first introduced in 2003
for parents of young and disabled children.
"Those rights are
being worked through closely with business, who
increasingly realise flexible
working makes sense for them.
"Flexible working
for carers is right for business, right for families
and is at the centre of the modern
work-life balance economy."
Source: GNN, 6th April 2007
For
carers of all ages, including practical training,
support and advice in West
Berkshire
This section is designed to help older people getting
back into the labour market, and people with caring
responsibilities for older people who might want
to get back into the labour market (see also support
for carers).
For information about the Campaign
Against Age Discrimination in employment, see http://www.caade.net/
Volunteering for Older People
The WRVS is co-ordinating the government initiative
to promote volunteering opportunities in later
life. The Volunteering Initiative in the Third
Age (VITA) is promoting the value and impact
of older volunteers. Recent events include the
VITA and Help the Aged Conference held in Westminster
on 6th June bringing together voluntary sector
representatives to discuss best practice and
recruitment
of older volunteers. The WRVS are particularly
looking for older volunteers to get involved
in WRVS activities - visit http://www.wrvs.org.uk for
more information.
ACAS warning on Age Discrimination
ACAS has released guidance to help employers
and individuals understand the impact of forthcoming
new Age Discrimination legislation. The South-East
region has the highest proportion of older
workers in employment in the country with over
three
quarters (76.1%) of all people aged between
50 and state
pension age working compared to the national
average of 70.4%.
The new guidance from ACAS is available from their
website, http://www.acas.org.uk or on the orderline
on 08702 429090.
Source: GNN 27/04/06
The Age
and Employment Network (formerly Third Age Employment Network)
- http://www.taen.org.uk
TAEN is a network of member organisations to ensure
better opportunities are available for mature people
at work. The network undertakes research and campaigning
to this end, with a comprehensive website and members
area.
The
Tick Tock Project
For
the South East region, Berkshire LSC is leading a
new project with European EQUAL funding, known
as Tick Tock, supporting older people with lifelong
learning, volunteering and employment. For further
information, visit: http://www.tick-tock-se.org/transnational_partnerships.htm
http://www.CareerChangeCentre.org.uk is the innovative
new website, part of the Tick Tock Project strand
4, aimed at people making mid-life career decisions.
It is focused on helping the over 45s living or working
in the South East of England.
The website is primarily
for those who are thinking of making a change in
working life: applying for
promotion, getting back into the workforce following
redundancy, downsizing – going part-time and
wanting to undertake some training or voluntary work,
making a complete career change or for the exploration
of options.
For more details of the project, please contact
Alan Porter on Alan.Porter@vtplc.com
Age Concern Age Concern is the UK’s
largest organisation working with and for older people.
The central website
has a number of information sheets and fact sheets
relating to older people in the workplace and self-employment.
Of particular interest are FS4, Your Rights At Work
and FS11, Help with Looking for Work or Starting
Your Own Business. Information sheet IS12, Deferring
Retirement Pension Questions and Answers, and IS17
Age Discrimination Law may also be of interest. You
can access these sheets by clicking
here for the Age Concern
website, information sheets are also available via
the Information Line on 0800 00
99 66 or visit http://www.ageconcern.org.uk.
The Early Years Foundation
Stage framework published
The DfES has published the Early Years Foundation
Stage (EYFS) framework, setting the standards for
development, learning and care of children from 0
to 5 years old. The framework has been produced after
consulting with early learning professionals and
parents and replaces the non-statutory Birth to Three
Matters guidance, the Foundation Stage curriculum
for 3 and 4 year olds and national standards for
daycare. The underpinning principles of the framework
are that each child should be treated as unique and
children should be in loving and secure relationships
and environments in which they can learn and develop
at their own pace and with enjoyment.
Beverley Hughes, Minister of State for Children,
said:
"This Government is
committed to giving every child the best start
in life. The Early Years Foundation
Stage will help practitioners plan stimulating, age
appropriate activities based on what they know about
the child's interests, in discussion with parents
and other relevant professionals.
"We want to make sure
that whatever setting parents choose, they can
be confident their child
will get the best possible start in their learning
and development. The EYFS is about ensuring quality
and consistency across all settings where care is
provided for young children.”
All registered early years’ providers
and schools will be required to use the EYFS from
September
2008.
The EYFS will also be published as an online tool,
with practical demonstrations showing people how
they can use the framework in a way that is tailored
to the needs of individual children in their care,
and carry out the planning that will ensure every
child benefits from it. The framework is available
online at: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/eyfs
Source: GNN, 13th March 2007
National organisations
offering support and information about childcare,
include:
4Children can give contact information for local
out of school clubs and facilities for primary-age
children. For further details, visit: http://www.4children.org.uk
One Parent Families is a charity providing information
and support to lone parents. For further details,
visit: http://www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk
The Slough Childcare Information
Service (SCIS) runs a free impartial telephone
information and guidance line for provision for
childcare from
0-14 (or 16 if the young person has special needs). See below
for searches for childcare provision in your area.
The following links are taken from ChildcareLink
which is funded by the Sure Start Unit and
Scottish Executive as part of their national
childcare strategies. This site is developed, managed and maintained
by Opportunity
Links as part of their role in running the ChildcareLink programme.
The website includes information on childminders, day nurseries, out
of school care and schemes, pre-school play groups. The information produced
also indicates whether the childcare service includes pick up from local
schools.
