Please note that the work of the SLN Community Practice team was completed in August 2008

Governance

We have established an Advisory Group, with representation from the providers of higher education locally and key partners from the Community and Voluntary Sector. The Group has met quarterly throughout the project's duration, and has developed clear terms of reference.

Greater Flexibility in Learning Options

In response to requests from partners within the Community and Voluntary Sector, we have explored the possibility of universities validating learning delivered by the sector and identified opportunities within the Universities of Sussex and Brighton.

After discussions with both it feels as if CCE are in a better position to respond and they have agreed to pilot three new programmes of learning at level three/HE level 1. The Working Together Project is developing, and will deliver, three modules with a mix of on and off campus delivery, and aim to introduce people to a university environment.

Innovative working relationships are being developed between Community and Voluntary Sector partners and course leaders on the Masters in Public Partnership and Management (Voluntary Sector pathway) at the University of Brighton. The content of the MA (PG Cert / Diploma) is to be adapted to ensure compliance with National Occupational Standards. Not only will this ensure the qualification is appropriate for the needs of the sector, it is also hoped that it will encourage employer support for the qualification.

Training Workshop for people working in the Voluntary and Community Sector

We worked in partnership with the e-learning strand to set up a workshop for people working in the voluntary and community sectors across the counties to try out flash meeting technology. Our Advisory group thought that this new technology might be useful to organisations in the voluntary and community sector across the county, where regional meetings and transport issues were presenting difficulties. These could be overcome by participants staying in their own office using a webcam, a record of the meeting could then be available to a wider audience. This free workshop was held at the Open University premises in East Grinstead, led by a member of the e-learning team, on February 7th.

New Event

We are planning an event to enable people working in the voluntary and community sectors and employers working across the community practice strand to come together for a networking event. Last year at the community practice conference many people said that they would like a further opportunity to get together and to share their experience. Discussions will be held around the learner voice, as well as the needs of employers in framing the Employers’ Handbook for the foundation degree in Community Development.

We aim to invite the mentors/employers who have supported students through their work based learning throughout their three years on the degree. The community practice strand commissioned a piece of research, completed in December last year, that makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the needs of employers across the strand. We aim to present this work to a larger audience at the new event planned for May 2008 at Bramber House at the University of Sussex.

Learner Journeys

We commissioned a piece of research into learner journeys to inform our work on developing the curriculum and progression opportunities. The research involved learners on four courses within the Community Practice strand, and the report draws out a series of themes, and documents the impact of learning on the lives of those interviewed.

Area Seminars

We plan to hold two area based seminars, one in East Sussex and one in West Sussex. The purpose of these will be to raise awareness of the range of courses that are available across the strand and also to bring training providers into a discussion forum.