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Safeguarding Update

Take 'The Suzy Lamplugh Trust Personal Safety MOT'

http://www.suzylamplugh.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/personal_safety_mot_quiz.pdf

Stonewall Speak Out Image

Five years on from Stonewall's ground-breaking research The School Report we're again calling on lesbian, gay and bisexual young people to tell us what life's like for them in Britain's schools today.

Young people aged 11-19 can take part in the survey at www.stonewall.org.uk/speakout. Share this link to help promote the survey.

Parentchannel.tv is an online service designed to support and encourage parents and carers of children aged 5-19, with a collection of videos addressing day-to-day questions and concerns spanning wellbeing, behaviour and learning.

Parentchannel.tv features a collection of short and engaging parenting support videos with links to existing services for further information, advice and support where needed. In producing these videos we have engaged experts and parents every step of the way.

http://www.parentchannel.tv/14-19-years

Have You Considered an Apprenticeship?

Just got your exam results and thinking about what to do next? An Intermediate or Advanced Level Apprenticeship could be your answer! As an apprentice you will:

Earn a salary and get paid holidays
Receive training in job specific skills
Gain qualifications recognised by employers across the country

Now is a great time to visit the Apprenticeship vacancies to see what opportunities are currently available. Just go to apprenticeships.org.uk and register then click 'search vacancies'. It is simple to use: just look at the Online Guide for any help you need.

Respect Not Fear

A new link has been added in the Links and Help Section of the site under relationships:-

http://www.respectnotfear.co.uk/

Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum (NDVF) have launched the first iPhone App for young people about relationships and domestic violence.

Devastating facts such as 1 in 6 girls have been hit by their boyfriend and 1 in 16 raped highlight the importance of raising awareness about abuse within young people's intimate relationships and the importance of ensuring that the information is available in a format young people want to access.

Created by NDVF and FlexyWeb, the Respect not Fear iPhone and iPod App includes information about healthy and unhealthy relationships, warning signs and support services in a fun, interactive and easy to use way. The artwork has been designed by young people from across Nottingham. The App is free to download from the App Store.

Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum (NDVF) have also re-launched their Respect not Fear website.
Originally the first website of its kind, www.respectnotfear.co.uk was developed in 2008 to; help young people to understand what they should expect and deserve in a relationship, to raise awareness about domestic violence and to promote support services.

The Nottinghamshire Training Network Awards 2011

The Nottinghamshire Training Network Awards 2011 will build on the success of previous Awards and Graduation Events and will continue to celebrate and recognise the achievement, excellence and dynamism of Nottinghamshire individuals and employers. The Graduation Ceremony and Awards Dinner will be held on 26^th January 2012 at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham. The Awards Application's and Guidance Notes are now available online from the NTN website and must be completed by 3^rd October 2011 before 4pm.
The Graduation Reservation Form and Guidance Notes are also available online and must be completed by 11^th November 2011 before 5pm.

Please refer to the guidance notes located on the NTN Website before completing any documentation

Prostart Awards

In June, Prostart celebrated its 4^th annual awards. The event was held at The Village Hotel and over 120 people attended.
There were 6 award categories and learners who achieved between 1^st April 2010 and 31^st March 2011 received a scroll and employers who have worked with Prostart for over 5 years received commitment certificates.
Nominees for the awards are put forward by their employer, assessor or they can nominate themselves. The nominations are sent to the sponsors of the awards who judge a winner and a runner-up to ensure there is no bias.
We had 2 guest speakers, Carol Parkinson, professional Business Coach and Motivational Speaker who talked about the importance of a good education.
Rachael Corden gave a heartfelt speech. She explained how Prostart and the apprenticeship program helped with her career and how her self-confidence had grown.
Thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets for the Prostart nominated charity- Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, we raised £352 which will be presented to them at a ceremony in July.

Thanks also to the companies that donated prizes - Marks and Spencer, Le Bistrot Pierre, AMF Bowling Nottingham, The Theatre Royal Nottingham, Ramsdale Park Golf Centre, and Graham Leggett from Pardner Clark for the holiday.

Prostart would like to say a big 'Thank you' to all the sponsors -

SV Timber, Nottinghamshire Training Network (NTN), Aspire Achieve Advance (AAA), BPP, MvB Communications and Fresenius Medical Care

Photos of Awards: -http://www.flickr.com/photos/64511526@N05/

Raising Funds For the Treetops Hospice

On the 10th of June 7 members of Prostart staff raised funds by joining 450 other ladies on the Treetops Hospice Moonlight Walk, 7 miles around Derbyshire. It’s thought that £41,000 has been raised for the charity, which provides hospice care for adults in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. For further information or to make a donation please click on the link below

Treetops Hospice
The Treetops Hospice provides palliative care for adults with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.

Updates

Chloe logo

Chloe is an easy to use and highly affordable software application aimed at providing help with reading and writing tasks on the PC. It has been developed by Nevolve with the help of dyslexics and dyslexia professionals.

Its key features include:
- A Text Reader and a Text to Audio file feature complete with an award winning natural sounding voice.
- A fully customisable Screen Overlay that will help users with the reading of any on-screen text based document including emails and web pages
- A dyslexia friendly spell checker allowing users to listen to suggested words and their dictionary definitions.
- A Speak As You Type feature enabling users to hear exactly what they are typing as and when they are typing it.
- In-built video tutorials to help users get the most out of Chloe.
- An On Demand feature that allows users to access the help with just one click on the mouse.
- Free automatic updates
- Plus many more features.

Unlike most Dyslexia software products, Chloe can be completely personalised to suit each individual user. This includes being able to change themes, colours, fonts and voices that will remain consistent throughout its use.

Chloe also offers a very discreet solution, allowing users to turn off any unwanted sounds and hide tools when they are not needed

You can find out more about Chloe, see it in action as well as purchase it from our website...

http://www.nevolve.com/Chloe?prm=prostartuk

COMIC RELIEF 2011 'Wacky Hat Day' Wear a Wacky Hat to Work

We would love all our learners and companies to take part. Please send us Wacky Hat photo's or upload them to the Prostart Facebook page

To donate please go to our giving page: http://my.rednoseday.com/Prostart.

100% of all money raised will be donated to Comic Relief. For more information about the event or any of our other activities. Please contact: - ninaricci@prostartuk.co.uk or phone 0844 815 0811

Apprenticeship success for the Nottinghamshire Health Community

The Nottinghamshire Health and Social Care Community Workforce Team (NHSCCWT) is delighted to share their success as Employer of the Year 2010, at the Nottinghamshire Training Network Awards held on the 27^th January 2011 at the East Midlands Conference Centre.

Awards Photo1

NHS Nottinghamshire County/Nottinghamshire Community Health L to R: Jo Beckwith, Sue Hepworth, Jackie Brocklehurst

NHSCCWT is committed to working towards a future in which Nottinghamshire has a world class workforce, and in which the team leads locally and regionally on workforce development planning, including the delivery of quality education opportunities. This includes promoting access and opportunity to training development and jobs in Health and Social Care for all the people of Nottinghamshire. NHSCCWT works across Nottinghamshire and is hosted by NHS Nottinghamshire County.

Awards photo 2

L to R: Anne Roberts, Christine Halsall, Jackie Brocklehurst, Sue Hepworth, Jo Beckwith, Jordan McKenzie, Denise Harrison, Lesley Harrington, Jeanette McQuillan

The achievement of this award reflects the partnership work of the Health Community in the recruitment and ongoing support of over 100 Apprentices, aged 16-21 reflecting the Apprenticeship frameworks of:

Business Administration
Children and Young People
Health and Social Care
Hospitality and Catering

This achievement would not have been possible without the commitment, dedication and willingness to work together for the good of young people, from all partners across NHS Trusts and local training providers, to include:

Access Training
NHS Bassetlaw/Bassetlaw Community Health
NHS Nottingham City/Citihealth
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Jackie Brocklehurst
Nottinghamshire University Hospitals NHS Trust
JHP Training
Prostart Training
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
SLIC Training

The award reflects the unique approach the Nottinghamshire Health Community has taken to supporting Apprentices within the NHS, notably through the:

Quarterly Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship Forum, (NAF days) for all newly recruited Apprentices, generally 60 participants per day, within venues across the City and County to enable them to gain peer support, skills and knowledge
NAF Committee, made up of Apprentices from each cohort and framework, that shapes the days, the speakers, the content, venue, logistics and creates the NAF Newsletter
Shared service and educational provider meeting to ensure the sharing of best practice, pooling of ideas, continuity and parity within terms and conditions across NHS Trusts and support for the NAF days
Line Managers feedback meetings

For further information about the recruitment of Apprentices to your organisation or department please contact your Apprentice lead or Jo Beckwith, Widening Participation Manager with the Nottinghamshire Health and Social Care Community Workforce Team on 01623 848888 Email jo.beckwith@nottspct.nhs.uk

Awards Photo 3

L to R: Helen Elliott, Claire Bates, Ian Benison, Denise Newcomb, Anne Roberts, Christine Halsall, Jackie Brocklehurst, Sue Hepworth, Jo Beckwith, Jordan McKenzie, Denise Harrison, Nicky McNulty, Lesley Harrington, Jeanette McQuillan

Prostart's new website launched!

Welcome to Prostart's new and improved website.

We have taken on board your feedback from the survey that was carried out last year and have improved the format and content, hopefully this is now easier to follow and navigate.

Based on your feedback we have made the website more colourful and Prostart's contact details are now clearly displayed on the bottom right of the front page along with new enquiry and feedback forms. There is also a search button on the front page to help locate information.

The benefits of undertaking a qualification are more explicit and there are more details about what Prostart can do to assist you on your chosen career path.

Information about the different qualifications we deliver are now available in PDF format and a frequently asked questions page can be accessed under the 'About Us' section.

There is a news section and links to previous editions of the Prostart newsletter 'Natter'. We are also beginning to build up the case studies and testimonials section.

In the Links and Help section we have provided on-line resources across a range of subjects.

There is now a link to E-NVQ as requested and a link to the Prostart Facebook page. Resources are available in the L-zone section which is accessible by password. The L-zone is still under construction, so bear with us while we continue to upload content to this section. Once this is set up learners will be e-mailed a username that will enable them to set up a password to access this area.

We are still working on the site so please bear with us as we will continue to upload more resources.

We would like your feedback on the new website and would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to answer the brief survey below - please scroll down to the bottom of this section.

Careers Guidance

Next Step provides information, advice and resources to help adults make more effective choices about skills, careers, work and life. Adults can access the service online, or with the help of an adviser either on the telephone or face-to-face.

The service is available free to all adults in England aged 19 or over. Adults can register for Next Step online; to create a secure personal space called 'My Next Step' which they can access whenever they need to keep track of their progress. Next Step advisers can also help with registering online.

Next Step is available by calling 0800 100 900 to speak to an adviser or you can make an appointment for face-to-face advice in their area. Lines are open from 8:00am to 10:00pm seven days a week or they can visit the Next Step website.

On the Next Step website, visitors can:

Take a Skills Health Check, which will assess your strengths, skills, abilities and areas for development
Look at information about careers and job profiles
Developtheir CVs and improvetheir interview skills
Understand what is available in the local job market
Find out about funding to support their learning

Register with Next Step - a free, personal online space, where adults can store personal information on their skills development and keep a secure record of their accredited learning achievements, careers, financial support for learning, and your CV, all in one easily accessible and secure location.