Local Charity Retail Learning Forums by Connecting Learners (North Wales)

Idea Brief: Local Charity Retail Learning Forums Background Connecting Learners is Unison’s lifelong learning project for the 3rd sector, funded by the Welsh Government’s Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) and hosted by Cartrefi Cymru in North & Mid Wales and Community Lives Consortium in South Wales. We organise lifelong learning opportunities in following the areas:      

Basic ICT; literacy; numeracy; employability; team building & confidence building; communication skills.

We also provide advice and guidance to 3rd sector organisations on improving the skills of their workforces, including Learning Needs Analysis and Basic Skills Awareness. In addition, we facilitate support for organisations going through change, including redundancy support sessions and social media training, and are involved in an EU Grundtvig project, INCLUSIVE, to promote best practice in social media for adult learning. Examples of our wider work include: 

  

Co-creation of a communication & team building skills course, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, originally designed for Cartrefi Cymru social care staff but adapted for volunteers in schools in Wrexham Social Media training for Flintshire County Voluntary Council, other WULF Projects and the RSC Wales’ wider e-learning community Bespoke Prezi training for key members of Cartrefi Cymru staff Creation of the Connected Learners Cymru social network

One of the key objectives underlying the Project is to “Target employees at the lower range of employment in the third sector to gain a greater understanding of their learning needs and to offer a range of learning opportunities that are relevant in terms of level and content.” We see the idea of creating Local Charity Retail Learning forums as a potential means of achieving this objective and enabling more staff & volunteers to access the benefits of WULF.

The Spark.... We recently had places to fill on a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Money Mattersâ&#x20AC;? personal budgeting and money management course (numeracy), otherwise we would have had to cancel. With just a few phone calls to Charity Shop Managers on Bangor High Street we had 3 new learners recruited to the course, all of whom attended and seemed to value the opportunity. We have provided copies of our current learner brochure to many of the charity shops in Bangor and had informal conversation with a number of shop managers to find out more about the training and learning opportunities afforded to their staff & volunteers. There certainly seems to be interest in the opportunities we have on offer already and we are keen to build on this positive reaction as quickly as possible.

The idea Charity Retail outlets play an increasingly large role in the social & economic life of towns across Wales. Connecting Learners wish to propose the creation, in partnership with WCVA and CVCs, of Local Charity Retail Learning Forums for the managers of Charity Retail outlets operating in towns in North & Mid Wales. The forum would allow managers to come together to identify, discuss and act upon the learning needs of their staff and volunteers. The forums would be designed to complement lifelong learning opportunities with the existing staff & volunteer training opportunities available to the charity retail workforce.

Proposed Structure & Responsibilities A pilot forum would be created in Bangor, as this is where Connecting Learners is based and where the greatest contact has been made between the Project and the charity shop managers. The forum would meet on a quarterly basis and the membership would ideally include representatives of local CVCs. If successful, the model could be rolled out to other towns and counties across the region. Connecting Learners would organise the forum, facilitate and host meetings at Cartrefi Cymruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern training suite in Dean Street, Bangor. Connecting Learners would also provide the forum members with an advice, guidance and signposting service, including Basic Skills Awareness training for managers. Connecting Learners would then be in a position to respond to and meet the identified needs by either signposting to our existing free-to-access provision, external opportunities with local colleges or the Open University and organising bespoke, fully-funded and accredited lifelong learning courses to the staff and volunteers.

In addition to the forum meetings, a secure members-only online space for fourm members would be created on Connected Learners Cymru, the social network for lifelong learners in Wales. The direct costs associated with the creation and running of the forum and the provision of courses will be met by Connecting Learners. WCVA and CVCs would be responsible for promoting the forums and providing information to the members regarding the training & development opportunities available to them.

Expected Benefits Below is an overview of the expected benefits that may come from the creation of the forum and the resulting learning. Individual learner Charity shop Organisation (staff member or volunteer) Increased confidence Benefits of economies Increased revenue of scale Increased skills, including Enhanced teamVolunteer Recruitment, employability skills working Retention & Progression Becoming a “lifelong learner” Increased motivation Fulfilment of and satisfaction organisational ethos Social benefits of meeting Reduced errors Recognition of success new people; networking. Qualifications; accreditation Increased customer Creation & development of of learning; recognition of satisfaction & revenues lasting partnerships prior learning & voluntary work You can also see the Welsh Government’s overview of the benefits of improving basic skills by clicking here.

Existing Training Provision In addition to in-house training programmes, we have identified a range of organisations and training providers offering training to 3rd sector organisations in Bangor. We are fortunate that our local County Voluntary Council, Mantell Gwynedd, offers a range of training courses focused on compliance (for example, Food Safety & Emergency First Aid) and organisational development (for example, Asset Based Development). The WCVA, through Courses for Communities, has a well established and successful suite of training for 3rd sector organisations focusing on area of

organisational and corporate development such as Employment Law, Marketing, Fundraising, Management & Trustees, etc. Charity Retail.org also offers e-learning opportunities for managers in areas such as Health & Safety and Security alongside best practice guides for organisational development. Corporate/Organisational Courses for Communities (WCVA/CVCs) Sector-specific bodies (e.g. Cymorth Cymru, Care Council for Wales)

Retail Managment/Volunteer Development In-house training programmes Charity Retail Association e-learning CVCs Connecting Learners??? Shop staff & volunteers CSV/CVC training Informal, on-the-job training Adult Community Learning (ACL) opportunities with local FE providers Government schemes (i.e. DWP Work Programme) Connecting Learners???

Figure 1: Training & Development in Charity Retail

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next? The path towards realising this idea, as envisaged by Connecting Learners, is illustrated below. Proposals for changes and additions to this pathway are encouraged and will be welcomed by the Connecting Learners team.

Step 1: Initiation Meeting between Connecting Learners, CVCs, WCVA and one or more Charity Retail managers

Step 2: Forum Meeting arranged and invitations to join the forum sent to charity shop managers

Step 3: Informal & formal Learning Needs Analysis carried out & analysed

Step 6:

Step 4: Courses organised by Connecting Learners & promoted by forum members

Step 5: Courses take place, delivered by local FE and/or private providers

Analyses of Evaluations of learning and informal feedback presented to next forum meeting, further courses arranged

Figure 2: The pathway to Local Charity Retail Learning Forums

Contact : Richard Speight, Connecting Learners Project Manager 01248 363175 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 07799116193 - richard.speight@cartreficymru.org Skype: richard.speight3 - Twitter @CL3Project - Facebook www.facebook.com/connecting.learners

Briff Syniad: Local Charity Retail Learning Forums Elusen Fforymau Lleol Dysgu Manwerthu Background Cefndir Connecting Learners is Unison's lifelong learning project for the 3 rd sector, funded by the Welsh Government's Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) and hosted by Cartrefi Cymru in North & Mid Wales and Community Lives Consortium in South Wales. Cysylltu Mae dysgwyr yn Unsain brosiect dysgu gydol oes ar gyfer y 3 ydd sector, a ariennir gan y Llywodraeth Cymru Cronfa Ddysgu Undebau Cymru (WULF) a gynhaliwyd gan Cartrefi Cymru yng Ngogledd a Chanolbarth Cymru a Consortiwm Bywydau Cymunedol yn Ne Cymru. We organise lifelong learning opportunities in following the areas: Rydym yn trefnu cyfleoedd dysgu gydol oes yn dilyn y maes:      

Sylfaenol TGCh; llythrennedd; rhifedd; cyflogadwyedd; adeiladu tîm a magu hyder; sgiliau cyfathrebu.

Rydym hefyd yn darparu cyngor ac arweiniad i 3 ydd sector sefydliadau ar wella sgiliau eu gweithluoedd, gan gynnwys Anghenion Dadansoddiad Dysgu a Sgiliau Ymwybyddiaeth Sylfaenol. Yn ogystal, rydym yn hwyluso cefnogaeth i sefydliadau mynd drwy newid, gan gynnwys sesiynau cymorth diswyddo a hyfforddiant yn y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, ac yn cymryd rhan mewn prosiect Grundtvig CYNHWYSOL UE, i hyrwyddo arfer gorau yn y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ar gyfer dysgu oedolion. Mae enghreifftiau o'n gwaith ehangach yn cynnwys: 

  

Cyd-greu cwrs sgiliau adeiladu tîm a chyfathrebu, "Mae gwybod Fi, gwybod i chi" , a gynlluniwyd yn wreiddiol ar gyfer staff Cartrefi Cymru gofal cymdeithasol ond eu haddasu ar gyfer gwirfoddolwyr mewn ysgolion yn Wrecsam Cyfryngau hyfforddiant Cymdeithasol ar gyfer Sir y Fflint Cyngor Gwirfoddol, Prosiectau WULF eraill a'r RSC Cymru 'ehangach e-ddysgu yn y gymuned Pwrpasol Prezi hyfforddiant ar gyfer aelodau allweddol o staff Cartrefi Cymru Creu o'r dysgwyr Connected Cymru rwydwaith cymdeithasol

Un o amcanion allweddol sy'n sail i'r prosiect yw "Targedu'r gweithwyr yn ystod isaf o gyflogaeth yn y trydydd sector i gael gwell dealltwriaeth o'u hanghenion dysgu ac i

gynnig ystod o gyfleoedd dysgu sy'n berthnasol o ran lefel a chynnwys. "Rydym yn gweld y syniad o greu Elusennau Lleol fforymau Dysgu Manwerthu fel dull posibl o gyflawni'r amcan hwn a galluogi mwy o staff a gwirfoddolwyr i gael mynediad at y manteision WULF. Mae'r Spark .... Yn ddiweddar cawsom i lenwi llefydd ar sail "Money Matters" cyllidebu personol a chwrs rheoli arian (rhifedd), fel arall, byddem wedi i ganslo. Gyda dim ond ychydig ffôn alwadau i Reolwyr Siop Elusen ar Stryd Fawr Bangor oedd gennym 3 dysgwyr newydd eu recriwtio i'r cwrs, pob un ohonynt yn bresennol ac yn ymddangos i werth y cyfle. Rydym wedi darparu copïau o'n presennol llyfryn dysgwr i lawer o'r siopau elusen ym Mangor ac roedd sgwrs anffurfiol gyda nifer o reolwyr siop i gael gwybod mwy am y cyfleoedd hyfforddi a dysgu a roddir i staff a gwirfoddolwyr. Mae sicr yn ymddangos yn diddordeb yn y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael gennym eisoes ac rydym yn awyddus i adeiladu ar hyn ymateb cadarnhaol cyn gynted ag y bo modd. Y syniad Allfeydd manwerthu Elusen yn chwarae rhan fwyfwy mawr ym mywyd cymdeithasol ac economaidd o drefi ar draws Cymru. Mae dysgwyr Cysylltu dymuno cynnig creu, mewn partneriaeth â CGGC a'r Cynghorau Gwirfoddol Sirol, o Elusen Fforymau Lleol Dysgu Manwerthu ar gyfer y rheolwyr o allfeydd adwerthu Elusennau sy'n gweithredu mewn trefi yng Ngogledd a Chanolbarth Cymru. Byddai'r fforwm galluogi rheolwyr i ddod at ei gilydd i adnabod, trafod a gweithredu ar anghenion dysgu eu staff a'u gwirfoddolwyr. Byddai'r fforymau cael eu dylunio i gyd-fynd cyfleoedd dysgu gydol oes â'r staff presennol a chyfleoedd hyfforddi gwirfoddolwyr sydd ar gael i'r elusen gweithlu manwerthu. Strwythur Arfaethedig a Chyfrifoldebau Byddai fforwm peilot yn cael eu creu ym Mangor, gan mai dyma lle dysgwyr yn seiliedig Cysylltu a lle y cyswllt mwyaf wedi cael ei wneud rhwng y Prosiect a'r rheolwyr elusen siop. Byddai'r fforwm yn cwrdd bob chwarter ac y byddai'r aelodau yn ddelfrydol yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o Gynghorau Gwirfoddol Sirol lleol. Os bydd yn llwyddiannus, gallai'r model yn cael ei gyflwyno i drefi eraill a siroedd ledled y rhanbarth. Byddai Cysylltu dysgwyr yn trefnu y fforwm, yn hwyluso ac yn cynnal cyfarfodydd yn Cartrefi Cymru yn ystafell hyfforddi modern yn Stryd y Deon, Bangor. Byddai dysgwyr Cysylltu hefyd yn darparu aelodau'r fforwm gyda, gwasanaeth cyngor, arweiniad a chyfeirio gan gynnwys hyfforddiant Ymwybyddiaeth Sylfaenol Sgiliau ar gyfer rheolwyr. Byddai dysgwyr Cysylltu wedyn mewn sefyllfa i ymateb i ac yn diwallu anghenion a nodwyd gan gyfeirio naill ai at ein presennol-am-ddim darpariaeth mynediad, cyfleoedd allanol gyda cholegau lleol neu'r Brifysgol Agored a

threfnu pwrpasol, a ariennir yn llawn a chyrsiau achrededig dysgu gydol oes i'r staff a gwirfoddolwyr. Yn ychwanegol at y cyfarfodydd fforwm, byddai diogel aelodau yn unig lle ar-lein ar gyfer aelodau fourm yn cael eu creu ar Cysylltiedig Cymru dysgwyr, y rhwydwaith cymdeithasol ar gyfer dysgwyr gydol oes yng Nghymru. Bydd y costau uniongyrchol sy'n gysylltiedig â chreu a chynnal y fforwm a darparu cyrsiau yn cael eu diwallu gan Cysylltu Dysgwyr. Byddai CGGC a'r Cynghorau Gwirfoddol Sirol fod yn gyfrifol am hyrwyddo fforymau a darparu gwybodaeth i'r aelodau ynghylch y cyfleoedd hyfforddi a datblygu sydd ar gael iddynt. Budd-daliadau Disgwyliedig Isod, ceir trosolwg o'r manteision disgwyliedig a allai ddod o greu y fforwm a'r dysgu o ganlyniad. Dysgwr unigol (Aelod o staff neu wirfoddolwr) Mwy o hyder Mwy o sgiliau, gan gynnwys sgiliau cyflogadwyedd Dod yn "ddysgwr gydol oes" Manteision cymdeithasol o gwrdd â phobl newydd; rhwydweithio. Cymwysterau; achredu dysgu; cydnabod dysgu blaenorol a gwaith gwirfoddol

Siop elusen

Sefydliad

Manteision arbedion maint Gwell gweithio mewn tîm Mwy o cymhelliant a boddhad Llai o wallau

Mwy o refeniw

Mwy o foddhad cwsmeriaid a refeniw

Creu a datblygu partneriaethau fydd yn para

Gwirfoddolwyr Recriwtio, Cadw a Dilyniant Cyflawni o ethos y sefydliad Cydnabod llwyddiant

Gallwch hefyd weld trosolwg Llywodraeth Cymru o fanteision o wella sgiliau sylfaenol drwy glicio yma . Darpariaeth Hyfforddiant Presennol Yn ogystal â rhaglenni hyfforddiant yn fewnol, rydym wedi nodi amrywiaeth o sefydliadau a darparwyr hyfforddiant sy'n cynnig hyfforddiant i 3 ydd sector sefydliadau ym Mangor. Rydym yn ffodus bod ein Cyngor Gwirfoddol Sirol, Mantell Gwynedd, yn cynnig amrywiaeth o gyrsiau hyfforddi sy'n canolbwyntio ar gydymffurfio (er enghraifft, Diogelwch Bwyd a Chymorth Cyntaf Brys) a datblygu sefydliadol (er enghraifft, Datblygu Asedau Seiliedig). Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru, drwy Cyrsiau ar gyfer Cymunedau , mae ystafell sefydlu'n dda ac yn llwyddiannus o hyfforddiant ar gyfer dysgwyr 3 sefydliadau yn y sector 3ydd canolbwyntio ar maes datblygu sefydliadol a

chorfforaethol fel y Gyfraith Cyflogaeth Marchnata,, Codi Arian, Rheoli ac Ymddiriedolwyr, ac ati Retail.org elusen hefyd yn cynnig cyfleoedd e-ddysgu ar gyfer rheolwyr mewn meysydd megis Iechyd a Diogelwch a Diogeledd ochr yn ochr â chanllawiau arfer gorau ar gyfer datblygu sefydliadol. Corporate/Organisational Courses for Communities (WCVA/CVCs) Sector-specific bodies (e.g. Cymorth Cymru, Care Council for Wales)

Ffigur 1: Hyfforddiant a Datblygiad mewn Manwerthu Elusen

What's next? Beth nesaf? Mae'r llwybr tuag at wireddu'r syniad hwn, fel a ragwelir gan Cysylltu dysgwyr, yn cael ei ddangos isod. Cynigion ar gyfer newidiadau ac ychwanegiadau at y llwybr yn cael eu hannog ac yn cael ei groesawu gan y tîm Dysgwyr Cysylltu.

Step 1: Initiation Meeting between Connecting Learners, CVCs, WCVA and one or more Charity Retail managers

Step 2: Forum Meeting arranged and invitations to join the forum sent to charity shop managers

Step 3: Informal & formal Learning Needs Analysis carried out & analysed

Step 4: Courses organised by Connecting Learners & promoted by forum members

Step 6: Step 5: Courses take place, delivered by local FE and/or private providers

Analyses of Evaluations of learning and informal feedback presented to next forum meeting, further courses arranged

Ffigur 2: Y llwybr i Elusen Fforymau Lleol Dysgu Manwerthu

Cysylltwch â: Richard Speight, Dysgwyr Prosiect Cysylltu Rheolwr 01248 363175 – 07799116193 - richard.speight@cartreficymru.org 01248 363175 - 07799116193 richard.speight @ cartreficymru.org Skype: richard.speight3 - Twitter @CL3Project - Facebook www.facebook.com/connecting.learners Skype: richard.speight3 - Twitter @CL3Project Facebook www.facebook.com / connecting.learners