Local News
Issue 1151
Call 0114 283 1100
4th February 2021
www.looklocal.org.uk
13
South Yorkshire firm brings Christmas cheer to Paces DOZENS of children and adults supported by High Green charity Paces received presents from Santa before Christmas thanks to the generosity of a leading South Yorkshire business.
XPO Logistics, which has bases in Chapeltown and Grimethorpe, is a regular supporter of Paces, the specialist centre, charity and school for individuals with Cerebral Palsy and motor disorders. They funded over 50 present sacks which included festive treats, fun activities, a brand new pair of Converse trainers for Paces School pupils and an Amazon voucher for the adults. David Hall, corporate partnerships manager at Paces, said: “We are incredibly thankful to the whole team at XPO Logistics for their support. I have had the pleasure of working with them for many years and their generosity and commitment to helping and supporting charitable causes is second to none. “After the year we’d had, when they heard we were trying to spread some cheer at Christmas they jumped at the chance to get behind the campaign and provided the sponsorship we needed to make it happen. “It’s been a very difficult 12 months for everyone, so to be able to do this for our children and adults made a huge difference and we want to say a massive thank you to everyone at XPO Logistics for making sure it could happen.” Gavin Williams, managing director, supply chain – UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “2020 was an extraordinary year and our teams embraced our organisational values and rose to the challenge. We want to support the local community in any way that we can and children in need are an extremely worthy cause.”
Barnsley College addresses digital skills gap with a fully-funded course
Rapid covid testing for essential staff A RAPID Covid testing centre for essential staff who work with vulnerable people will open next month.
BARNSLEY College has launched a new course to help improve digital skills across the region.
duction of presentations and spreadsheets, as well as fundamental knowledge of IT software and security.
The fully-funded Level 2 Certificate in IT User Skills course is aimed at those aged 19 and over who need to develop their IT literacy in order to secure employment or improve their professional performance.
Abby Holmes, Programme Manager of Business, Warehousing and Logistics, the Department responsible for delivering the course, said: “A basic understanding of IT is imperative for anyone living and working in our digital age. At the moment, there are a huge number of people across Barnsley and South Yorkshire who simply do not possess those skills.
It is designed to be completed online via the Skills Network’s digital learning platform over a period of six to 10 weeks, depending on the applicant’s prior knowledge. The course has a weekly intake, which means that it is open to accept a new cohort of applicants every Monday. As a part-time programme, students need only study one day per week and they do not need to sit exams. To gain the certificate, they complete assignments for each of the five modules they work on. On completion of the course, students will have the IT skills required for the modern workplace. This includes the pro-
“By offering this course, the College is giving residents of all ages the opportunity to gain new digital skills and boost employability in the local area, as well as promoting an ethos of lifelong learning and professional development.” The arrival of this course also reflects the College’s commitment to delivering on the proposals set out in the Government’s ‘Skills for Jobs’ white paper, released earlier this month. The document sets out reforms to post-16 technical
education and training, and encourages schools and colleges to support people developing the skills needed to secure employment and improve national productivity. In response to the Government’s proposals, Yiannis Koursis, Principal and Chief Executive of Barnsley College, said:“Colleges must continue to rise to the challenge and offer solutions that drive the future economy, meet the nation’s skills gaps, and present an opportunity for real progression to students. We are addressing the digital skills gap and digital poverty, by investing in our digital offer. Barnsley College believes that every adult has the right to life-long education and training, ensuring they have the skills to succeed in the new and future economy.” To find out more about the course or to apply for a place, visit the Barnsley College website: https://www.barnsley. ac.uk/it-user. Alternatively, contact the Information Unit by emailing info@barnsley. ac.uk.
The centre, based at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS), will initially be for Council staff, private providers and third sector staff who do not have symptoms. All staff who are eligible for these tests will be contacted directly in early February and asked to test twice a week using Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs). This will either be by attending the EISS, or by accessing testing provided through the council. We are working with the government on how we can make it possible for people to test at home, once trained, so that they don’t have to visit the test centre. Staff who are already taking part in other national testing schemes will not need to participate. LFDs give a result in 30 to 60 minutes without needing to be processed in a lab. The tests require the participant to swab their own nose and/or throat. The swab is then placed in testing liquid and a line appears on the test within 30 minutes if the virus is detected. The advantage of these tests is the speedy result; the disadvantage is that the test is less accurate – for every 10 people with Covid, the LFD test is likely to give a negative result for 5 of them. However for staff who are working in close contact with vulnerable people, having an LFD test twice a week may pick up infections in staff before they develop symptoms and also pick up infections in those staff who never develop symptoms.
A positive result, however, is far more likely to be accurate. If someone tests positive, they must self-isolate immediately and stay at home for 10 days. People they live with should also self-isolate for 10 days and, if they develop symptoms, book a test online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. Greg Fell, Director of Public Health in Sheffield said: “These developments are good news for us. Preparations are moving at pace for the new testing site and for training people to do their own test. Both are a very useful addition to all of the Covid actions already in place. “Because these LFD tests are less accurate, anyone who receives a negative result must continue to take strict precautions against spreading the virus, such as keeping their distance from people they do not live with, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a face covering, ventilating closed spaces where possible and washing their hands regularly. All of these things together will make a huge difference in reducing the number of infections in Sheffield.” In March, LFD tests will be rolled out to the wider public. A mobile testing vehicle will travel around communities that are most affected by Covid. This community testing vehicle will be a onestop shop, where people who don’t have symptoms can get a Covid test, information and advice about the Covid vaccine and support to self-isolate, including financial support.
