Hertfordshire Training & Development Consortium Working Together Better To Help Parents Into Employment Sarah Elliott March 2013

Agenda Introduction/Background Feedback from Briefing Meeting on 5 th February: –Opportunities and Issues for Children’s Centres Today’s workshop

HTDC Introduction Set up in 2008, website launched Dec 2010 –Lead body is Hertfordshire Community Foundation 300 full and associate members Main activities –Workforce development for the voluntary sector –Support for training providers –Promote networking and partnership working e.g. for social housing providers

Tackling Child Poverty Getting parents into work is a major factor in reducing child poverty: –Potential to increase household income –Raises children’s own aspirations

HTDC and HCC Childhood Support Services Commissioning small projects designed to reduce Child Poverty in Hertfordshire HTDC involved in a range of initiatives around developing Employability Skills provision Welfare Reform changes mean more lone parents need to seek employment –Unable to claim income support once child is 5 Identified the potential to develop the capacity of Children’s Centres to support parents into work

Opportunities and Issues for Children’s Centres

Children’s Centres Strengths/ Opportunities Access to parents Universal/ Wide range Prior to children starting school See daily Relationships with parents Trusted/gentle Able to boost confidence/self esteem Identify needs Know skills/ abilities Induction to learning Knowledge Benefits Support MAU/CAB JCP Local employers Community Training/advice providers Colleges Facilities Volunteering Opportunities IT/Internet Childcare

Children’s Centres Barriers/Issues Engagement with parents Awareness of CC Role Lack of Knowledge/ Relationships Lack of Resources Access to IT/Internet Childcare Lack of Funding Premises/ facilities Staff capacity Performance Management Admin for Volunteer Placements Staff expertise Confidence to advise Who is workless? Lack of Motivation Lack of suitable jobs Don’t turn up Families don’t recognise they need help Perception CC pushing into jobs Families Local Community Providers How to identify providers Other employability programmes Confusion Lack of co- ordination Benefits Impact of returning to work JCP Poor outreach Not targeted Inconsistent/ not productive Who to contact? What can be delivered?

Key messages Children’s Centres are well placed, but you can’t do it on your own Partnerships are key to developing provision: –Bring in expertise –Utilise existing funded programmes –Partner with each other in local areas –Communicate to share best practice/learning

Today’s Programme

Aims of Today Improve understanding of current Welfare to Work programmes Identify the role of Children’s Centres in supporting parents Develop links with providers of employability skills and housing Establish best practice in engaging/supporting unemployed parents

The Programme HCC – tackling Child Poverty Existing funded Welfare to Work Programmes: –DWP/JCP –Skills Funding Agency Dacorum BC – Delivering in Partnership MAU – Transition from Benefits to Work HTDC – Volunteering to build confidence and skills Table discussions –Share best practice –Establishing effective partnerships

HTDC is a project led by Hertfordshire Community Foundation, registered charity number Sarah Elliott Development Worker Hertfordshire Training & Development Consortium

Volunteering – Building Confidence, Skills and Experience

Volunteering is :- Giving time and energy to benefit other people or the environment A matter of choice Unpaid apart from out of pocket expenses

People volunteer for a variety of reasons

Personal development through volunteering learn new skills practise existing skills increase confidence meet people from all walks of life improve CV pick up good ideas get references build relationships have fun become more employable!

Getting into volunteering Register an interest on or Contact the local Volunteer Centre –Phone – –Call in

1 million opportunities Search by postcode

Valuing Volunteer Management 6 Point Promise Good Practice in Volunteer Management

Valuing Volunteer Management 6 Point Promise 1.Planning 2.Recruitment 3.Induction 4.Support and safety 5.Training and personal development 6.Involving, rewarding and recognising

Benefits of 6 Point Promise Recognition as an organisation that values volunteers Improved recruitment and retention of volunteers Higher profile – on Access to further support from local Volunteer Centres e.g. template documents, training Recognition by potential funders Eligibility for Valuing Volunteer Management Award A starting point for accreditation e.g. IiV Volunteer Management Day – 5 th June, Hatfield

Build your own capacity: New social network Links professional skills to charities that need specific help To find out more, contact your local Volunteer Centre

Local Volunteer Centres Broxbourne & East Herts Dacorum Hertsmere * North Herts * Royston St Albans * Stevenage* Welwyn Hatfield * * part of a CVS

Table Discussions

1. Sharing Best Practice Round table – what experience of running employability programmes for parents? Ideas to motivate parents and engage them? What works/doesn’t work?

2. Effective Partnerships a.Round table – what experience of working with JCP and providers of advice and training? b.What works/ doesn’t work? c.Linking up with other Children’s Centres – what facilities and resources could you share?