<font size="2" color="#3a092d" face="Arial"><div>Dear all<br><br>Below an opportunity to give your views on plans re skills and relieving unemployment - worth putting something in for the community media sector either directly or to Vinspired!<br>
<br>Best wishes<br><br>Jaqui<br><br>-- <br>Jaqui Devereux<br>Director, Community Media Association<br><br><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"><br>
</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">Subject Header: HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS FOR SKILLS AND RELIEVING UNEMPLOYMENT</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">Here
are a couple of opportunities to have your voice heard by the
Government on how volunteering contributes to their skills and
employment agendas. Do contribute and make sure that the cares and
interests of your organisation and your young people are represented in
the consultations:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 13.5pt;"><b><span style="color: black;" lang="EN-US"><span>1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION AND SKILLS (BIS) - THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF SKILLS POLICY</span></b><span style="color: rgb(50, 153, 184);" lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">BIS
is inviting views on the future direction of their skills policy. The
consultation document makes little mention of volunteering and its
contribution to skills development. We will be using evidence we have
gathered at <b>v </b>to highlight the value of volunteering in
developing young people’s skills and preparing them for
apprenticeships, employment, training and education. Please use your
experience, knowledge and evidence to make a similar case. The
consultation questions you may particularly wish to respond to are:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">
<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-US">Q1. We welcome views on [the principles in the consultation document] and whether there are others we should consider</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">
<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-US">Q5.
We welcome views on how best to support people who might in time
benefit from an Apprenticeship but who do not currently have the skills
to begin one.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-US">Q27. How could we encourage the development of productive partnerships with third sector organisations?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" lang="EN-US">Q29.
How could adult and community learning be reinvigorated? We especially
welcome ideas for how businesses and others could be encouraged to
engage in supporting local community learning to help create local
ownership and momentum.</span><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">
<span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">Read the short summary consultation document and respond here: <a href="http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/comment/skills/" target="_blank">http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/comment/skills/</a> The deadline for responses is<b> Thursday 14 October</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: black;"><span>2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS (DWP) – WORK PROGRAMME </span></b><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">DWP
is seeking views from organisations which represent their customers to
help them develop the Work Programme – the integrated welfare-to-work
programme for unemployed people. We are aware that a number of
organisations running full-time volunteering opportunities have
problems negotiating the benefits system for young people that wish to
take up full-time volunteering. </span><span lang="EN-US">The consultation theme </span><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">‘</span><span lang="EN-US">Giving
providers freedom to personalise support’ provides an opportunity for
you to use your experience of to make the case for volunteering and
full-time volunteering being an integral option for personalized
support through the Work Programme. This would help to ensure that
young people develop the skills and experience to gain sustainable
employment through volunteering <b>without fear of losing their benefits</b>. </span><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);">More information and how to respond is here: <a href="http://interactive.dwp.gov.uk/the-work-programme-discussion-forum" target="_blank">http://interactive.dwp.gov.uk/the-work-programme-discussion-forum</a> The deadline for responses is <b>Friday 8 October</b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span lang="EN-US">If you have any other comments or ideas unrelated to the themes email: <a href="mailto:THEWORKPROGRAMME.EXTERNAL@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK" target="_blank">theworkprogramme.external@dwp.gsi.gov.uk</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">If
you would like support in sharing your views or comments with
government on their spending plans, or have any other questions about
this email, please get in touch with Araba Webber: <a href="mailto:araba.webber@vinspired.com" target="_blank">araba.webber@vinspired.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Best Wishes</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Ian Beason</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Programme Manager</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(56, 22, 52);"> </span></p></div></font>
<p><font face="Arial"><font size="2"><font color="#3a092d"><strong>Ian Beason</strong><br>Programme Manager<br>020 7960 7044</font></font></font></p><br clear="all"><br><br>