THE BIG LIST The companies and charities that subscribe to The Big Issue Cymru and support our work
g CONNECTING LEARNERS
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Connecting Learners is a UNISON lifelong learning project that organises training for people working and volunteering for third-sector organisations, including essential skills awareness training for managers and signing up to the Employer Pledge. Richard Speight, project manager for North & Mid Wales, explains why Connecting Learners supports The Big Issue Cymru. Can you explain more about what Connecting Learners does? We organise training courses in literacy, numeracy, computer skills and communication skills for people working or volunteering for third-sector organisations throughout Wales. This training is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) and is available free to anyone in the sector. We also provide a service to organisations to help them identify training needs, develop the essential skills of their people and take part in initiatives like the Welsh Assembly Government’s Employer Pledge and NIACE-DC’s Adult Learners Week. We’re based with two host organisations: Community Lives Consortium in South Wales and Cartrefi Cymru in North and Mid. What are Connecting Learners’ goals? We aim to engage people with learning opportunities, raise their skills and qualifications, foster a culture of learning and help to spread good practice throughout the third sector. We also aim to create a network of
Union Learning Representatives who help people to access learning in their workplaces and their communities. Why is Connecting Learners a part of The Big Issue Cymru’s Big List? We are part of The Big List because we would like to make connections with like-minded organisations that value their people and are interested in investing in their skills. We also want to engage with individuals in developing their skills and gaining qualifications. How does the ethos of Connecting Learners fit in with that of The Big Issue Cymru? We share The Big Issue Cymru’s values of inclusivity and a focus on enabling people to take control of their lives and careers through learning. We seek to support the fantastic work charities, community groups, social enterprises and not-for-profit companies do for the most vulnerable in our society.
What are Connecting Learners plans for the future? Connecting Learners is offering fun, free and fascinating courses in confidence skills, literacy and numeracy, ICT, British Sign Language and more. We plan to continue to offer a range of learning opportunities and to spread a culture of learning and best practice throughout the third sector in Wales. The official North & Mid Wales launch is on March 31 at the Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth, Powys, and we’d like as many organisations as possible to come along. Why is Connecting Learners a success? In the short time that Connecting Learners has been running nationwide, we have already established links with many partner organisations, raised awareness of the importance of skills, held our South Wales launch and begun to provide training to people who might not otherwise have taken part. We want to build on the overwhelmingly positive
feedback we’ve so far received from learners, managers and organisations. Connecting Learners is also contributing to national and European conversations about how to tackle digital exclusion. Contact Richard Speight: connecting.learners@cartreficymru. org / 01248 363 175. Contact Karen Fisher (project manager, South Wales): Karen.Fisher@communitylives.co.uk / 01792 646 640
THE BIG LIST
is open to any company, institution, public body or voluntary group. The annual subscription fee of £250 will go directly towards the development of our outreach teams and distribution bases. For The Big List enquiries, please email Michael Angill on michael.angill@bigissuecymru.co.uk or call 02920 255 670.
YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO OUR DEVELOPMENT
THE BIG LIST SUBSCRIBERS
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Adfero Admiral Group Au Partnerships Beulah URC Big Lottery Fund Newtown Big Lottery Fund Cardiff BPI Group Burns Pet Nutrition Cadwyn Housing Association Caer Las Cymru Caerphilly County Council Cardiff Community Housing Association Cardiff University Career Wales Association Cartrefi Conwy Chapter Chartered Institute Of Housing Cymru City URC Cylch Clwyd Alyn Housing Association Connecting Learners in the Third Sector Coleg Glan Hafren Community Union
• Community Development Cymru • Confreys Solicitors • Coastal Housing Group • Crime Reduction Initiative • Crimestoppers Wales Cymru • Cymdeithas Tai Cantref • Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd • Cymdeithas Tai Eryri • Cynon Tâf Community Housing Group • The Church In Wales • Denbighshire County Council • Digartref Ynys Môn • Dome Consultants • Durrants • DWA Housing Consultants • Family Housing Association • Furnished Homes South West • GH Stationers • Gisda • Gofal • Groundwork Merthyr And Rhondda Cynon Taf
38 | March 28–April 3, 2011 | bigissuecymru.co.uk
• Gwalia Housing Group • GKR Maintenance and Building Co.Ltd • Hafod Care Association Ltd • Hafod Housing • Hafan Cymru • HMP Resettlement • Home Start • Huggard • Innovate Trust • Inroads • Institute Of Digital Learning, Newport School Of Education • Interlink • John Lewis Cardiff • Kaleidoscope Project • Keep Wales Tidy • KTS Owens Thomas • Llamau • Lovell • Macob • MDF – The Bipolar Organisation Cymru • Melin Homes • Merthyr Valleys Homes • Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association
• Monmouthshire Housing Association • Motorpoint Arena • Nasuwt • Newport City Homes Ltd • Newport Women's Aid • Newydd Housing Association (1974) Ltd • Nielsen Media Research Ltd • North Wales DIP • North Wales Housing Association • Parthian • PCS • Press Data Ltd • Resolutions Fostering Service • Rhondda Housing Association • Safer Wales Ltd • Seren Group • Shelter Cymru • SCS • SCVS • SOVA Cymru • Stephens & George Print Group • St Davids Children Society • Supacleen
• Swansea Young Single Homeless Project • Taff Housing • The Co-operative Cymru/Wales • The Wallich • Tony King Architects Ltd • Unison YMLAEN • United Welsh Housing Association • Centre For Community And Lifelong Learning, University Of Wales, Newport • UNISON Cardiff County Branch • V2C • Vale of Glamorgan Council • Vista • Wales And West Housing Association • Wales & West Utilities • Working Links • Workers Educational Association South Wales • YMCA • YMCA Wales