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Welcome to the YorOK newsletter for January 2011!

We start off the new year with some interesting facts about volunteering and information about becoming a volunteer or involving volunteers in your service or organisation.

We're also pleased to share news of awards received within the workforce.

Don't forget, if you have anything you would like to share you can get in touch to submit an article! 

Sue Metcalfe
Chair of the Children's Trust Board
Deputy Chief Executive (Director of Localities)
NHS North Yorkshire and York
Figure with a question mark

Volunteering Myth Busters!

Did you know that over 37% of the total children and young people’s workforce in York are volunteers?

Below are some statements about volunteering. See if you know which ones are true and false!

  •  A volunteer can replace a paid worker. 
    False, a volunteer should not be used to replace the role of a paid worker, but can add value to existing provision. 

  • Volunteers say the top three benefits of volunteering are: a sense of satisfaction from seeing the results; enjoyment and a sense of personal achievement.
    True.

  • Volunteers add £22.7 billion to the economy every year.
    True.

  • Voluntary organisations have no paid staff. 
    False, a voluntary organisation is characterised by having a voluntary management committee. However lots of voluntary organisations have a mixture of paid and voluntary staff. Many statutory organisations like hospitals, councils and schools also involve volunteers in a variety of valuable roles. 

  • Volunteers need at least the same amount of support and supervision as paid staff. 
    True. 

Keep reading for more information about becoming a volunteer or involving volunteers in your organisation.
Take Part York

“I have a voice” – Take Part York

The Take Part York project was given the opportunity of showcasing the programme to Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP when he visited York on 5th November 2010.

Presentations were given by two primary schools and youth councillors about the campaigns they have been involved with and how Take Part York has made a difference to either their role as a school councillor and/or as a young person living in York.

Download the report to find out more. 
Artist and child

The Involve Programme

What happens when young children and adults work together to enhance opportunities for creative learning?

‘The Involve Programme’ is run by City of York Council Inclusive Arts Team and has carried out a number of highly successful arts projects with children under five and their families and carers. These have included 'From Nature to Space Exploration', Forest and Clay Stories and Hunters and Gatherers. 

For more information, contact the Inclusive Arts Team on 01904 554665 or email helen.ridge@york.gov.uk. 
Youth Council

York Youth Council

The new youth council year is underway.  York Youth Council are a group of young people representing schools, youth groups and other young people across the city and current campaigns include:

  • Changing the image of youth in York to display young people in a more positive light. 
  • Working to give young people across York a city centre building. 
  • Organising the Festival of Youth to showcase the talent of the young people in York. 
  • Making buses and bike facilities more accessible for young people.

The youth council has also been involved in many consultations and helped to influence decisions in the city.

For more information go to the Take Part website or contact Sarah Nicholson on sarah.nicholson@york.gov.uk.

 
Jessie's Fund

Congratulations to Jessie's Fund!

Jessie's Fund has received the Directory of Social Change's Great Giving Funders Social Change Award 2010, aimed at celebrating passionate individuals and effective organisations that are committed to making a positive impact on society.

Jessie's Fund is a York based charity helping seriously ill and disabled children by using music for communication and for therapy.

Find out more about Jessie's Fund.
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Children's Centres Celebration Event

If you go down to St Sampson's Square on the 3rd February you're sure of a big surprise...

  • Storytelling
  • Health Visitors
  • Music and Movement
  • York Family Information Service
  • Toy Bus

and much much more!

The celebration event also provides a chance for parents to have their say about children's centres in York.

Find out more online.

Children and Young People's Plan Review

We are currently carrying out the second review of the Children and Young People's plan. As before we would like feedback from you about what progress has been made against the plan, what challenges remain and any new or emerging priorities. Please take a few moments to complete our online form and give us your thoughts.

Volunteering!

A recent report aimed to identify the training and development needs of a diverse group of volunteers in the Children's Workforce and key messages included: 

  • The benefits of self-reflection and personalised learning plans as part of volunteering; 
  • Having a mentor supported and encouraged volunteers in their role; 
  • It was important for organisations to note a volunteer’s prior training and experience when planning training and development opportunities; 
  • Clarity and reassurance about the level of knowledge and training needed for their role was important, particularly in relation to safeguarding; 
  • Certificates from training courses were valued.

There is lots of information, training and support available both for volunteers and volunteer managers: 

  • If you would like to volunteer and want to know about potential opportunities visit Do-it or contact York Volunteer Centre on 01904 621133.
  • If your service or organisation involves volunteers or is considering involving volunteers then you can promote your volunteering opportunity on the national Do-it website through York Volunteer Centre;
  • Is your organisation volunteer ready? The York Volunteer Centre can provide information and training support to volunteer managers. A new training programme for volunteer managers has been developed by a network of volunteer centres in York and North Yorkshire. It consists of five half day modules covering: volunteers and your organisation; attracting volunteers; recruiting volunteers; support and supervision and problem solving. For more information or to book a place contact York CVS on 01904 621133 or email yorkcvs@yorkcvs.org.uk. 

 

 
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YorOK Board Update

The YorOK Board (or children's trust board) meets every two months and its meetings are open to the public.  The most recent meeting was held on 17th January and items on the agenda included:

  • Children's Trust Development Update
  • Establishing a 'Single Front Door' for enquiries and referrals about children
  • YorOK Workforce Strategy: DVD of Children's Views
  • Child Poverty: Consultation on Draft Strategy

The Agenda and Minutes for the YorOK Board can be viewed here.

Contribute to this newsletter!

The more contributions we receive from partners, the better this newsletter will be. If you have something you'd like to contribute, or a topic you'd like to see included, please use the YorOK Workforce Article Submission Form, or for queries contact Chris Shipley

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Are you in the loop?

If you received this email from a friend or colleague you can sign up to receive the YorOK workforce newsletter directly on the YorOK workforce website.

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In this newsletter...

  • Volunteering Myth Busters!
  • "I have a voice" - Take Part York
  • The Involve Programme
  • York Youth Council
  • Congratulations to Jessie's Fund!
  • Children's Centre Celebration Event
  • Children and Young People's Plan Review
  • Volunteering
  • YorOK Board Update
  • In the News
  • Award winning Young Carer worker!
  • Family Information Service are now on Facebook!
  • TDU Questionnaire
  • Confused about CAF
  • Integrated Working and CAF Training
  • YorOK Induction and DVD
  • Recruiting Safely Training
  • Tackling Sexual Exploitation: Learning the Lessons
  • York Domestic Abuse Forum

In the News

  • The Schools White Paper - The Importance of Teaching - published in November 2011 included announcements regarding changes for the Training and Development Agency for Schools and the National College.  Download the full report from the Department for Education or read a summary from the National College. 
  • In November the Government announced its decision to no longer fund workforce development activity through the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC), to remove its Non Departmental Public Body status and to bring ongoing key functions into the Department for Education by 2012. The CWDC will remain a sector skills body covering professions within early years, social care and young people’s services. 
  • The management arrangements for NHS community services across North Yorkshire and York are going through a major transition. This is part of a process called Transforming Community Services (TCS) whereby NHS North Yorkshire and York will separate its commissioning function from the community and mental health services it currently hosts and provides.  Read more (p.6).

Award Winning Young Carer Worker!

Sharron Smith, a Senior Young Carer Worker at York Carers Centre, has won the Yorkshire Region Award at the International Service Human Rights Awards.

She was nominated by Linda, the centre manager, for the work she has done over the past ten years supporting young people in York aged 8 to 18 who care for someone close to them.

Find out more about Sharron’s award.
Family Information Service Logo

Family Information Service are now on Facebook!

York Family Information Service (FIS) provide free information to parents and carers including information about finding and paying for childcare, local parenting support and services and support for young people.

You can now follow FIS on Facebook!

Please note, your workplace may restrict access to social networking sites.
Training and Development Unit logo

Training and Development Unit Questionnaire

The Training and Development Unit (TDU) are currently reviewing their website and are seeking your feedback to help make it even better.

Please could you take 5 minutes to complete their questionnaire?

Confused about CAF (Common Assessment Framework)?

Never done a CAF? Tried using CAF? Need a quick CAF update?

Come along to one of our ‘Confused About CAF’ sessions and meet the Integrated Working Team from the Children’s Trust Unit.

Download more details.

Integrated Working and CAF Training

Would you like to know more about CAF, information sharing, the YorOK Child Index and how they can be used to support vulnerable children and young people in York?

Integrated Working and CAF training runs monthly and is free to attend. Those that complete the training become authorised users of the Child Index.

The training runs from 9.30 - 4.30pm on Monday 14th February, Monday 21st March or Wednesday 27th April.

Please book online.

YorOK Induction and DVD

Commissioned by the YorOK Workforce Strategy Group, Inspired Youth have created a lively and inspirational DVD highlighting what is important to children and young people in relation to the people that work with them.

The DVD will be used as part of the YorOK Induction and is also available online.

The YorOK Induction includes an online self assessment and multi agency 'Welcome to YorOK Sessions'.

Recruiting Safely Training

All organisations in England that work with or provide services for children and families have a duty to protect their welfare.

If you recruit paid staff or volunteers into the children and families workforce then you should take the safer recruitment training.

Action for Children are providing Recruiting Safely Training in York in February, find out more online.

There is also online safer recruitment training available through Children's Workforce Development Council.

Tackling Sexual Exploitation: Learning the Lessons

A one day conference on 7th April, 10am to 3pm, in Rotherham. 

The conference aims to share the expertise of colleagues in Rotherham who were involved in the successful prosecution of five men who had exploited vulnerable young girls - an investigation codenamed ‘Operation Central’.

Download more information.

York Domestic Abuse Forum

The next York Domestic Abuse Forum event is being held on 15th February 2011. 

Find out more.

This email was sent by the York Children's Trust Unit on behalf of the YorOK board.
YorOK: working together with children, young people and families.

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