Bulletin 20 November 2009

New Professional Development Opportunity with Durham University
Responding to the shift to Degree level qualifications in the social care and welfare sector, Durham University’s Department of Applied Social Sciences and Foundation Centre have developed an exciting and unique programme of study.

The Bridging to Masters Programme leads to a Graduate Certificate in Community and Youth Work. It is specifically designed to facilitate entry to MA level study for practitioners and managers with substantial experience who have been out of formal education for some time and/or whose current qualifications are not at degree level. This unique programme offers an attractive opportunity to gain entry to a higher level qualification commensurate with skill and experience.

Delivered half a day a week, starting in January and ending in June, the Bridging to Masters Programme is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge they require for postgraduate learning. Successful completion of the programme entitles students to progress directly to the MA Community & Youth Work (with professional qualification) and the MA Managing Community Practice, both of which are available over 12 months full-time, or 24 months part time.

If you would like to learn more about this outstanding professional development opportunity then please contact us on 0191 3341502, or visit our website at www.dur.ac.uk/foundation.centre/community.

UK Youth Events
UK Youths New Level 2 Peer Qualifications
UK Youth have developed 4 new qualifications, a level 2 Peer Education Award and Certificate, and a level 2 Peer Mentoring Award and Certificate which are to be launched from January 2010.
UK Youth first launched its BTEC qualifications in Peer Education and Peer Mentoring in 2004. The feedback from deliverers and learners was that the BTECs needed updating and changing. Taking into account this feedback, these programmes have now been reviewed and rewritten to accommodate the changes and become units that conform to the Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF).
The four new qualifications
•         Level 2 Award in Peer Education (70hrs)
•         Level 2 Certificate in Peer Education (130hrs)
•         Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring (70hrs) show
•         Level 2 Certificate in Peer Mentoring (130hrs)

All of the qualifications are open to young people aged 14 years and above. All qualifications are made up of mandatory units and optional units.

The units that make up the Awards define the essential knowledge, understanding and practical skills required of a competent peer educator or peer mentor.

The units that make up the Certificate builds on the Award by providing additional opportunities to address development needs which are specific to particular sections of this diverse area.

These new qualifications are intended to provide added creditability to peer education and peer mentoring through recognition of the valuable role it plays in non-formal teaching and learning.

These qualifications will support career progression both in general terms and in within the area of learning support and progression into other related roles.

Regional Events to Showcase Peer Work And Launch
UK Youth’s New Level 2 Peer Qualifications
These new qualifications are to be launched through a number of half day events around the country. These events will not only give workers an overview of the new qualifications but will also highlight the positive impact peer mentoring and peer education has on young people. Participants will have the opportunity to listen to young people and workers discussing their experiences and showcasing their work

Dates of Launch Events:

- Monday 18th January 2010 – Bristol
- Wednesday 20th January 2010 – Birmingham
- Tuesday 26th January 2010 – Durham
- Wednesday 27th January 2010 – London
- Monday 1st February 2010  – Liverpool

These launch events are aimed at workers and managers who support young people aged 14 plus that are engaged in  peer education and peer mentoring projects

In the meantime, should you/your colleagues wish to attend, please download the booking form from the following link http://www.ukyouth.org/whatwedo/conferences.htm  or request a booking form by sending an email to charmaine@ukyouth.org

EHRC North East Capacity Development Project
Iftikhar Hussain, EHRC Coordinator, is coordinating an Equality & Human Rights Commission’s funded project exploring and developing the capacity of grassroots organizations to establish and build stronger relationships between young people from host communities and new arrivals/BME communities in Tees Valley. The project is being managed by the North of England Refugee Service and the Regional Refugee Forum.

He is currently developing a database/network on organizations that have been involved in or are proposing to develop good relations and integration work, with young people from host communities and new arrivals/BME communities.

It is hoped that this database will form the foundation for a sub-regional network, which contributing partners can utilize for future cross sector funding and planning work.

Please complete and return the attached questionnaire to Iftikhar at i.hussain@refugee.org.uk.
Contact details for further questions i.hussain@refugee.org.uk or 01642 217 447