Development of the Kingston College Skills Centre and Social Enterprise Project

1. Development of the Kingston College Skills Centre and Social Enterprise Project

2. History - Kingston College LLDD provision College wide courses • The College promote inclusiveness – learners who are able to access college provision are supported to do so. Discrete courses for LLDD • Adults: courses run at main site and in community venues. • 16-19: courses mainly held at the North Kingston Centre (NKC).

3. From September 2008 • Development of a skills based provision – The Skills Centre - to support 19+ learners. • Pre-entry • Full time or part time From September 2009 extended to 16+ studying BTEC Skills for Working Life.

4. Rational • Provide a curriculum that will support learners to overcome learning barriers, develop life skills, enhance their quality of life and achieve their potential. • Progression to further study, voluntary or paid employment.

5. Life skills Learners choose modules from a variety of skills based courses to develop practical competence in those areas, while also developing life skills such as communication.

6. Skills for work Development of a Social Enterprise as part of the Skills Centre provision.

7. Why a Social Enterprise? Benefits to learners • Social interaction – in working with others and interacting with the public. • Work experience

8. Social Enterprise cont.. • Literacy and numeracy • I.C.T. • Business And..... Money ploughed back into project

9. Courses 2008-2009 • Art and craft, • Business Studies, • Catering/Hospitality/cookery, • Child Care, • Cookery for Independent Living, • Customer care • Digital Photography, • English speaking board • Exercise/Sport, • Health and safety • Horticulture, • ICT, • Independent Travel • Literacy, • Numeracy, • Stepping Stones, • Woodwork,

10. Project Funding Funding has provided resources to set up and develop areas of Social Enterprise Activities.

11. Funding allowed us to: Update our ICT equipment at the NKC and at our partner venue the Crescent Resource Centre. Redesign and develop our office at NKC to accommodate all learners who want experience of reception work. Market the project.

12. Resources continued • Development of a social enterprise Cafe at the NKC to use as a resource for students to gain work experience. • Development of a hospitality training room. The room can be booked for meetings with our students providing refreshments. • Development of an allotment for horticulture.

13. Resources continued • Update woodwork equipment in woodwork room to deliver courses and work as a social enterprise. • Hire suitable community venues to develop courses for independent living. • Design and development of Skills Passport to record learners journey.

14. Social Enterprise activities Allotment - • Produce donated to hospitality course • Hanging baskets sold • Money ploughed back in to buy equipment Cafe • Open to public – mostly people who use the NKC Digital photography • Calendars sold

15. Social Enterprise activities continued Hospitality • Catering for meetings • Products made sold in Cafe • Christmas puddings and jars of mincemeat sold Woodwork • Chicken coupe for school • Sensory board for sensory impairment team • Cross for a grave • In process of making window / presentation boxes • This year making clocks

16. 2009-2010 Phase two New development funding from LSC to further develop the Skills Centre Social Enterprise activities. This includes - • Expansion of partnership work to develop hospitality at other venues. • Further partnership work with Kingston Workstart on furniture restoration project. • Develop social enterprise retail outlet.

17. Photos • Skills passport • Areas of Social Enterprise activities