New training partnerships announced

Following an open tender process the Catalyst partnership has selected three voluntary sector-led training partnerships for investment in the growth and sustainability of their training enterprises.

NCVYS officers will be working with partnerships led by Clubs for Young People, Growing Up in the West Midlands (G:up) and the Oxfordshire Children and Voluntary Youth Services (OCVYS) from 2011-13 to deliver a package of financial and in-kind support designed to increase their business and put them on a more sustainable financial footing in the long term.

Gethyn Williams, Director of Workforce Development at NCVYS said “We were delighted to have had such a strong suite of applications for this initiative. Training is such a key area of income generation for the voluntary and community youth sector and one where we have unique strengths and approaches compared to other sectors.”

Diane Evans, Programme Manager at the NYA and workforce strand lead said “We will be working hard to ensure there is added value for the sector in everything we do to support those organisations selected. It is pleasing to be able to work with a good spread of partnerships operating at local, regional and national levels and we are confident the learning will benefit many more groups across England.”

Although three partnerships have been selected for intensive support, the selection panel identified a further four partnerships where in kind and consultancy support would really benefit the potential their applications showed. NCVYS officers are now working with these groups to develop a support offer. All groups that applied will be offered priority access to the learning and experience of the initiative in developing VCS-led training businesses, which NCVYS and the NYA will also make available to the wider sector in due course.

NOTES

• An open tender process for this initiative was released in July 2011.
• 14 applications were received.
• A two stage selection process assessed all applications for eligibility and potential to expand and become more sustainable.
• A panel met to make final decisions on 7 October 2011. The panel included officers of NCVYS, the NYA and LSIS (Learning and Skills Improvement Service).
• All applicants have been sent feedback on their applications with offers to discuss in more detail.
• For further information on the initiative please contact Elena Carpenter or Gethyn Williams at NCVYS.
• For further information on the Catalyst workforce strand please contact Diane Evans at NYA.