Conference Feedback

‘Rising to the Challenge Conference’
East Of England Skills and Competitive Partnership (EESCP)

Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Thursday 2nd April 2009, 9.30am – 3.30pm

Attendees: Invited guests included: county leads of Volunteer Centres, LSC, EEDA, Go-East, Suffolk County Council, The Learning Partnership – Beds and Luton Ltd, Norwich Union, Theatre Resource, Brooks Environmental Ltd, BitC, The Princes Trust, COVER, Renaissance East of England, tchc, Living Sport, Arts Council England East, MOVE Lifelong Learning Network. Norfolk County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, London 2012, Institute for Volunteering Research, Nations and Regions East, Mills and Reeve, Young Lives, Job Centre Plus, Chester Renaissance, Rampton Associates, Voluntary Sector Training Herts, YVSER, Cambridge Regional College, CapacityBuilders, Anglia Ruskin University. Skills Active, Momentum Arts, Suffolk Volunteering Federation (some 60 attendees)

Purpose of meeting:
To explore and discuss:
“Volunteering and Employability – planning for action”
Presentations and discussions around

the status quo in the learning and skills sector (EECSP) the cultural sector (East of England London 2012) and in the voluntary sector plus a reminder of the central government department priorities (SVF)
“The Suffolk Story” – the Suffolk County Council response to current agendas
Circles of activity and connectivity – volunteering, VC Dacorum, employers and volunteering (Norwich Union, Mills and Reeve Solicitors, BitC), Olympics related initiatives (Regional Programme Manager 2012 and SkillsActive)
The role of JobCentre Plus

Comments:

Excellent day in fantastic venue: informative and interactive
For further details contact: Gill Robinson, Suffolk Volunteering Federation on 01638 602711 or gill@volunteeringsuffolk.org.uk

West Suffolk LSP Forum meeting

Lavenham Village Hall, Friday 20th March 2009, 09.30 – 13.30

Attendees: Representatives of public, private and voluntary and community sectors – approximately 70 people

Purpose of meeting:

Discuss with Forum how the WSLSP could use and share information
Identify the priorities for changing needs and community engagement
Provide and update on the funding available
Provide an opportunity for other action groups to highlight their contribution to community engagement

Speakers:

Changing Communities and Community Engagement in West Suffolk (WSCVO, St Edmundsbury BC)
Gathering and using information about our communities (Lyn Baran, Head of Research and Intelligence, SCC)
Community Engagement - its part of each action group’s work
Group discussion of priorities for changing communities and community engagement

Funding Opportunities 2009 (WSLSP Manager)

Comments:

Interesting speaker and topics presented
Excellent attendance – very committed people
Lively discussion
Excellent networking opportunities
For further details contact: Gill Robinson, Suffolk Volunteering Federation on 01638 602711 or gill@volunteeringsuffolk.org.uk