What is At the Crossroads and the Moving On Up programme?
At the Crossroads is a programme that has been developed by the North Northumberland Women's Network, in response what many local women have asked for - access to support that recognises the whole picture for women who are looking for new directions. This year's special project is called Moving On Up. It recognises that all kinds of blocks and challenges can slow us down or challenge us. These often include:
- Trying to balance paid work and home including care responsibilities
- Wanting to learn new skills or refresh ones you already have but not wanting to go back to school
- Money, financial security, taking risks, borrowing
- Feeling confident enough to set personal goals and put them into action
- Taking into account the views of others you care about without losing sight of your own priorities.
- Staying well
- Additional barriers women face because of disability, race, sexual orientation, religion or age (both young and old!)
Who is it for?
Any women who lives or works in North Northumberland who may be considering getting a job after a break, or changing direction, exploring independent living, going into business, getting involved in a community project or just wondering where to go next. We are particularly interested in supporting women who feel they haven't achieved their full educational potential.
What will it offer me?
Free access to a range of practical support including
- Regular support from a mentor who will help you assess your learning needs and interests and help you set goals to achieve them
- Learning opportunities designed to recognsie the skills you already have and build on them. These are brouught together in a training programme called the Progression Award, which aims to?get you started on thinking where you would like to get to and how you will get there. The programme includes?study skills, advice and information about what's available, building confidence, ICT skills,? tasters in several skills areas that you would like to develop.
- Opportunities to try out new experiences through volunteering or work experience.
- Practical and in some cases financial support to help you get into new learning of your choice, or to help you into work or enterprise.
What will it cost?
Nothing! It is funded by the Northumberland Learning & Skills Council and European funding
Where will we meet?
We will hold the group meetings at different venues around North Northumberland wherever fits in best with group members' needs.
How long does it last?
As long or as short as you feel you need between four months and a year.
How do I get involved?
Ring Julia on 01665 589429 or email julia@nnwn.org
Dowload a poster here
Next Mentor Skills Training Course now available Feb – March 2008
The training is designed to provide you with the skills, knowledge and understanding that you need to offer mentoring to women or young people. It will also provide you with an OCN Level 2 Intermediate Award in Developing Information, Advice and Guidance Skills
As part of the process you will be asked to undertake
• mentoring sessions which you will then reflect upon in a future workshop,
• group work to investigate organisations to whom you could refer clients,
• a case study exercise that will be assessed by an OCN assessor.
The course tutors / assessors will be Andrea Perrett and Julia Lyford.
Programme Objectives
By the end of the course you will:
Define mentoring; understand what it involves, and how it relates to Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) and befriending.
Analyse your motivation for being a mentor and understand the benefits of mentoring to both mentor and mentee.
Identify your own strengths, skills and goals; create an action plan and know how to help others create goals and action plans.
Understand issues particularly facing women and young people and how NNWN can support them in a range of ways; Understand equal opportunities issues associated with mentoring.
Describe your role in providing IAG and mentoring and demonstrate the skills required to create a positive mentoring process and overall relationship, including issues about confidentiality and boundaries.
Describe the scope or provision of IAG within the women's network, identify potential agencies for referral in relation to individual clients, reasons for selection and good practice in referral.
Details
The course is due to start on 28th February subject to the recruitment of enough participants.
Course Dates
Thurs 28th Feb 10-3
Fri 7th March 7-9
Sat 8th Mar 9.30 – 6pm
Sun 9th Mar 9.30 – 3.30pm
Case study exercise in own time
Thurs 27th Mar 10-3
One to one sessions can be organised to help participants to complete their portfolios.
Venue: The venue for the days will be confirmed once we know who will be taking part and where they will be travelling from. The venue for the weekend is Chatton Bunkhouse (to be confirmed)
Please bring with you
On the 28th February could you please bring with you a pair of scissors and any old magazines that you don’t mind cutting up.
Refreshments
Teas and coffee will be provided and meals where appropriate.
Travel and carer expenses
Travel and care costs can be reimbursed for course participants.
If you would like to take part in the training please fill in the form below.
Name:
Address:
Tel:
Email:
I would like to take part in the NNWN mentoring skills training Feb – Mar 08.
I can make all of the times and dates YES / No
If no, please give details….
I need accommodation on the weekend 7th-9th March YES / NO
I need / do not need support with travel, travel costs or care costs YES / NO
If yes, please give details….
Any special diet or access needs?
Thanks. Please return the form to: Freepost Plus RRBL-EXBZ-LKEH, Fourth Action, Fallodon Mill, Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5ED or reply on the contact us section of the website here>>>
