Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

Researching the needs of the Adult and Community Learning (ACL) Sector

The Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) has commissioned a research project to review the needs of the ACL sector in Wales and identify the possibilities for effective support networks. These will support and promote the embedding of ESDGC into the delivery of learning and also at an organisational/institutional level. There are strategic and operational questions – please answer or skip over as appropriate. Deadline is Friday 22nd January.

Anonymity and confidentiality are guaranteed. It is an inclusive study and your participation is important. The work will contribute to future developments in ESDGC. Please take 5—10 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

The Assembly Government has launched its Green Paper, ‘Paying for Care in Wales’.  Consultation on the Green Paper proposals will run until 28 February 2010.  As part of the publicity around this consultation, a leaflet has been prepared for distribution within local libraries, GP surgeries and Citizens Advice Bureaux.  The A4 bilingual leaflet advertises the fact that the consultation is taking place, promotes the website www.payingforcareinwales.net, and encourages people to respond.

The Neath Port Talbot Local Development Strategy submitted to Welsh Assebly Government has been approved for the seven years of the Rural Development Plan 2007 – 2013.  The link to the LDS appears on the RDP section of the Neath Port Talbot CBC European website.  Please forward any comments to h.may@npt.gov.uk or l.willis@npt.gov.uk by 4^th September 2009.

The proposed Climbing Higher – creating an active Wales strategic action plan focuses on ensuring that we all build physical activity into our daily routines. It forms part of Our Healthy Future, the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategic approach to improve the quality and length of life.

‘Creating an Active Wales’ recognizes the importance of having a built environment that supports people to be active and having access to green spaces. The Consultation is running for 16 weeks from 5 May 2009 – 25^th August 2009.  The plan also acknowledges the need to provide support for people to become more physically active through targeted programs that support behavioural change.  More information can be obtained on the Consultation Page.

This document is a new skills and employment strategy and action Plan which builds upon and replaces the Skills and Employment Action Plan 2005. The strategy provides a response to the Leitch Review of Skills in the UK and the independent review of the mission and purpose of Further Education (Promise and Performance). This strategy describes the ‘One Wales’ ambition for a highly educated, skilled and high employment Wales. It builds on previous strategies and action plans including The Learning Country: Vision into Action, Wales: A Vibrant Economy, the Skills and Employment Action Plan of 2005, and Words Talk – Numbers Count, our Basic Skills Strategy (2005).

The strategy and action plan include: new approaches to funding; a more demand responsive skills and business support service; integrated skills and employment services delivered through partnership between the Assembly Government and Department of Work and Pensions; and the transformation of the learning network.

As the Webb Review noted, we must make best use of public funds and secure good value for money for our investment in ACL. In September 2008 we (Welsh Assembly Government) will publish for consultation a draft policy on ACL, to improve the way we plan, fund and deliver this type of learning, so that it better reflects local priorities. Neath Port Talbot CVS will provide details of the proposed consultation when it becomes available.

You can download a copy of the report.