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Learning and Skills Councils: Opportunities for the Voluntary Sector
Hinsley Hall Conference and Pastoral Centre, Leeds
Tuesday 8th February 2000.
This page contains appendices FROM, and should be read in conjunction WITH the Regional Report
For the Yorkshire & the Humber Region seminar
The planning and delivery of this event was undertaken on behalf of NIACE and the WEA by Cheryl Turner (Development Officer, NIACE) and Michael Freeston (Education Officer, WEA).
Particular acknowledgement needs to be given to the hard work of administrative staff of both organisations, especially Philippa Cattell, Averil Coutinho and Vera Tunçel, for ensuring the smooth running of the event.
NIACE and the WEA gratefully acknowledge the support of Carole Garfield, (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) who contributed to the presentations at the Leeds event.
72 participants registered to attend the event. Representatives of the Government Office Local Learning Partnerships, voluntary groups and 'umbrella' organisations attended. This spread of experience and knowledge ensured that participants’ contributions, both in the discussion groups and plenary sessions were lively and informative.
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At the Yorkshire & the Humber Region seminar
The following outline of the main issues raised by participants in their discussion groups and during the plenary was produced as a public summary during the final feedback session on the day. Frequent reference was made to it during the discussions and points were added and amended by the delegates as the debate developed. Although the language has been slightly edited in the interests of clarity, no attempt has been made to arrange the issues under headings in order to minimise any interference with the account.
| The emerging post 16 framework must create regional and sub regional structures as a prerequisite for the positive engagement of voluntary organisations with the Learning & Skills Councils (LSCs). |
| During the transition phase, membership of local government task groups must include representatives from the voluntary sector |
| Voluntary Sector representatives on LSCs/LLPs should be resourced and supported in their roles. For example child care provision etc. |
| Any emerging Quality Assurance framework should focus on processes not just outcomes. This should also include the functioning of Learning Partnerships as well as the learning provided by the Voluntary Sector. |
| Guidance produced on the role and membership of Learning Partnerships should stress the need for an inclusive approach and state clearly their objectives. Learning Partnerships must recognise the value and contribution that the Voluntary Sector can make. |
| Small Voluntary Organisations are concerned that any auditing requirements in the new framework should recognise their limited capacity and resources. |
| LSCs must recognise the Voluntary Sector as pioneers of innovative approaches to learning. Although there is a role here for the Voluntary Sector to "sell itself more’, capacity issues limit the time available to people to do so; i.e. doing the work can preclude promoting the work. |
| There is concern that smaller organisations may be excluded from membership of the new framework because of the resource implications involved; hub and satellite models of representation may be useful. |
| Local Learning Partnerships should be required to consult with the Voluntary Sector and to seek their involvement. |
| There is a need to build on existing models within the sector which devolve FEFC money via ‘umbrella bodies’ to smaller organisations. |
| There is a need to consolidate existing networks such as regional Voluntary Sector fora. LSCs structures must not replicate and undermine existing arrangements. |
| Above all resourcing of the Sector must be a key priority of the LSCs. |
| The Voluntary Sector must recognise and seize the opportunities presented by the LSC framework. How can the sector be energised to do this? |
| Auditing and reporting requirements should reflect the size of the voluntary organisation involved and the size of the grants they receive. |
| There is concern over the central role of Local Authorities in strategic planning in terms of their willingness and capacity to engage with the Voluntary Sector. |
| Given the uneven engagement of the Voluntary Sector with local Learning Partnerships to date, there is concern over access to LLPs in the future. |
| Given the stipulated 40% membership to be drawn from people with recent business and commercial experience there is concern over a lack of a ring-fenced entitlement to membership of the Voluntary Sector on National and Local Learning Skills Councils. |
| There is need for the Voluntary Sector to co-ordinate planning to avoid conflict over resources, to maximise potential and to build capacity. |
| LSCs must recognise that learning/training in the Voluntary Sector is a means to other ends as well as an end in itself. |
| More information is required about regional allocation and the criteria for flexible, non formula LSC funds. |
| There is still concern over the potential for excessive competition between provider organisations. |
| There is concern around overly stringent quality thresholds. |
| How will weightings in the funding formula for disadvantaged learners be processed? |
| There should be a role for Voluntary Sector consortia to advise new/inexperienced providers on the new planning and funding arrangements. |
| Can Local Authorities and Lifelong Learning Partnerships meet the challenge of opening up provision and including a broader range of learners? |
| Voluntary Sector organisations must recognise the importance of responding to Government consultation exercises wherever possible. |
| Will the tariff value for Voluntary and Community Sector providers be the same as for colleges? The rates need clarification. |
| There is a need for a contact point and guidance to support smaller organisations with their applications to LSCs for funding. Support for smaller organisations was highlighted as necessary in the recent Policy Action Team on Skills report. |
| There is a need to share good practice in areas of non-accredited provision. This will help to strengthen arguments in favour of this type of provision. |
| There must be transparency in the selection of members to LSCs. |
| Elected members should not be seen as representative of communities. |
| Voluntary Sector organisations should not concentrate their efforts solely on gaining membership and influence on LSCs. Learning Partnerships will also be a useful pressure point. |
| It is vital that mechanisms for ensuring that learners views are heard are created and are effective. |
| There is concern that large "top heavy" bodies may not be able to reflect local issues; there is a need to trim bureaucracy. |
| There is the potential for the new framework to create barriers rather than to open up the Sector. There must be space for the Voluntary Sector to have a voice. |
| The proposals do present an opportunity for the Voluntary Sector to become more centrally involved in learning provision. |
| Will the Sector be sufficiently empowered to take advantage of this opportunity? |
| There is a need to think through what voluntary and community organisations want to achieve and structures should not be allowed to dictate the nature of the work that happens. |
| There is a need to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of existing guidance and support structures. |
| There is concern that at local level existing providers will suppress rather than nurture the capacity of Voluntary Sector providers (the fear of competition). |
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At the Yorkshire & the Humber Region seminar
From the forms returned the ratings were: 10 very good, 12 good and 4 satisfactory. The written comments were mostly positive and spoke favourably about the balance between presentations, discussion and feedback, the informal and friendly feel to the occasion, the fact that it was clearly for voluntary bodies and included a number of grass-roots organisations, and the richness of the plenary discussions due to the diverse experience and knowledge amongst the participants.
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