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Humberside Learning Learning (HLC)

Humberside Learning Consortium Development

Hull had a proactive lifelong learning team which worked in a wider geographical area and in partnership with other local agencies such as the CVS, on a reciprocal arrangement and support relationship. They had a joint fee structure using the Hull Lifelong Learning Team's (HLLT) accredited programmes and tutors. They had confidence that the work could be rolled out across sub region.

Yorkshire Forward (the regional development agency (RDA)) funded research into size and capacity of Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) with the HLLT acting as a driver in the process. The resources for research were shared between CVS and undertaken by CVS staff who each undertook the initial work in their area. This process, to involve all from the outset, was critical in establishing credibility, with VCOs, local agencies and funders

Funders were surprised at the range of partnership work, but also scale of provision of opportunities within VCS outside of mainstream funded activity. Critically the partnership, lobbied the local LSC from its beginning mainly through its Chief Executive Officer, and HLC were able to establish some credibility on the back of a LIF project, which illustrated successful delivery.

A project funded the development of a hub model. It involved different Government departments, the private sector and key national VCOs. The project helped establish ways of working out of which fell the ability to contract for work and HLC learnt how to become target driven and work to performance indicators.

Humberside Learning Consortium Structures

A deliberate decision was taken to limit the management committee to local VCOs on the basis that larger charities were already well resourced and positioned to engage with the policy agenda and contracts, without the support of Consortia. Research was undertaken, partly in response to LSC emergence, across the sub region and in partnership with all LDAs. It became apparent that the VCS didn’t want the politics of individual providers to get in the way of engaging with the LSC, and the VCS were supportive of a Consortia approach.

HLC, by engaging with VCOs through CVS membership, had a constituent group and so developed accountability enabling HLC to build on the existing credibility of local VCO delivery . Marketing and promotional activities were also important.

Humberside Learning Consortium Roles

HLC set out to achieve the following Aims and Objectives:

• Co-ordinate a voice at strategic level learning issues.
• Co-ordinate and publish relevant information.
• Develop a two-way communication strategy between the sector and policy makers.
• Support the development of quality learning provision in the community.
• Support access to funding for the delivery of training.

Projects include the following:

• Work force Development, Click here for HLC Voluntary Sector Skills brokerage.
• Quality Brokerage.
• Volunteer Training.
• Basic skills.
• Global Grants Click here for Global Grants.

Core contract for the development and delivery of a communications strategy and policy (HLC good on communication). The delivery of the newsletter to approx. 5,000 VCOs is crucial in maintaining a high profile and trust. Access to CVS databases crucial, as is constant LDA support in the prep work.