Newletter Sep09

Due to the success of the Speak Up! Speak Out! training recently delivered by Adam May Training we will be holding a second set of training. This will look at Dealing with Difficult Volunteer & Situations. A brief overview of the training is given below:

Even with the best management systems in place, some situations can be challenging and difficult to handle!

Discover ideas and develop the skills and strategies for managing these volunteers. Give and receive practical advice and support from fellow professionals on the real-life issues that you are dealing with.

"What's in it for me?"

* Discover how self esteem affects behaviour

      * Practice in giving feedback assertively
      * Understand conflict management styles and identify your own
      * Address current problem situations in a supportive environment

The subsidised training will cost £65 per person and will run on Wednesday 28th October 2009 from 9.45am -4.30pm

There are limited spaces left so to book a place and avoid disappointment please contact us at the Volunteer Centre.

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Learn how to improve your skills and property with a new range of courses at ETEC Development Trust this autumn!

Using Power Tools: A four-week course, starting on Tuesday 6 October 2009. Sessions take place on Tuesdays between 9.30am and 12.15pm

Painting: the Roller, Brush or Spray? A four-week course, starting on Thursday 8 October 2009. Sessions take place on Thursdays between 10am and 12.45pm

How to get Plastered! A four-week course, starting on Tuesday 10 November 2009. Sessions take place on Tuesdays between 9.30am and 12.15pm

Further courses on using a hammer, fitting a shelf and basic home improvement are planned for later in the autumn term.

All the above courses take place at ETEC House, 90 Coronation Street, in the East End, Sunderland.

Courses are run by ETEC and funded by Sunderland City Council. Courses cost £1.80 per hour but are free to people on certain benefits. Classes are half price to the over-60s.

For further information, contact Jim Nesbitt on (0191) 5656414 or email jim.nesbitt@etec.gov.uk

Healthy Eating for All! Learn how to eat better to stay fitter with expert staff at ETEC!

Location: Café ETEC, Hudson House, 1 Moor Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland. SR1 2JH

Practical tips on how to cook four healthy food options
Advice on saturated fats
Information on the nutritional value of food

Learners must be over-18. Courses cost £1.80 per hour but are free to people on certain benefits. Classes are half price to the over-60s.

Platform2 is aimed at 18-25year olds who wouldn’t be able to fund their own trip abroad, to go on a FREE 10 week trip to a developing country to work on community led projects which will make a real difference to the community. All of the work is locally operated and supervised, beneficial to the local community and sustainable, and offers you a structured placement.

Constructing community buildings like schools, toilet facilities and community centres with a local team; renovating existing buildings, developing new and existing gardens, play areas and sports pitches.
Caring for and teaching children in orphanages, kindergartens and schools.
Building infrastructure at ecological centres and going on residential trips with community school groups to learn about protecting the environment and how best to use natural resources.

You’ll be away for about ten weeks, and this period cannot be extended or shortened because you’ll be travelling in groups and the lights will be booked for you to fly out and come back together.

This year you could go to South Africa, Ghana, Peru, India, Malawi or Nepal. You can state your top three countries out of the options above, but you won’t necessarily get your first choice.

To go on the scheme you must :

Be willing to attend a pre-departure briefing
Be willing to attend a residential workshop you get back
Be prepared to share your experiences with your community when you get home

The next application deadline is Apply by the 28th September for: - Departure in 1st week of January 2010

We don’t yet have a deadline for Jan 2010 but we just encourage people to apply asap if they want to go anytime next year.

For more information and an application form please visit the website: www.myplatform2.com

To mark this year World Mental Health Day an event has been planned by a multi agency steering group to raise people awareness of this year’s theme of a Five a day for health and happiness

The event will be held at the City Library on Fawcett Street from 11.00am - 3.00pm and will centre on the Five a day for health and happiness areas. These include:

The Alcohol Health Education Service is based in South Shields covering the South of Tyne and Wear PCT area. We have been commissioned by the PCT to deliver workshops and cover events across the area in line with the NHS ‘Know Your Limits’ campaign. All workshops and event coverage is provided free of charge to services, employers, community groups, organisations’ and can be delivered within the work place setting.

The Alcohol Health Education Service also actively supports employers to implement a workplace alcohol policy. Advice and guidance can be given to aid employers to think about the best way to respond to the issue of alcohol misuse at work, provide education to employees and give assistance to employers who have any issues with any alcohol misuse issues.

Living in a community that’s stronger, safer, more together. Isn’t that something we all wish for – but feel powerless to do anything about? Well now you can!

Young people have a major influence on the way our communities are now and how they will be in the future. That’s why Sunderland City Council are running a major Community Transformation Programme that focuses on enabling young people, particularly those that currently feel disaffected and alienated, to radically change their attitudes and beliefs and the way they see and live their lives and become valuable members of their community. Contributing to it rather than detracting from it and making it a better place to live, work and play.

These transformational programmes have a proven track record of success. But they would be the first to recognise the vital role played by local volunteers who they have trained to act as Performance Coaches to supplement the work of their professional trainers and to support the young people as they go through an intense and challenging process of change.

So far from being powerless you have the opportunity to be a real force for change by volunteering to become a Performance Coach and playing a fundamental role in making a real difference to the lives of young people and the wellbeing of your community.

To find out more about the programme, what being a Performance Coach entails and other opportunities to get involved please contact: