Daily Archives: June 6, 2012

BtC5, CfE, CLD, Young people, children & families

Dynamic Youth Awards now credit rated on the SCQF by SQA

Leave a comment

 Dynamic Youth Awards provide a peer-assessed approach to recognising non-formal learning for young people aged 10 – 14.

The Awards recognise young people’s involvement in any activity that they choose to participate in, and have included helping out at youth groups, peer education initiatives, buddying schemes and community arts projects.

Dynamic Youth Awards are now credit rated on the SCQF at Level 3, which is comparable to Foundation Standard Grade or the new Access 3 Qualification. Dynamic Youth Awards range from a One Star Award to a Five Star Award. Each of these star ratings have different amounts of credit points attached to them, to allow recognition of the amount of learning required of the young person to achieve each award.For more information about Dynamic Youth Awards credit points, click here. 

The additional currency that SCQF credit rating brings will also support the use of Dynamic Youth Awards to recognise, profile and report on achievement, delivering a key priority of Curriculum for Excellence.

Steven Greig, Youth Scotland Youth Work Manager said:

“Young people have gained Dynamic Youth Awards for their involvement in a range of fantastic projects that support their learning. The fact that the Awards are now SCQF credit rated by SQA adds currency to the high standard of delivery from Award Group Workers, as well as paying testament to the achievements of young people themselves. We are delighted that young people will now be able to see directly how their Dynamic Youth Awards compare with more formal qualifications, such as those gained at school.”

Shanagh, a young person from Perth and Kinross Youth Council said:

“At last! After doing so many of these awards myself, it’s great to see they are getting the formal recognition that young people deserve.”

The process of credit rating the Awards has involved an ongoing partnership between Youth Scotland, SQA and the Award Groups currently delivering the Awards. Youth Scotland is also grateful to Craig Green, Information and Learning Services Manager at John Wheatley College, for his partnership support in developing the Award’s learning outcomes.

Adult Learning, CLD, Community Capacity Building, Young people, children & families

Community Empowerment

Leave a comment

Local Government Minister Derek Mackay will launch a consultation on a proposed bill which will consider ideas to give more control to Scotland’s communities. Responses to the consultation will help shape the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill.

Ideas being considered include greater community involvement in making decisions on local budgets, helping public sector organisations identify the needs and priorities in an area and target budgets more effectively, an idea first piloted in Brazil and in a number of European cities.

The consultation also includes ideas on making it easier for community organisations to get involved in designing and delivering public services and challenging public authorities if they feel an area of public service delivery is not being run effectively and does not genuinely meet their needs.

The consultation also explores how existing legislation can be better used to let local authority and housing authority tenants take on management of their own housing, and whether existing allotments legislation should be amended to better support communities taking forward grow-your-own projects.

CLD, MCMC/16+LC, Supporting Learners, Young people, children & families

2500 young people to be helped into work

Leave a comment

 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/06/esf-employment05062012

Leading youth charity The Prince’s Trust will receive £750,000 of European Structural Funds (ESF) to help even more young people into the jobs market.

The investment builds on last month’s announcement by the Scottish Government that £25 million of ESF would be focused on projects designed to get young people into work.

The Prince’s Trust will use the funding to extend their core programmes to help disadvantaged 16-25-year-olds build their confidence and increase their motivation to get their lives working again.

Health and wellbeing

Sainsbury store in Edinburgh stops selling tobacco

Leave a comment

A Sainsbury’s store in Edinburgh has become the first in Scotland to stop selling tobacco. The move is part of a trial, which has no set end date, will look at the impact of the removal of tobacco from stores. The trial is being carried out because of the Scottish Government’s public health levy, and has lead Sainsbury’s to undertake a review of the sale of tobacco in company’s Scottish stores.

If you would like to read more see the link below:

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/104409-sainsburys-stop-tobacco-sales-in-edinburgh-store-due-to-new-policy/

MCMC/16+LC, Supporting Learners

MCMC 16+ Learning Choices newsletter

Leave a comment

The April/May 16+ Learning Choices newsletter is available here (Glow log in required)

In addition to articles from Skills Development Scotland, this edition contains news from a number of local authorities, including: Angus, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Perth and Kinross, Shetland Islands, Western Isles, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh.