MENTORING AS A CAREER

Fiona Wilson, Project Manager for Open House, LAMP AND ESOL For Enterprise

What was your first ever job?

When I was fourteen I cooked lunches for my brother’s rugby club. I think it was a tactic of his team to get me to poison the opposition!

What inspired you to go into teaching?

I’ve been in the classroom since I was born. My mother was a teacher and because of teacher shortages at the time she went back to work soon after I was born taking me with her. I am sure that having 30 children all looking after me is why I am such an attention seeker now!

Describe your job

My job involves letting everybody know about the fantastic projects which we have at Adult Education which are aimed at improving people’s confidence, employment skills and basic skills so that they can move forward in their lives into employment, promotion and further training.

What is the best thing about your job?

Many people come into the classroom with no confidence and I enjoy enabling them to understand their strengths, develop their skills, reach their goals and fulfil their aspirations. I encourage my students to keep in touch and let me know how they are getting on. Many have progressed to work and have really blossomed which is great.

What’s the worst thing about your job?

Without doubt all the paper work!

Proudest moment of your life?

I created a training programme for disengaged young people which was very successful.

What do you do in your spare time?

I run a behaviour management consultancy, write stories for children and adults and enjoy singing badly whenever I’m given the opportunity!

Who in education do you admire and why?

My A Level History Teacher who was called Mr Ninatowski he taught in a non-traditional way and instilled within me a passion for learning.

LOOKING FOR A JOB?

“When I had my daughter I stopped working and when she was two I wanted to get back to work but was lacking in confidence.I saw the Open House project advertised and decided to give Ellie who wa running it a call. She was very welcoming and encouraging so I signed up. As well as brushing up my literacy we also covered employment skills, CV writing and interview skills.

It was small group which I thought was good and although it was very intensive by the end of the course my skills were better and my confidence was up. I also had access to a careers advisor who helped me look at what I wanted to do next.

When the course finished I progressed to the New Deal for lone parents and within two weeks had found a job. I’m currently working for a bank. The course was free, the Careers advisor was free and I help with travel and lunch costs. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to get back to work.”

Aileen Smith Open House Project

City & Guilds success

 

Adult Education recently ran a two day City & Guilds training course in presentation skills for employees. The short course was very successful and the very positive feedback included:

“I learned new methods and styles of learning and training.”

“Best training I’ve been on in 3 years.”

The course covered planning, evaluation, icebreakers, motivation and many other skills. Glenn Travers ran the course with Penny Asumang on day one and David Ede on day two. This is a brand new City & Guilds course and was a pilot exercise to determine if there was any demand locally. Presentation skills are not only useful for staff who train others, but also for anyone in a role that involves public speaking.

Setting up and running the course was very much a team effort. Elaine Lewis publicised the course and also took on the role of facilitating the comfort breaks. Beryl Lester, Geraldine Johnston, Lisa McCarthy, Fiona Wilson and Dave Woodward were all important in supporting the good running of the course. It is surprising how many obstacles can be overcome easily when working effectively as a team. There was much to learn from the two days and both participants and presenters enjoyed the course. It has generated so much interest that the waiting list for the next course already has eight names on it!

 

If you are interested in participating in the next course, please contact Glenn Travers on 0207 386 4064 or glenn.travers@lbhf.gov.uk

Student Mwanaidi in the new teaching kitchen at the Macbeth Centre“I love cooking and entertaining and wanted to increase my repertoire. The class is great and I’m really enjoying it.

Tutor, Cordon Blue trained Rosemary Samuel who spent many years working as a freelance chef and for magazines said “I think it’s important for everyone to learn good techniques and I want my students to experiment and not be frightened to try new styles of cooking and since the installation of the new kitchen we have been able to offer a much wider range of classes.

STUDENT FEEDBACK

Some interesting statistics:

• 7,226 students last year
• 57.3% were from widening participation (high unemployment) areas
• 92% overall student satisfaction

What our students say about us:

• 87.6% were satisfied with the range of courses we offer
• 92% of students were satisfied with their course content
• 95.4% were satisfied with the teaching methods
• 78.8% were satisfied with the materials on their courses
• 90.4% were satisfied with the support for learning they received
• 92.2% of our students told us the course met their expectations
• 92.5% said that they gained from their course.

We do listen and are constantly striving to improve your adult education service.

You asked us...and we have responded to your suggestions:

• Additional ESOL conversational classes
• Better progression routes to higher level classes
• Easier access to advice and guidance sessions
• More skills for employment courses
• Introduced more dedicated specialised teaching rooms

We’d like to thank all those who completed a student questionnaire.
We do listen and are constantly striving to improve your adult education service.

OPENING OF BRYONY CAFÉ

People with learning difficulties and disabilities are being given the opportunity to work in a real-life setting at a brand new café at the Bryony Adult Education Centre in White City.

In total, 12 people will be working at the café, serving customers and learning all the necessary skills to enhance employment opportunities in the future.

Each student will spend one day a week at the café where they will prepare food and serve customers. In return, they will receive certificates in food hygiene and ‘working together’.

Cllr Antony Lillis, Cabinet Member for Community and Children’s Services attended the opening of the Cafe.

He said: “I am delighted that we are able to offer people with learning difficulties and disabilities the chance to gain some worthwhile experience of the working world. Schemes such as this will enable us to make Hammersmith & Fulham a Borough of Opportunity, where people of all abilities have the chance to make the most of their lives. I look forward to many enjoyable meals at the café in the future.”

The café is run and has developed in a similar way to any high street café and adheres to all health and safety legislation. All the food served is freshly prepared on site by the students using fresh ingredients. The café has also been inspected by the council’s food hygiene unit and has been awarded four stars for its hygiene and cleanliness.

LAMP lights the way for Osmond

Osmond James, who has worked for H&F for 22 years, as a relief manager in primary and secondary schools, recently attended the LAMP (mentoring) course at Hammersmith and Fulham’s Adult Learning and Skills Service at the Bryony Centre. 

We asked Osmond what attracted him to the course?  “I get the most job satisfaction from working with young people, so a few years ago I started working on a voluntary basis with the youth offending team,” said Osmond.  “I discussed this at my yearly appraisal and my line manager arranged for me to work at the Bridge Academy as a support mentor.  Last year I received a copy of the Adult Education prospectus and saw some information about the LAMP course. I jumped at the chance to do the course because I had plenty of experience but no qualifications.”

Osmond continued, “The course has been great value for money. I learnt a lot and to achieve a qualification has been a boost and made me realise I want to go on to further study.”

Asked what he plans to do with his mentoring learning, Osmond replied, “Next year I plan to apply for a mentoring post and also continue to study and gain higher qualifications. My long term aim is to work full time as a learning mentor for young people aged between 12 – 18years.”

Osmond concluded by telling THEmag, “I like to think I can make a difference to young people’s life’s in a positive way and guide them back into education.”

If you are interested in finding out about the LAMP course or any other adult education courses in Hammersmith and Fulham please call 020 8600 9191

READING EVENING

A celebration of achievement for Skills for Life students to reflect on the year's work and progress.

Macbeth Centre, Macbeth Street, W6 9JJ

BSL STUDENT DISCOVERS NEW CAREER

"One of the first words I learnt was 'welcome'"

Adult education administrator Lisa McCarthy took advantage of the opportunity to join a sign language class two years ago.

"I have wanted to learn for a number of years now as I have a relative who is deaf and signs. When I first started I was working on reception and found the skills helped me to communicate with deaf students and members of staff. Since passing the Council for Advancement for the Communication with Deaf People (CACDP BSL level 2) I have been asked to sign for a group of students doing a BSL introductory class and also support a deaf student who is attending a literacy class.

I've really enjoyed learning somethingnew for personal reasons and I now have the added bonus of a possible new career opening up."

FAMILY LEARNING - Three generations learn together

Children, parents and grandparents from Addison School took part in a family learning project run by the adult education service.

They were given two themes ‘A country scene’ and ‘A town scene’ and, with piles of recycled resources and the support of an art tutor, they produced a wonderful 3D mixed media landscape.

The work is currently on show in the school and will move the Macbeth Centre in Hammersmith in July to show in the end of year art exhibition.

Family Learning offer a wide range of courses for parents/carers and their children

These take place at schools, children's centres, adult education and community centres and include:floristry, art & craft, cookery, jewellery making, first aid, family excersise, family literacy, language and numeracy.

Special events also take place during school holidays. Call 020 8600 9172 for details.

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