Awards for students who are improving education in Bulwell

  Two 13 year olds from Bulwell Academy have won top prizes for their work to improve education for their peers.Year eight pupils Adam Ashley and Michael Nicholson were presented with National Learner Forum Awards.

They have promoted practical learning through the forum, which is sponsored by educational charity Edge, and gave up their own time to regularly attend meetings and events.

Graham Roberts, academy principal, said: "Adam and Michael are shining representatives of the academy, both using their own talents and time to help change the face of education, by supporting vocational learning." 

 

Posted @ 14:02:40 on 03 August 2010  back to top

 m    Third Star Celebration Event

On Friday 11th June Third Star held our inaugural Celebration event to celebrate the success of our Apprentices, Adult Apprentices, Learner Forum members and also our employers.

The event was a great occasion and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. At the celebration event awards were given out to the three categories; Apprentice of the Year and two runners up, Adult Apprentice of the Year and two runners up and for Learner Forum we gave out Bronze Awards to three of our members.

For Apprentice of the Year the three nominee's were James Robinson, Natasha Beer and Rachel Henson with Rachel Being the winner and James and Natasha picking up the runner up trophies.

For Adult Apprentice of the Year the three nominations were Katie Mabbott, Charlotte Skinner and Angela Redfern. The winner being Katie Mabbott and the runners up Charlotte Skinner and Angela Redfern.

Finally Learner Forum; three of our members picked up their Learner Forum Bronze Awards they were Aaron Harris, Adam Ashley and Michael Nicholson for their outstanding contributions and commitments to the Nottingham Learner Forum.

Posted @ 16:05:36 on 20 July 2010  back to top

Welcome to Third Star's Blog Update

From a bright idea back in February 2009, Third Star has grown into a successful Youth and Community Training organisation. 

Who Are Third Star?

At Third Star we are a dynamic, enterprising and ethical organization focused on supporting communities and individuals.

We provide training and enterprise development for the community, voluntary sector and public services.

    
Vernon Coaker Visit
 On 1st February 2010 Third star had a very important visitor. This visitor was Vernon Coaker MP. Vernon opened our new office and was interviewed by two of our Learner Forum members from the Nottingham Edge Learner Forum Rachel Henson and Aaron Harris.

What Third Star Offers

Here at Third Star we currently focus on three main areas of delivery:

· Community Development

· Youth Work

· Advice and Guidance

We support workforce development through Apprenticeships and NVQ'S in the Voluntary and Community sector across the East Midlands.

Third Star supports the Third Sector Group Training Association (GTA) called FAIR TRAIN.

We support small third sector organisations to source funding opportunities to support their sustainability. Third Star is an approved centre for City and Guilds qualifications which includes Apprenticeships and NVQ'S in Youth Work, Community Development and Advice and Guidance.

 Forthcoming Events

AWARDS
Third Star are proud to announce that one of our members of staff Natasha Beer that is also doing a Apprenticeship in Youth Work has got into the top 3 for the Apprentice of the year awards for the Nottingham Training Network Awards which will be held in January 2011.

The Oscar style awards will celebrate the outstanding achievement of learners, their employers and training providers who deliver the work-based learning programmes across Nottinghamshire. These programmes are fundamental in raising the skills of young people and thus developing a more skilled workforce.

At last years NTN awards there were 9 different award categories and the winner from each category won a fantastic trophy and £300 worth of vouchers, with each of the two runners up winning a trophy and £100 worth of vouchers.

DRAGONS DEN
Third Star are also pleased to say that Rachel Henson Third Stars Support Worker is one of the top 6 finalists for the Dragons Den Commitment to Community pitch in January 2011 pitching her idea about her project Youth Inspired to seven of Nottinghams businesses.
Hoping to recieve additonal funding and support to continue to run her Youth Inspired Project pitching them her idea, 5 year business plan and including her legacy. 

 

Posted @ 11:03:56 on 20 April 2010  back to top

 

Third Star Champion inspirational work experiences

Read this Blog!

On Tuesday 16th March  Learners from Third Stars Edge Learner Forum, and Apprenticeship programmes facilitated the 'Big Conversation'.  With special thanks to Ryan, Aaron, Kirsten and Natasha......

What did Aaron say? Scroll down the page for the quote!

This article apprears in the Nottingham Evening Post - Boots' Gourlay: business must do better at work experience; Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 15:00

FOR Alex Gourlay, the world of work began with a stint in an ice cream van and a spell replacing the divots on a golf course.

He's climbed a few rungs since then, and currently sits in the chief executive's chair at the all-important health and beauty division of Nottingham's Alliance Boots.

But he's never forgotten his work experience, and the highs and lows of his introduction to business were uppermost in his mind yesterday.

He spent the day alongside 50 other business leaders, sitting down and talking to students to find out what they think of an experience which can range from an inspiring introduction to their future to a demoralising waste of time.

The "Big Conversation" between bosses and students took place under the wing of Business in The Community (BITC), the charitable organisation which encourages firms to play their part in the places they are based in.

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It is part of a national initiative launched by Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose, who is also BITC chairman, to get firms to use work experience as an way of persuading school-age children that a career in business is worth hitching their future to.

It took place at Boots' Beeston headquarters, with firms of all shapes and sizes encouraged to sign up to a pledge to deliver better work experience.

Mr Gourlay told the Post: "I'm am ambassador for Business in The Community and I'm committed to supporting initiatives like this.

"This is an area where the workplace could just be a bit more inspiring to young people earlier in their development and show them that it is a place they should be looking forward to rather than dreading or even fearing.

"I've been talking to young people about their own work experience and how they found it. We have had some people who have clearly been well looked-after and who have come away from the experience feeling inspired.

"The consistent theme with them is that the business focused on them as individuals, understood what they wanted as individuals and gave them a behind-the-scenes insight into what makes business tick

"Unfortunately, there are also some for whom it's obviously been a pretty bad experience. They feel like it was a waste of time in a place where they wouldn't want to work."

Boots encourages its local stores to offer work experience and Mr Gourlay says it's a practice which could lead into a job.

"There's a clear benefit because our business employs a lot of Saturday assistants and I'm sure that many of them will have joined us on work experience first," he said. "Equally, many people who have started out in Saturday jobs in Boots have gone on to much bigger things."

He added: "The way to get kids interested is simple: you show an interest in them.

"If you set up a structured programme of work experience, give them enough time to feel that they are really involved you will be amazed at the response that you get form the majority of them."

David Cooke, BITC's regional director, said firms were being encouraged to sign up to better work experience through the website www.workinspiration.com.

It offers advice about organising work experience and also contains a pledge which commits them to help young people by using work experience to bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work.

Mr Cooke said businesses that believed work experience was a waste of time would lose out in the end. He said: "Every employer is fishing from the same talent pool, and there is a self-fulfilling prophesy at work here - if they assume people are not interested they are automatically de-selecting part of the community.

"The reality is that there is a great ambition and enthusiasm and dynamism among young people."

What students say about work experience

HATTY Barker, 16, is in year 11 at George Spencer School, Stapleford. Her ambition is to study Spanish law.

She undertook work experience at BT last week and said: "My work experience opportunity provided me with something I did not expect.

"I thought I would be stuck in the office all day but I ended up in a BT van and climbing a telegraph pole."

Aaron Harris, 17, is studying for A-levels at Bilborough College. He hopes to go to university and eventually to become a social worker.

He did work experience in an accounting firm and realised he did not want a job based in an office all day.

He said: "Work experience gives young people the opportunity to experience the world of work first hand, allowing you to make decisions that will ultimately have an impact of your career.

"I think that it works both ways; we are in it together and both businesses and young people should use the opportunity to get the best out of the placement."

 

Posted @ 20:34:54 on 17 March 2010  back to top

Third Star January 2010 Blog Update

Third Star January 2010 Blog Update

Hello everyone,

This is Third Star's second blog update, and a lot has happened since the last one!

• Claire and Emma have entered the Women of Worth Awards, telling the story of Third Star.
• Our team has grown, we welcome Victoria, Sally, Ryan and Mandy.
• We are beginning a new era of the Learner Forum, with new projects and a new venue!
• Third Star have moved into new accomodation, thanks to Mercury House and NVB.
• We have made a huge investment in IT and learning technologies that will support staff and learners.

Whats coming up?

We will be welcoming a visitor, MP Vernon Coaker to meet with Learner Forum members and officially open our new offices.

Quality

We have some fantastic Quality Assurance developments, including our second EV visit, and visits from the City Council and West Notts College quality team;

Were also looking forward to being the first organsiation  in the East Midlans to take part in Edge Instead.  The forum will review the quality of our provision through their observations, over a number of days. The Edge Instead team will provide up with a report, that fits with the scope of the Commn Inspection Framework - and will unoubablty give us that most valuable learner feedback.

 

Posted @ 20:30:40 on 27 January 2010  back to top

Third Star Update September 2009

Posted @ 22:21:57 on 29 September 2009  back to top