Learning in North Norfolk

Learning in North Norfolk

Merchants’ Place - a great facility for local learning and more....

The Merchants’ Place Centre provides an excellent venue for study. With modern computer facilities and training rooms and a welcoming reception and resource area, the Centre has also recently become an authorised Oxford, Cambridge and Royal Society of Arts (OCR) Examination Centre. As well as the Biz3 and EmpowerU students whose success is highlighted in this issue, many other organisations and learners regularly use the facilities at the Centre, including huge numbers of people attending Adult Education classes. Active Talk runs twice-weekly computer days, Mencap has a drop-in afternoon every Thursday, and advice sessions are run by the Citizens Advice Bureau, Business Link, Aimhigher Norfolk, Connexions/Next Step, the Shaw Trust and other agencies.

Where do our learners come from?

Students on the Biz3 and Empower U programmes hail from no less than 22 different towns and villages in the district. While just over 70% of the 147 learners live in either Cromer, Sheringham, Holt or North Walsham, others come from Stalham, Mundesley, Gorleston, Felbrigg, Melton Constable, Reepham, Happisburgh and Briston, amongst many others.

Programme

To Download the Cromer and North Walsham 2009/10 Prospectus, click here (filesize: 1,040 kb)

for more information, please contact us at Merchants' Place on 01263 519454

Victory Housing - News Release

VICTORY TRAINING FUND CREATED TO HELP
RESIDENTS FIND EMPLOYMENT

Victory Housing residents who need help with getting into employment can now access free training through a new partnership between the Housing Trust and North Norfolk Skills Partnership.

Victory has created a new Victory Training Fund of £10,000 to enable its residents who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment to get help, including an assessment of training needs, followed by appropriate training to help them gain employment.

The training could range from help in the process of finding employment, through basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, to accessing vocational training. Help will also be available for incidental expenses such as transport, childcare and learning resources (e.g. books).

The Fund is being targeted at Victory residents who are currently unemployed, as well as those who are in employment but at risk of unemployment, such as seasonal workers and those at risk of redundancy.

The assessment and training will be delivered by North Norfolk Skills Partnership, the Cromer-based organisation which aims to ensure that the learning and skills development needed by North Norfolk employers, individuals and communities are met.

John Archibald, Chief Executive of Victory Housing Trust, said that the Fund was an important part of the organisation’s wider role. “As well as providing good quality affordable housing, we see our role as supporting our residents in a number of areas, and helping them gain the skills needed to be economically active is a very important aspect of this.

“Creating the Victory Training Fund is a tangible way of providing that support, through a partnership with a well-respected local organisation which has the skills and expertise to deliver this service.”

The Fund is open to residents of Victory Housing Trust homes who fulfil certain criteria; those interested can find out more by calling North Norfolk Skills Partnership on 01263 519454.

About Victory Housing Trust

Victory Housing Trust (formerly North Norfolk Housing Trust) is a charitable registered social landlord which owns and manages over 4,700 properties in the northern half of Norfolk, serving over 10,000 residents. It employs 85 staff and has offices located in North Walsham and Fakenham. Further details can be found at www.victoryhousing.co.uk