IM PACT TRAINING

Maximising Potential

Big Impact
Issue 1. February 2013

Welcome To Big Impact

Whats In This Issue?

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Content
Robin Gets Employee of Month Title Engineers On Titanic Journey Impacts New Time-keeping System Raises Fingers Help When Things Get Tough Diploma Completion Trainees Heading To Belgium On Grave Mission Coaching Awards Provide Foundation For Future Careers Trainees and Staff Fundraising Bring Action Cancer Bus Is Brave The Word For It? Sarah Returns To An Essential Job How Employers Can Help Do Your Head In

A MASSIVE welcome to the first issue of Big Impact, the newsletter of Impact Training. Big Impact will be updating trainees, their parents and placement providers on what is happening in the world of Impact Training. Florence Irvine, Manager of the Shankill based training centre, explained the reasons behind the launch of this new publication. Big Impact helps us keep the young people informed about their rights and responsibilities as well as the opportunities open to them with Impact Training and after they leave. The achievements of trainees are very important to everyone at Impact. With this newsletter, we can highlight these to a wider audience. Our organisation was established in 1979 and until 2007 operated under the name of Crumlin Road Opportunities. From the outset, we have

listened to our trainees and taken account of their views. In keeping with this tradition, we are inviting all trainees to put forward their ideas on what should be included in Big Impact each month. We also hope to have trainees contributing articles. As participants on the Training for Success programme, our young people work towards qualifications in Business Administration, Engineering, Joinery, Retail, Stores and Warehousing, Catering and Hospitality, Childcare and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In addition, they take part in work placements with local employers. Big Impact will help us to keep these employers fully informed about placement operation and opportunities. Big Impact is a great way for us to tell the world about the big impact were having. I very much hope you find it useful and
enjoyable.
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Impact Trainees

Do you have ideas for things that could be included in Big Impact? If so, tell your tutor and help make Big Impact even better.
IM PACT TRAINING 16 Lanark Way Belfast BT13 3BH 028 90339910

Issue 1. February 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

Robyn Gets Employee Of The Month Title

RETAIL trainee Robyn Armstrong has been celebrating after being awarded the title of Employee of the Month for December 2012 by international clothes retailer Guess. Robyn, who has been on placement with Guess at its Victoria Square store since September last year, overcame competition from staff in fifty of its other shops across the United Kingdom and US. The award is in recognition of Robyns performance and sales during what is a busy time for the retailer. The delight of the seventeen year old Impact trainee from the Shankill neighbourhood was obvious when she said, I was surprised, but really pleased, to be awarded the Employee of the Month title. Its nice when your employer recognises your work. Guess is a great organisation to work for and I would hope to stay with them when my placement has finished. Janet Wilson is tutor for the Retail Level Two qualification Robyn has been working towards with Impact since September last year. Janet said, This is a great achievement by Robyn who has maintained good timekeeping and worked hard during her placement with Guess. However, Robyns success has gone beyond the Employee of the Month award. During a recent assessment for the QCF Retail qualification she scored 90 percent for the Selling Skills unit. This is all very positive for Robyn who is laying down a firm foundation for a successful career in the world of retailing.

Engineers On Titanic Journey

A GROUP of Engineering trainees are making good progress on their journey to create a piece of community artwork based around the theme of The Shankill and the Titanic. The Impact trainees started work on the Arts Council N. Ireland funded project in November 2012. Engineering tutor, Davey Casey explained what was involved with this exciting initiative. A group of twelve Engineering trainees volunteered to get involved in the research, design and fabrication of the Titanic themed artwork. The project is being led by professional artist Kevin Killen who is taking us through all the

steps needed to create the piece of artwork to be installed on the Cupar Way peace wall. Artist Kevin Killen praised tutors Davey and Jim and the trainees
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for their enthusiasm. All the guys have been great and we are on target for completion and installation in March this year. Everyone is looking forward to it

Issue 1. February 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

Impacts New Time-keeping System Raises Fingers

is in the building can be printed off and given to the Fire Service. Most Impact staff and trainees are now registered to use the finger reading system. Some have found it a little difficult to get used to and this is understandable. I am sure that it wont be long before everyone has got the hang of it. Some of the users of the system were a bit concerned that the reader might be recording their fingerprint. Dennis wanted to reassure everyone that this certainly isnt the case. THE arrival of a new system for recording time-keeping has raised the fingers of Impact trainees and staff. A biometric reader was installed before Christmas in the reception of Impact Trainings main building. The old system required everyone to sign a sheet of paper when arriving and leaving the premises. With the new arrangements, all you have to do is place your finger on the reader and the machine records when you arrive and go. Its a faster and more accurate way of recording time-keeping, said Assistant Manager, Dennis Murray. An important aspect of the new system is that in the event of an emergency, such as a fire, an accurate record of who No fingerprint, in the normal sense, is kept. When someone registers their finger-tip image with the biometric reader, an image is taken and reduced to a list of points. All other information is disposed off. There isnt enough information left to generate a finger print. So folks, when you are arriving or leaving, dont forget to lift those fingers.

Help When Things Get Tough

LIFE often throws problems in our path. They could be connected to our family life, work, training or personal relationships. When young, we may sometimes find it difficult to know how to deal with such difficulties. Trainees, who are struggling to deal with a problem that is affecting them while in class or on placement, can make use of Impact Trainings Mentoring Service. This service, which is part of Impacts wider pastoral care programme, is provided by Gemma King and Caroline McKinley. If you are an Impact trainee and

Diploma Completion
EIGHT trainees from Joinery Group One are putting the final touches to portfolios that will deliver them valuable vocational qualifications. Dale Hill, Jason Aston, Andrew Lee, David Mitchell, Gary McBride, Paul Irvin, Mark Marshall and Allister Cousins will, this month, complete the ninth and final module of the Diploma Level 2 Site Carpentry qualification.

would like to talk over a problem with someone who is there to listen, contact Caroline or Gemma directly or through your course tutor. Any information about your life you share with Gemma or Caroline will not be shared with anyone else without your agreement. This means that the service is confidential.
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Group tutor Brian Dempsey said, This qualification focuses on the knowledge and skills needed for first and second fix site joinery work. It provides a platform from which trainees can seek employment in construction and joinery. Our hope is that many of the trainees will progress to the NVQ Level Three qualification when they leave Impact

Issue 1. February 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

Trainees Heading To Belgium On Grave Mission

During the five day visit, the young people will be finding out about soldiers from their own communities who fought and died during the Battle of Ypres and who were laid to rest in the war graveyards of Belgium. Using the information they gain during their visit, the participants will prepare stories, films, audio packages and photos for publication, broadcast and exhibition. These will be made available within local communities in an effort to challenge perceptions and promote diversity. It is expected that, through their involvement in the joint visit, the young people will develop a greater understanding of a shared past. The Engage Youth Project is a joint initiative of Inishowen Development Partnership in County Donegal and Farset Youth and Community in Belfast. It is supported by the European Unions PEACE 111 programme.

SEVEN Impact trainees will be heading off to Belgium on 18th February as part of a crosscommunity and cross-border educational programme called Engage Youth. The Impact participants, all of whom volunteered to be part of the project, are Ryan Moorehead, Roy Greer, Robyn

Armstrong, Sandy McGill, Alan Noble, Nicole Stewart and Paige Irvine. They will be travelling with young people from Londonderry and County Donegal on a joint mission to learn more about World War One and its impact on the island of Ireland.

Coaching Awards Provide Foundation For Future Careers

ELEVEN Impact trainees have laid the foundation of a possible career in sports coaching after being awarded Young Coach Award certificates. Receipt of the certificates by the trainees in December 2012 was their reward for completing a training programme that ran over ten weeks at the Hammer Resource Centre in Agnes Street. The Impact trainees who completed the course and received the Young Coach Award certificates are Stephanie Sturgeon, Chelsea McIlwaine, Katrina Sinclair, Stephanie Walker, David McCullough, Claire McMurray, Louise Burrows, Stacey Gregg, Naomi Irvine, Jordan Williamson and Callum ONeill.
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For some of the trainees, the course may provide a stimulus to follow a career in sports coaching or youth work.

A number of the course participants have been motivated to get involved in voluntary work in their own communities.

Issue 1. February 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

Trainees and Staff Fundraising Brings Action Cancer Bus

A DAYLONG visit by the Action Cancer Big Bus to the Shankill in early October 2012 was possible following the wonderful fundraising efforts of Impacts trainees and staff throughout 2012. During the year, everyone threw themselves into a range of fundraising activities to raise in excess of 2,000.00. Zumba dancing, cake and wristband sales, a fireside quiz, Christmas parcels, pods and cards, Tesco customer bag packing, car washing, a chicken run and ballots generated enough money to enable the charity Action Cancer to bring its Big Bus to the Shankill Leisure Centre. The visit was organised by Grace Fowles. The Big Bus offered a number of services for those who climbed on board, including

breast screening health checks.

and

MOT

One of the Impact organisers of the initiative, Caroline McKinley, explained the thinking behind it. We wanted to get our trainees and staff to become more aware of their own health issues and at the

same time get involved in volunteering and helping the wider community. As well these fundraising activities to bring the Big Bus to the Shankill, Impact Training staff also raised 160.00 by organising a MacMillan Coffee Morning in September 2012.

Is Brave The Word For It?

Una Cox described how she felt. In the plane, and as I was about to jump, I was extremely nervous. On the way down, I panicked a little as my scarf caught round my mouth and I struggled to breath for a while. When it was over I was ecstatic and relieved to have landed on two feet and in one piece. Sharon Burns, who was involved in organising the charity jump, was motivated by the fact that her friend and Impact work colleague, Annette McAuley, had recently been diagnosed as having cancer and was undergoing treatment. It was a very good cause we were raising money for but it was even more significant for me given what Annette was going through, said Sharon. Dennis Murray, who had scones, butter and jam on the morning of the jump, summed up the general feeling.I never thought I would enjoy a lunch so much.

THERE is a word to describe someone who jumps out of a plane at 13,000 feet to raise money for charity. Is it brave or is it mad? Five brave, or mad, members of the Impact staff did just that at the Wild Geese Skydiving Centre near Coleraine on 17th November 2012 and, for their efforts, raised in excess of

2,500.00 for Action Cancer. Impact Trainings Dennis Murray, Una Cox, Sharon Burns, Caroline McKinley and Linzi Hollyoak were among a group of thirty people who each took just four minutes to freefall and parachute the 13,000 feet to solid ground and safety.
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Issue 1. February 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

Sarah Returns To An Essential Job

IN October 2012, following a four year break, Sarah Booker returned to Impact Training to resume her role as an Essential Skills tutor teaching English. During her time away, Sarah had been working for her dads Titanic Boat Tour company. She joins Concepta Laverty, Patricia Rooney, who is currently on maternity leave, Jan Leckie, Gloria McNeill, Lesa McKee, Gemma King and Gary Hughes in Impacts Essential Skills team. Its great to be back at Impact with many old colleagues and friends, and some new ones, said Sarah. I also love being in the classroom again although it does bring its challenges. Each week, I tutor sixteen to nineteen year old Training for Success trainees in English. My job is to support each young person to gain an English qualification at a level that suits their abilities. The qualification progression route for the learners is Entry Level 1, then 2 and then 3. The next steps up are Level 1 and then Level 2. This year, most of the young people are working towards a Level 1, or higher, qualification.

I very much hope that all my learners will be successful when they have their assessment in the summer. Gaining English and Maths qualifications with Impact will really help the young people with their future career development.

How Employers Can Help

EMPLOYERS play a vital role in the process of delivering a valuable training programme to Impacts Training for Success participants. Fifty local employers currently provide our young trainees with three days per week work experience placements. These enable the trainees to gain useful vocational skills and experience in a real work environment. This experience complements the classroom and workshop training delivered by Impacts vocational tutors during the times the young people are not in placement. Impact Training is constantly seeking new placement opportunities with local employers in the private, government, voluntary and community sectors. Sharon Burns, Impacts Employment Liaison Officer explained how the placements work. Trainees spend three days on work placement and receive a Training Allowance and travel expenses paid for by the Department of Employment and Learning through Impact. The timing of the start of a trainees first work placement depends on their readiness, as well as placement availability. During placements, regular contact is maintained with the employer and the trainee by either me, in my role of Employment Liaison Officer, or the relevant vocational tutor. It is important that trainees are engaged in work tasks that are useful to them and the employer. Impact is also keen to ensure that employers provide a supportive working environment. Impact Training does not charge a fee for arranging placement opportunities. As an employer, if you feel that you might be able to offer new, or additional, work placements to our young trainees, contact Sharon Burns on 02890 339910.
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Do Your Head In

WORK out the names of the ten Impact Training staff from the jumbled up letters below. February Clues 1. CLEERFON INEVIR 2. SEAL KECEM 3. TENTEAN YALECUM 4. NORGOD TARTWES 5. PECTOCAN VERYTAL 6. GAMEM GINK 7. LEKLY REYHN 8. MIJ SNAWERD 9. TAJEN SLOWIN 10. RAILGO CLEMLIN