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IM PACT TRAINING
Maximising Potential

Big Impact
Issue 2 March/April 2013

Celebrating Progress

Whats In This Issue?

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Content
Trainee Recalls Trip Of A Lifetime Impact Provides Route To Employment Striding Forward With Steps To Work Learning While Having A Great Time Impact Spreads the Word Do You Want A Job In the Care Sector? (advert) Do Your Head In

BIG NEWS

FOR thirty six Impact trainees there is good reason to celebrate. The young people have all recently completed the knowledge part of their apprenticeships and are now focused on finishing the skills element. This is another important milestone for these trainees, said Impacts Assistant Manager Dennis Murray. As well as having finished the knowledge component, the trainees have

also completed Essential Skills qualifications in English, Maths and ICT. They are scheduled to finish the full apprenticeship framework in September 2013. Our young people should be commended for their hard work in getting to this stage, as should their tutors who have provided them with great encouragement and support. We look forward to all the trainees completing the full apprenticeship framework and moving into employment or further education.

Canteen Gets New Microwave

TRAINEE BONUSES
Find A Placement
Find your own work experience placement with an employer, stay in it for six months and receive a bonus of 150.00

Start Up Bonuses
Introduce a young friend or family member as a trainee to Impact and receive 25.00 after they complete six weeks on the Training for Success programme. IM PACT TRAINING
16 Lanark Way Belfast BT13 3BH 028 90339910 www.impacttrainingltd.com

Model Boys Shadow Impact Tutor

TWO Boys Model Lower Sixth pupils gained valuable insight into the world of work in February after spending two days shadowing Impact Trainings Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tutor Lesa McKee. Christopher Johnston and Michael Haskins, who are studying ICT at the Boys Model, helped Lesa with a number of practical and useful tasks, including preparing an internet related quiz, helping with a pamphlet for our trainees and carrying out some filing and archiving for Lesa. Michael saw the shadowing sessions as an opportunity to gain very useful work based experience and confidence while Christopher said, The two days I spent at Impact with Lesa really helped me improve my communication skills.
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Issue 2. March/April 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

DeLanna Recalls Trip Of A Lifetime

BUSINESS Administration trainee DeLanna Minford will never forget the summer of 2012 and who would blame her. On 25th August, DeLanna, and fellow trainee Amy McQuade, set off from Belfast docks aboard the tall ship the Pelican of London on what would be the trip of a lifetime. The two Impact trainees were part of a cross-community group of twenty eight young people from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who were taking part in the 2012 Ireland at Sea Youth Exchange Programme. As members of the crew for ten days, DeLanna and Amy helped sail the ship on a voyage that took them to Dublin, Isle of Man and Liverpool. To be honest, I was a bit frightened at the thought of going to sea on a sailing ship for ten days said DeLanna, I wasnt sure about being away from my family and living with a group of people I didnt know, except for Amy. I gave it a lot of thought but then I just decided to give it a go. What was the worst thing that could happen? Oh yes, the ship could sink. Well, Amy and I made it back to Belfast alive having had an amazing experience and made so many friends. But it was also very hard work and I suffered from sea sickness for part of the time. We did lots of things we had never done before. It was really tough at times but at the end of the ten days I had so much confidence. Im so glad that Impact encouraged me to take part. Impact Training Assistant Manager, Joe Stewart, explained the organisations thinking. We encourage and fully support our young people to try new challenges such as this. The experience they get improves the employability of the young people and this is good for their future and the future of the communities in which they live The Ireland at Sea Youth Exchange Programme is funded by the Youth In Action Programme under the EU Commissions Youth programme. In Ireland it is administered by Leargas.

Impact Provides Route To Employment

FORMER Impact trainees, Jay Sterrett and William McKee know the value of completing their qualifications, working hard and keeping their noses clean while on work placement. In September 2012, the two local lads completed the Training for Success programme having gained a NVQ Diploma Level 2 in Site Carpentry qualification and an offer of a Level 3 apprenticeship with their placement provider, WJM Building Services. Getting the Level Two qualification through Impact really helped me, said Jay. It gave me the know-how and occupational skills I needed to work for a company like WJM. I do joinery work in places like schools and hospital across Greater Belfast. William explained that getting the Diploma Level Two qualification provided him with a foundation for further skills development. As an apprentice with WJM, I am working towards a Level Three Joinery qualification which will allow me to take on staff supervision jobs in the future.

Michael McDowell, who is a Director with WJM said, We were very pleased to employ Jay and William following what were very successful work placements with us.

Issue 2.March/April 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

Striding Forward With Steps to Work

English classes working towards a Level Two Communications (English) qualification. She also signed up for a Level 2 Application of Number (Maths) course. At first I was pretty anxious but I soon realised that I was no different from the other members of the class, said Michelle. I made the right decision because when I finish I will have qualifications that are the same as English and Maths GCSEs at grade C. SHANKILL Road women Michelle Hamilton and Marian Beattie have been taking great strides forward since joining Impacts Steps to Work programme last year. Both women joined the training scheme for unemployed adults last year with the desire to improve their job prospects. By taking part in a work placement in the Holy Ground cafe located on the Shankill/ Falls peaceline, they have made excellent progress towards achieving their objective. Michelle and I work four days a week serving in the cafe, said Marian. The staff in Holy Ground are really nice and we both have learnt so much about working in a modern cafe. We have to use different types of catering equipment and deal with customers in the right way. It can be difficult sometimes but it is great training. When single parent Michelle volunteered for the six months Steps to Work programme in October last year, she had no intention of doing any training courses in English or Maths. However, after speaking to Impacts Steps to Work Coordinator Michelle realised that by improving her own English and Maths skills she would also be able to help her daughter with her homework. Michelle overcame her initial fears and joined one of Impacts Marian, who also volunteered for the Steps to Work programme, was happy to join Impacts English and Maths Level One classes on Thursdays. I had been involved in road accidents when I was young and as a result had missed a lot of schooling. My Thursday classes give me a chance to make up for some of what I missed. Michelle and Marian prefer not to put themselves under too much pressure with regard the future but both would like to progress to the VRQ Food Hygiene qualification and after that gain part-time or full-time employment in Catering and Hospitality. Impact Training will do everything it can to help them, said Co-ordinator, Siobhan Sales.

Learning While Having A Great Time

LEARNING can be such great fun. Thats what a group of Impact trainees discovered on the first day of a twelve week Belfast Activity Centre programme. On 16th January, the eight young people kick started their involvement in an exciting and challenging personal development course. Each Wednesday until Mid April, the trainees take part in outdoor pursuits such as caving, canoeing, mountain biking, bouldering and climbing. The aim is to strengthen their leadership and team building skills and improve their confidence. Impact Training co-ordinator for the initiative, Gemma King, explained the benefits for the young people. Many of the outdoor pursuits present totally new challenges for our trainees. Taking part in the activities often involves overcoming personal barriers such as
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anxiety. As the barriers fade away, the self-confidence and esteem of the trainees soars.

Issue 2. March/April 2013

Impact Training Maximising Potential

Impact Spreads The Word

armed services and higher education were at the convention. They were all promoting their services to the one thousand Year 12, 13 and 14 pupils from ten different schools who attended the event. Kelly Henry said, This is a great opportunity for young people to find out about what Impact has to offer. As well as vocational training in Joinery, Engineering, Retail, Business Administration, Catering & Hospitality, Childcare, Stores & Warehousing, and Information Communication Technology, there is also valuable Essential Skills, Employability and Personal Development training. There are also lot of enjoyable recreational and interest activities for our trainees to benefit from.

Do Your Head In

KELLY Henry joined Manager, Florence Irvine at the North Belfast Business and Education Partnership Careers Convention on 12th February. Their objective was to spread the word about the great opportunities available to young people with Impact Training. A wide range of organisations from business, industry, the

February Quiz Answers Tutor names mixed up letters.

1. CLEERFON INEVIR Florence Irvine 2. SEAL KECEM Lesa McKee 3. TENTEAN YALECUM Annette McAuley 4. NORGOD TARTWES Gordon Stewart 5. PECTOCAN Concepta Laverty VERYTAL

6. GAMEM GINK Gemma King 7. LEKLY REYHN Kelly Henry 8. MIJ SNAWERD Jim Andrews 9. TAJEN SLOWIN Janet Wilson 10. RAILGO CLEMLIN Gloria McNeill

WORK out the names of the courses offered at Impact Training from the jumbled up letters below. March Clues
1. NIRTCAGE DAN LITHSPOITAY 2. GREENGINNIE 3. ROYJINE 4. RACHLICED 5. LIRATE 6. MOCTIONUMANIC 7. SNUBSISE MDINA 8. ROSTES NAD RAGEHISNOWU 9. TABYPLYLIMIEO