Back to School Uniform Project – Newtownards & Comber

The CYPSP Ards and North Down Locality Planning Group in partnership with the Ards Community Network are supporting families in the Newtownards & Comber area with a Back to School Uniform Project making this time of year a little less stressful for families.

We are asking families to donate good clean uniforms that they no longer need to the Ards Back to School Uniform Project.

For more information please click on the flyers below:

 

Forthill Students scoop top prize in logo design competition

Forthill Integrated College students win first prize in a competition to design a logo for Lisburn’s Help Kids Talks Initiative.

Creative Year 13 students of Forthill Integrated College are celebrating scooping top prize for designing the winning logo in a competition for Help Kids Talk, a Lisburn initiative that helps children learn to speak.

The students picked up a £300 Curry’s voucher and a one-to-one coaching session with a graphic designer.

Four post primary schools across Lisburn and Colin entered the competition to design a logo that would represent the initiative’s unique values and aspirations. A shocking 34% of primary one pupils starting school in Lisburn are reported to have mild to severe speech and language difficulties. The Help Kids Talk initiative offers vital training and support to any organisation that provides services to young children, including nursery schools, primary schools, church groups and childminders to name a few. The initiative is designed to ensure every child has the opportunity to develop essential language and communication skills for life.

Mabel Scullion, Early Intervention Lisburn LPG Manager said “The students really impressed me, they considered what Help Kids Talk is trying to achieve and used that information in the design process. The new logo will make a great first impression and will be used in all communications for the Help Kids Talk initiative”

Zahra Hutchinson, year 13 student of Forthill Integrated College said, “Creating the logo design for the competition was a great way of learning about help kids talk initiative. I learnt about the importance of parents talking to their children at an early age and what  impact it can make for their children in the future. It was very relevant to my course and gave me the knowledge to recognise signs of a speech and language difficulties in some children and encouraged me to do my own further research. It was great seeing my design of the logo transformed by the graphic designer and learn how she made it the way she did and why”.

Before and after logo below:

 

SERC launches course to help tackle youth unemployment

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) has launched a course aimed at 16-24-year olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET), thanks to funding from the European Social Fund.

College Connect is a one-year mentor led programme which provides participants the opportunity to undertake a Level 1 qualification with the aim of progressing into Further Education (FE) or employment. Participants over 18 years old in receipt of Job Seekers allowance will be allowed to retain their benefit for the duration of the programme.

The course will commence on 7 January 2019 and participants will have a personal mentor to help and support them throughout the qualification.

The course will cover modules such as Literacy, Numeracy, Teamwork Skills, Exploring Employment Opportunities as well as the opportunity to take part in a Vocational Taster course in Hospitality and Catering covering modules including: Food and Drink Service, Tea and Coffee Counter Service and Food Preparation and Cooking.

There are no formal qualifications required but applicants should have a passion for the area of work they have chosen.

On successful completion of the course, students can expect to be more employable thanks to enhanced personal development skills, valuable hands on experience, improved interview experience, CV writing ability and a vocational qualification.

If you would like to apply for College Connect, please call Barbara McNeill on 0345 600 7555, email BMcneill@serc.ac.uk or call into the Downpatrick Campus reception.

 

Regional Launch of Happy Smiles Programme

The South Eastern Outcomes Group have recently completed and evaluated the pilot Happy Smiles Programme in the South Eastern Trust area. Members of the Outcomes Group including the Community Dental Health team, PHA and Sure Start Coordinators worked together to embed the dental health awards scheme across all nurseries. Healthy breaks, tooth brushing and dental education were shared with front line staff and parents in the area. This month, the Health Minister, Michelle O’Neil launched the regional Happy Smiles Programme to improve oral health of preschool children across early years settings in Northern Ireland. In October 2016, Health Minister Michelle O’Neill visited Primate Dixon Primary School in Coalisland to launch the Happy Smiles programme for pre-school children.

Read more  – https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/minister-oneill-launches-happy-smiles-pre-school-children