| USEL's Employees Excel in gaining accreditations |
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USEL in partnership with Shankill Open Learning Centre was succesful in obtaining funding through the European Union's Building Sustainable Prosperity in 2002 for a two-year training project. The project ended in March 2004 with results well above those planned. The training was aimed at increasing numeracy, literacy, personal capacity building, and ICT skills and to provide advice and guidance on career opportunities for 60 disabled employees. USEL's disabled employees also had the opportunity to test their alternative personal work choices through participation in a mimimum of 4 weeks fully paid work placements in mainstream employment environments.
The agreed target of 100 accreditations within the two-year programme was well exceeded with 253 having been achieved within an 18-month timeframe. This major achievement was obtained through the determination and commitment demonstrated by the workforce, several of who came into work to attend their class instruction whilst on holidays! Many of the USEL employees also gave up their lunch-breaks to put into practice their newly acquired ICT skills in the new computer suite.
Accreditations achieved include:
ILM Team Leader Award
AQA Literacy Level 1, 2 and 3 and Numeracy Level 1 and 2
CLAIT 1
OCN Introduction to Desktop Publishing
OCN Beginners ICT
OCN Introudtion to the Internet
OCN Confidence Building and Personal Development
OCN Making Choices
Other accredited courses included Fork Lift Truck Driving, ECDL, First Aid and Diversity Training.
This has stimulated a desire to learn more! 15 employees are learning BSL Stage 1 Sign Communication, with a further 15 signed up to commence in September 2004. A pilot team of 11 people is undertaking an NVQ Level 2 in Performing Manufacturing Operations and a further two-year European grant from Building Sustainable Prosperity has guaranteed that the hunger to learn will continue to be satisfied |
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| G Mills |
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