Care in the Community

CARE IN THE COMMUNITY LEVEL 3

The European Social Fund project is NVQ Level 3 training and is currently in its third year with Workforce Training Services. ESF Programme

The project provides NVQ3 qualifications in two vocational areas, ‘Children’s Care Learning and Development’ and ‘Business Administration’ to a group of sixty women, over year period. NVQ Level 3 is a high-level qualification, allowing the women to work in a supervisory capacity in their chosen field.

As well as NVQ Level 3 training, the participants undertake training in Basic Food Hygiene, Paediatric First Aid and Diversity training.

The project is based on a similar programme that Workforce Training Services initiated in the year 2000. This pilot project was very successful and subsequently won both a Regional and National Training Award.

Workforce Training Services attribute the success of these programmes to the diligence of the participants and to the high levels of support available to them from all staff involved in the projects.

The programmes have a strong cross-community dimension and Workforce is proud that they attract participants from both sides of the religious/cultural divide. The current group reflects this with an almost even breakdown of participants from both sectors of the community. The programme includes extra-curricular activities designed to develop and strengthen cross-community relations in North and West Belfast.