|2nd Round Approved DPs|

Hi Hopes in the Highlands & Islands DP

Objectives
Hi Hopes is a regional Theme E development partnership (DP), covering the Highland and Islands (H&I) with partners covering a wide range of sectors and geographical locations. The DP will test new models of supported learning and social enterprise development, as well as transferring good practice across DP partners and communities.  New on-line tools and support will be developed, learning from good practice in other communities.

We will work towards this aim by

• Supporting the most vulnerable and socially-excluded members of the community, enabling them to progress their lives, skills, abilities and active citizenship through participation in the labour market
• Recruiting and retaining people in target professions experiencing, or anticipating, shortages of skilled workers by the provision of adequate lifelong learning and Continued Professional Development (CPD)The target groups for intervention are being identified through research undertaken during Action 1.

Target Groups
Socially and geographically excluded people, people with disabilities, people with mental health problems, non-traditional learners

Pilot Projects and Mainstreaming Outcomes

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (CnES) - Adult Literacy and CPD & Peripatetic Projects
The Adult Education Project aimed to establish a Learning Shop in Harris, staffed on a part time basis providing literacy and numeracy support to local residents who have until now been denied this type of support.
The Learning Shop in Harris is now up and running and will continue post Equal funding. The project is currently being funded through a mix of Community Regeneration and Adult Literacies Strategic Plan funding.  Discussions and planning have been on-going between CnES and the local Enterprise Company, College and Council of Voluntary Services re establishing a more sustainable funding streams for learning provision in Harris.  A provisional agreement has been reached in which venue, staffing and equipment costs will be shared between the four partner agencies and it is planned that the provision will be funded in this way from the next financial year.

The Peripatetic Assessment Project focussed on the recruitment and mobilisation of four peripatetic assessors for VQs throughout the Western Isles. The assessors have covered four sectoral areas (care, childcare, motor vehicle and administration) areas where it has proven difficult for small local companies to recruit staff due to the limited sectoral skills support available in remote areas.
The CPD Project delivered training for assessors and support for CPD through a range of network activities disseminated to other users throughout H&I.
Both the CPD and PA projects will actively continue post Equal funding.  CnES in partnership with Western Isles Health Board are presently producing a joint Business Plan in order to recruit full time Peripatetic Assessors as permanent members of staff for the delivery of care and associated awards.  CnES have also allocated match funding for further work on CPD and Lifelong Learning activities and additional funding is being sought to progress with this work particularly in supporting trainers, mentors and assessors delivering the Modern Apprenticeship

Cope LTD - Social Enterprise Projects
Cope Ltd have delivered in three core project areas:

• Research into small business models that engage disadvantaged groups in particular enterprises that offer training, support and employment opportunities to people with learning/physical/sensory disabilities.
• Development of small business models that can now be used as replication models for the establishment of new social enterprises.
• Development of European social economy Trade Net to service social enterprises in Belgium, Scotland, Poland and Italy.

Research into small business models has resulted in the development of a suite of transferable social enterprise business models which are now hosted on the Cope website www.cope.ltd.uk.  Through research funded through Equal Cope are now emerging social enterprises can explore; how to develop a business with a social conscience, the process of developing the idea into a viable social enterprise and how to avoid the pitfalls.  Cope will also continue to offer a variety of services to help other social enterprises with marketing and brand identities.

On the transnational arena Cope have provided consultancy support for the Barka Foundation (member of Hi Hopes SETEN transnational partnership) based in Poland for the set up of a skin care manufacturing and retailing enterprise, continued support will be made available to Barka through their growing European consultancy arm post Equal funding.

Cothrom Ltd - Social Enterprise and Supported Learning in the Workplace Projects
Cothrom Ltd have delivered in two separate project areas:              

• Creation of new Social Enterprise in furniture restoration and recycling.

• Development and delivery of Supported Learning in the Workplace accredited PDA.

Within the auspices of Equal funding Cothrom established furniture and recycling social enterprise called Re-Store, funding from Equal was used to provide training to disadvantaged members of the community who were experiencing barriers to employment.  Cothrom completed all activity within Equal in June of 2007 and sadly declined to continue in Action 3 due to match funding challenges.  Funds to continue training within the Re-Store premises were sourced through the Community Economic Development Fund until December 07, it is hoped that a pending ESF application will support continued training 2008/9.

The development of the PDA “Supporting Learning in the Workplace” was completed and accredited; Cothrom will continue to market this product on a full cost recovery basis across the Western Isles.  Cothrom are also in active discussions with Learndirect Scotland re delivery through the LDS physical and electronic network.

Highland Council - Transition Project
The focus of the Highland Council Project has been to improve transition from secondary school to adult life for young people with disability and to create an approach which will ensure that the transition is seamless.  Specific outputs include:

• Transition document “My Transition Guide” – a tool to create a standard for transition throughout Highland and embedded in transitions practice.
• Directory of Services “It’s my choice” –a tool to support the transition guide and will provide an information resource for young people and their supporters throughout the transition process.
• “Its my Journey” Consultation Document and DVD – based on discussions with young people currently involved in the transition process, document has informed the transition guide ensuring young people have a voice.

My Transition Guide – document will be trialled from December 07.  This follows a consultation process with heads of service from Social Work, Education and Careers.  The focus group set up to assist the production of the document will continue to meet and be involved in the project.  The guide will be disseminated in Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Colleges in various locations throughout Highlands & Islands with the core aim of adoption as a standard for transition throughout H&I, thereby being embedded in the transition process.

Directory of Services “Its my Choice” – the directory is not in print and will be disseminated to all Secondary Schools, Careers Offices, Social Work Departments across H&I.  The document will also be made available through the Highland Council website and the Education Department virtual library.

Updating of information contained within the directory has been identified as a vital component in maintaining the integrity of work undertaken and discussions are currently underway in order to identify the most appropriate funding route.

Learndirect Scotland developed the following innovative activities;

Air Splaoid, of a series of Gaelic on-line learning resources utilizing engaging animation to bring relevance to developing Gaelic language skills.

Learning4Life developed by North Highland College

Living in the Highlands a resource pack developed by WEA for use by tutors supporting ESOL learners

Providing guidance on supply/demand issues relating to training development.

Air Splaoid - A series of on-line learning resources have been developed using the context of the Highland Year of Culture 2007.Additional work currently underway through LDS to ensure that material remains relevant post Year of Culture and Hi Hopes.

Learning4Life/ North Highland College – a series of on-line learning materials at Access Level 1 have been developed through Hi Hopes by North Highland College; the full suite of modules now available through Skillnet

Living in the Highlands / WEA - A resource pack has been developed by WEA for use by tutors supporting ESOL learners; Learn Direct Scotland is now working with WEA to widen the context of the resource across Scotland as a whole.

Lochaber College  - Learning bites Project
The pilot aimed to promote life long learning linked to “bites” of UHI MI degree courses, together with development of mini prospectus listing modules available. The mini prospectus is now complete; discussions underway to support the adoption of the modules by UHI Millennium Institute.  Module information to be made available in PDF form linked to Lochaber College website www.lochabercollege.co.uk allowing for easy update of information

North Highland College - On-line learning bytes Project
A suite of 14 on-line learning bytes has been piloted, mapped to SQA curriculum at Access Level, utilizing different ‘assistive technologies’.
The mainstreaming of the developed modules is being fully funded by North Highland College; the materials will be used for students enrolling on “Learning for Life” and Learning for Work” courses.  Materials will also be available through the College intranet and LDS Skillnet.

As a result of the project CPD has been promoted in a number of ways:

• Development of a Learning Centre Leaflet which explains what a learning centre is to the business, the community and the individual.
• Awareness raising events in partnership with Lead Scotland
• Network video conference promotional events with course leaders
• Participation in Highland Adult Literacy’s Conference during which the opportunity was taken to raise awareness of options available through a typical learning centre
• Scottish Government visit – SOS Granton hosted a working lunch for Steven Kerr and Hugh MacAloon who expressed a keen interest in the wide range of subjects accessible through learning centers.

All modules developed through UHI CPD will be incorporated within core delivery these include:

• New Enterprise Development
• Developing an Enterprise Capacity
• Social Enterprise Leadership
• Social Enterprise Business Development
• eMarketing
• Business Informatics
• Leading and Leadership
• Entrepreneurialism: Creativity through Collaboration
• European Enterprise Development
• European Social Enterprise
• Science in Society
• Attracting and Applying for External Funding
• Local Economic Development

The induction development that the project was supporting has also been completed and is now available online at:  http://www.uhi.ac.uk/currentstudents/studentinduction

Developed ideas for a summer school in enterprise have been completed that would allow the programme to be run as both an undergraduate module and also as a separate programme to promote economic development within the region.

As a result of the Project a Centre for Rural Innovation Management has been evolving and now has a different provisional title – ICE (Innovation Creativity and Enterprise).  A separate project funded by HIE created an outline proposal and business plan for the Centre and that proposal has been undergoing review and development.  Senior Managers at UHI and financial specialists have been seeking to strengthen the business plan for the project to present detailed proposals to UHI and HIE in the coming months.

Moray College - Men into Care Project
The pilot consist of a Course aiming at:

• Addressing the local and national under-representation of men in the care workforce by encouraging men to apply for employment or courses in care
• Raising male awareness of the career opportunities and educational routes in the care sector
• Exploring with participants the complex social and cultural issues which lie behind the stereotypes that exist in relation to ‘the caring role’
•  ‘Men into Care’ course is now being considered for mainstream delivery both in terms of course content and teaching methodology. 

TAG Highland Rag Tag & Textile
The pilot developed innovative action to research, establish and evaluate at least two social enterprises employing adults recovering from mental health illness. One of the enterprise set up by the project is Rag Tag & Textile.

Rag Tag & Textile has been chosen as one of 8 successful awardees throughout Scotland for a 2 year investment package from the Scottish Communities Foundation, also awaited is the outcome of a funding bid made through Comic Relief.  Should Comic Relief funding be successful this will allow for the recruitment of management staff and business expansion to include new premises for the sorting, washing and preparing of the raw material ready to be used in production at Balmacara.
Funding has also been received from Awards for All towards volunteer training and expenses.

Voluntary Action Lewis - Mentoring and Training
VAL delivered its innovative activities in 2 separate project areas:

• Provision of  direct mentoring and training support for individuals from a number of disadvantaged groups including adults with special needs;
• Exploration of a number of options in relation to the initiation of a social enterprise, with a focus on the development of bakery and chocolatier.

Social Business Development – VAL had hoped to develop one social business and have, in fact, taken three social businesses beyond the feasibility stage of planning. All three businesses have been established as Community Interest Companies: Hebridean Chocolates CIC, Aran Math CIC and Staran Enterprises CIC. They have also developed their Community Transport division to the stage where it is functioning as a social business, though it still remains within the parent organisation, and have made substantial purchases of property in Stornoway to house the developing businesses.

Hebridean Chocolates CIC - Funding has been awarded by the Scottish Government through the Office of the Third Sector and will be used for capital works associated with the business. The business plan for HC CIC is complete, including all market research, marketing and promotional strategy, distribution links, etc. Business support has been provided by HIE through Supply Partners. The business plan has been submitted to the HIE-IG support for capital set up costs and conversion of the Westview Terrace premises to accommodate the business. An ERDF application has been submitted. The business will move into production in 2008.

Aran Math CIC - Work on the organic bakery business plan is nearing completion and development of this CIC will represent Phase 2 of the business developments.

Staran Enterprises CIC - Contracts for landscaping and maintenance have been secured with Hebridean Housing Partnership and discussions are underway with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar with regard to contracts in the next financial.

Work is now nearing completion on evidencing the social need, including beneficiary involvement, social audit tools, strategic fit, etc, in preparation for submission to funders, including the Big Lottery Fund, trusts and agency funders (CnES, The Office of the Third Sector, Communities Scotland, etc). It is expected that a substantial bid to the Big Lottery Fund will be made early in 2008.

Action Research projects

UHI Market Research
The pilot aimed to investigate the barriers to engagement in education and training within specified social categories and within specified contrasting communities.
The research was intended to address both existing segments (including mature and part-time students – many from non-traditional backgrounds) and, importantly, segments presently under-represented in UHI.

The contact details of the Lead Partner are listed below:

Lead Partner:              UHI Millenium Institute
Person to Contact:       Nicola Smith
Telephone:                  01397 874809
Email:                         nicola.smith@uhi.ac.uk
Website:                     www.hihopes.org.uk