Issue date 13th June,
POVERTY ACTION PLAN /17 This document outlines our key Poverty Strategy objectives as detailed in our Poverty Strategy, the steps we are taking or intend to take to meet them and the timescales we expect to achieve them in. In drawing up these objectives and actions we have drawn on our work to date. We have extended consideration to five main strategic objectives which are defined by Welsh Government. Strategic objectives for tackling Child Poverty To reduce the number of families living in workless households, as children living in workless households are particularly at risk of living in poverty To increase the skills of parents and young people living in low income households so that they can secure well paid employment and in-work progression as in work poverty is a growing issue To reduce the inequalities which exist in the health, education and economic outcomes of children and families by improving the outcomes of the poorest. Preventing poverty is fundamental to the long term vision for supporting low income households To use all available levers to create a strong economy and labour market which supports the tackling poverty agenda and reduces inwork poverty in Wales To support families living in poverty to increase household income through debt and financial advice action to address the poverty premium (where households pay disproportionately more for goods and services) and action to mitigate the impacts of welfare reform Priority Action Plan Objective 1 Reducing the number of families living in workless households The actions we will take to meet this objectives and when we will do this by:- Action Lead By when Objectives met Review the College Tutorial Programme Progress HOSLS Jul 1 The College Tutorial programme has been reviewed by Curriculum Cluster and is currently being revamped for /17. This will include the introduction of WEST. Outcome
Increase the numbers of learners HOSLS Jun 2017 1 To date for the academic year accessing Work Experience 2015/16 100% of learners who have requested work placement have secured placements through the support of the Work Experience Officer. Implement WEST full diagnostic for all HOFHASS Sept 1 The College has piloted the WEST learners and upskilling resources tool in 2015/16 prior to its full implementation with Level 2 and Entry level learners. The Head of Faculty for HASS has led a Task and finish group for its full implementation. To date all learners attending for interview have completed the Initial screener in literacy and numeracy. From enrolment days commencing in August all learners will complete the full diagnostic in literacy and numeracy within the first two weeks of term. This is me Programme to be run in /17 and during summer engagement HOSLS Sept 1 The College has successfully run the this is me programme in 2014/15. With sessions taking place on a monthly basis. Sessions are run and made available to all course areas. Sessions on a fortnightly basis have been booked from September onwards. Develop an Employment Bureau for APR Dec 1 This is currently being actioned in ongoing
learners seeking part time work/apprenticeships via My Day. Continue to deliver DWP Programmes to assist the long term unemployed to gain sustainable work and increase household income readiness for /17 academic year to ensure that all vacancies are placed in one central area and made widely available to learners. DFCS/CWTWM Sept 1 The College will continue to deliver DWP programmes under the management of the Community and Welfare to Work Manager, in accordance with its contract. To date the College has completed delivery of Post Work Programme (PWP) and transitional employability skills support both for DWP. The College continues to sub contract for working links delivery of work programme in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. Objective 2 Increasing skills amongst parents and young people The actions we will take to meet this objectives and when we will do this by:- Action Lead By when Objectives met Progress Outcome Review Skills Support Strategy to HOFHASS Sept 1/2 There has been a review
include Basic Skills Support and the implementation of WEST Increase Work Experience within Curriculum Area Programmes Promote Higher Education provision to promote graduate qualifications locally and update of the Skills Strategy for /17. This includes a review of WEST and the role of the Study Support Advisors. CC Sept 2 518 learners have completed work placement in 2015/16 as opposed to 433 in 2014/15. It is envisaged that this target will be increased in /17 and that work placements will be accessible to all learners. CC/HOIHER Sept 2 The College has appointed a Head of HE recruitment who is working closely with the HE sector to increase recruitment and open up more routes for HE study. The College is hosting some targeted events in June and is currently undertaking a marketing campaign for HE recruitment. The College will host an HE conference on the 22
June. Provide Apprenticeship opportunities APR June 2015 2 The College has during the academic year 2015/16 established a company to recruit apprenticeships for local employers. There is strong provision for work based learning within the College and through the B-wbl consortium, which was inspected in 2014/15. Learners are made aware of apprenticeships and opportunities are promoted at Careers events. Increase engagement with Business and Employers APR /HOWBL June 2017 2 There is already substantial engagement with employers through the College s work based learning programme and with Faculty links as well as through the work of the College s work experience officer. Work will continue to expand links around apprenticeship delivery and HE provision.
Objective 3 Reducing the inequalities which exist in the Health Education and economic outcomes of children and families living in Poverty, by improving the outcomes of the poorest The actions we will take to meet this objectives and when we will do this by:- Action Lead By when Objectives met Progress Outcome Submit Reaching Wider Plan for /17 to upskill GCSE qualification and provide enhanced support for Looked After Children (LAC) Ensure effective Multi-Agency partnership working and arrangements are in place to support leaners Schedule Open Days and Parents Evening for /17 HOSLS HOSLS MAM September September September 3 The College has met its targets for the Reaching Wider plan for 2015/16 and is set to submit its bid in the final year of the three-year funding. The bid for /17 is currently being prepared and will focus on upskilling via GCSEs and the support of our looked after children. 3 The College has strong and effective partnership arrangements in place with all key agencies and these are underpinned by WASPI information protocols. 3 The open days for the forthcoming academic year are in the College s Academic Calendar. Heads of Faculty and Faculty teams are Complete
planning Parents evenings for mid November via their FMTs. Produce a Parent s Guide for /17 HOHLS/HOTL June 3 A parents guide has been produced and is currently being circulated in draft format via the Heads of Service and Faculty. Update the Health and Wellbeing calendar for /17 Identify via Admissions/Enrolment/Tutorial and Service Intervention learners who are in hardship and crisis and provide immediate support College Nurse Admissions Guidance Officer June 3 A Health and Wellbeing schedule has been prepared for the /17 academic year this will be included within the Tutorial programme. September 3 All learners will be screened on application and via the interview and enrolment process we will aim to identify and support all learners in hardship. Information regarding financial support will be circulated to all learners and their parents. For year of entry the College will have access to the VAP and this will ensure that early intervention can be made in supporting crisis Complete
Ensure access to learners to the College s MAT and Enrichment Programmes providing financial support to those in hardship Track destinations to Employment and Higher Education and hardship. HOSLS December 3 The College via the FCF and the SEREN Hub support funds will support learners who wish to access enrichment and MAT activities and are prevented from doing so by financial hardship. Information will be provided to learners at induction and will be further supported via the Tutorial process. For 2015/16 there is substantial evidence via the FCF return how learners have been supported to take part in enrichment activities. There has also been considerable sponsorship of learners who wish to take part in World Skills competitions, including peer support of those learners taking part. CC June 2017 3 Learners destinations are currently being tracked through the Progression
Continue to embed Safeguarding at the heart of the College Boards for 2015/16 with enhanced procedures in place following a full review form 2014/15. Higher education destinations will be tracked from the UCAS reports and an annual report produced. HOSLS June 2017 3 The College has worked very hard to embed a safeguarding culture and ethos within the College including the new Prevent duty. Staff development and refresher training are ongoing. There is a focus of safeguarding for learners within the induction and tutorial programme and the College for will pilot the new Prevent tutorial. The safeguarding panel meets on a monthly basis to oversee activity. Case work continues to be well managed and is handled in accordance with the All Wales protocols.
Participation in Welsh Government review of College and University Health Standards Revise the college Tutorial Programme under Aspire Promote access to Sutton Trust, Unique and Summer Schemes Higher Education Programmes HOSLS June 2017 3 Via the Coleg au Cymru Student Services Network there will be a full review of the inclusion of the Health standards for Universities and Colleges during the academic year /17. Through the College Nurse Service the College continues to demonstrate best practice. HOSLS/HOF HOSLS September December 3 The College Tutorial Programme is currently under revision and will be revised to include the implementation of the WEST tool. The programme will focus on the individual tutorial and mandatory elements linked to health and wellbeing, safeguarding and improving literacy and numeracy. 3 All year 12 learners are made aware during the delivery of the MAT programme of the availability of the Sutton
Promote access to the scheme in Russell Group Universities HOSLS December Trust programmes and Summer schemes and widening access to higher education. Full support is provided to learners in the completion of these applications and references are provided by the HOSLS to support these applications. To date we have 100% success rate in participation 3 The HOSLS through the MAT programme will cover access to Russell Group Universities and ensure support for all learners who are applying via these schemes. To date there has been 100% acceptance of applications that have been made under these schemes. The College is also visited by the University Co-ordinators who are managing these schemes for example Leeds University, which is
a popular choice for learners. Learners are also participating in the Oxbridge schemes that are occurring in the summer of. The Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire SEREN Hub is also leading on an Oxbridge trip on the 4-6 July. Objective 4 Create a strong economy and labour market which supports the tackling of the Poverty Agenda and reduces work poverty The actions we will take to meet this objectives and when we will do this by:- Action Lead By when Objectives met Progress Outcome Use labour market intelligence as part of the annual planning process Consider the purchase of Career Coach to embed LMI in learners careers guidance from the point of admission HOFs June 2017 4 Labour Market intelligence is used in the annual planning to inform course inclusion. HOSLS June 2017 4 There will be a demonstration of Career Coach at the College in early July. Extend Work Placement opportunities CC June 2017 4 There has been an
for learners Ensure awareness of the College s financial Contingency Fund (FCF) from the point of admission achieving target learners who would be eligible Establish a Bwbl Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) Embed Cynnydd support for learners who are at risk of becoming NEET HOSLS September increase over 2015/16 in the number of learners undertaking work placement. For /17 there will be an extension to this activity. To date 100% of learners who wished to access placement opportunities have been able to do so. 4 All learners are targeted with information at admissions and enrolment. Learners are also identified via tutors if they are in need of support. Targeted work linked to the poverty strategy is also ongoing with regards to bulk purchase arrangements. APR June 4/5 A B-wbl financial contingency fund has been established and has been promoted to all partners. DFCS June 2017 4 Cynnydd support is being rolled out to all learners and is being managed via the College s Internal
Hold Internal Agency Reviews (IAR) on a weekly basis to ensure the management of learners at risk Agency Review to ensure maximum access to support for learners. To date 4 learners have been signed up as Cynnydd learners with 20 learners being engaged with. HOSLS June 2017 4 Internal Agency Review meetings are held weekly on a Wednesday and chaired by the HOSLS. The meetings focus on learners who are at risk and ensure that via internal and external support their needs are being met. The Internal Agency Review consists of all College staff who support learners and also a member of the Corporate Parenting Team is invited to attend. Through this forum our Looked After Children are monitored. Reaching Wider monies also are also used to target support for these learners.
Objective 5 Supporting households here and now to increase their household income and address the poverty premium The actions we will take to meet this objectives and when we will do this by:- Action Lead By when Objectives met Progress Outcome Provide detailed information on Financial Support for learners at the point of admission and during enrolment. Undertake a Poverty Survey during Induction to inform the college of learners access to technologies and broadband access HOSLS September 4/5 Detailed information has been provided to learners at the point of admission and discussed during the interview. Information is included in the parents guide and is recovered at enrolment. HOSLS October 5 A Poverty Survey regarding the use of and access to technologies was undertaken during induction in 2015/16. The results of this survey have informed the allocation of financial support for laptops via the FCF. An annual survey will now be
Introduce a Bwbl Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) across all providers Include Financial and Digital Literacy Programmes within the Tutorial/Health and Wellbeing programme Investigate the development of a College Credit Union Ensure the availability of funds for crisis intervention undertaken and the results used to inform the Poverty Strategy and allocation of Student Financial Support funds for /17. APR June 4/5 A B-wbl financial contingency fund has been established and has been promoted to all HOFHASS HOSLS December December partners. 5 Within the implementation of WEST there is a digital literacy module which will be accessed by all learners. 5 Initial discussions have taken place with regards to the establishing of a credit union. From September at the Admissions HOSLS June 2017 5 FCF funds are allocated in crisis situations and are available throughout the year. Through multiagency working all funds which are available to learners are accessed at the point of crisis