Completed Projects
In the many years that Exeter CVS has been around, it has been involved in the the support of many projects. Not all projects are still running. Here you can find information on these past projects.
Active Learning for Empowering Citizens - now 'Take Part'
Exeter CVS is part of the National 'Take Part' Network, following on from its successful South West Active Learning for Empowering Citizens (ALAC) pilot funded by the Civil Renewal Unit in 2005-2006. Under ALAC we developed Empowering Citizens by empowering service users to become involved in the shaping of public services. This consisted of an OCN accredited Speaking Up/Making Your Voice Heard training course which was delivered to 180 learners from diverse groups in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, and included carers, mental health service users, people with learning disabilities, people with physical and sensory disabilities, and a Sure Start Parent Group. This project ran until March 2006.
Banking Made Easy
What is Exeter CVS' role in this project?- Exeter CVS runs a number of projects working with people with learning difficulties, and offers 'Banking Made Easy' as an additional learning opportunity
- The project runs interactive and enjoyable workshops to help explain some of the elements of looking after money, banking jargon and how banks work
- The workshop includes a visit to a bank to meet the staff to find out how they can help
- We have developed an accessible information pack to help people with learning difficulties understand the world of banking and how to look after their money.
Devon Diversity Project
The Devon Diversity Project was part of the research and development activities of the EQUAL funded ' Progress GB project' (Refugee Integration and Empowering Citizens Project) and ran until March 2006. The target groups for Progress GB were refugees and migrant workers, many of whom have language and wider skills needs. The Devon Diversity project expanded the target groups to include settled people from black and minority ethnic groups in Devon and Plymouth.
Drive
'Diversity, Racial Inclusion in Volunteering for Everyone' (DRIVE) project was established in 2003, with the aim of: "...encouraging, supporting and recruiting volunteers from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds to volunteer in our local communities".
Empowering Communities
The South West regional consortium of the National Empowerment Partnership
Its purpose is to improve the quality and functioning of relationships between citizens and government in the South West, and to increase the ability of people to influence the decisions which affect their lives.
English@Work Project
English language classes with local information and active citizenshipExeter CVS was a partner in the English@Work project, run by the Devon and Torbay Learning Partnership. Exeter College and Devon Adult Learning are developing an English@Work programme, a course to be delivered to migrant workers in the workplace in Exeter and the Heart of Devon area. This is being piloted first with local employers.
Equality & Human Rights
Funded by the New Commission for Equality and Human Rights, this project aimed to raise awareness and knowledge of the Human Rights Act 1998 and Equalities Legislation across Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations in Devon.
ESOL Pathfinder
Exeter CVS led an action research project with ESOL providers and agencies in Exeter and Plymouth, as one of 10 national Pathfinder projects for the Department for Education and Skills, which ran until March 2005. The project evaluated ESOL provisions, highlighted good practice and made recommendations.
Learning Disability Carers
This project gives carers of adults with a Learning Disability an opportunity to express their views on the services that their cared for receive and to provide opportunities for carers to get together in an informal way. Groups are established in Exeter, Honiton and Exmouth.
Learning for Integration, Learning for Active Citizenship - (A Grundtvig 1 transnational cooperation project) (LILAC)
Exeter CVS led this European funded LILAC project until December 2005 which tackled the barriers to integration for refugees and migrants. It provided information on services and life in the host country in the form of learning materials which can be used in language classes.
Learning for Living
A qualification for carers that you can study at home and with other carers
City & Guilds Certificate in Personal Development and Learning for Unpaid Carers (3613). Designed specifically for unpaid carers by Carers UK, in partnership with City & Guilds, this is a course in personal development. It is designed by carers for carers to build on the skills carers and former carers develop in their caring roles. This course is the first nationally recognised qualification of its kind, and will help you to build your CV for future paid employment, or provide a step up into further education or training.
Learning to Involve
Working with service providers, service users and carers
What is the Learning to Involve Project?
Learning to Involve is a multi agency project between the voluntary sector (Exeter CVS working with carers and service users in Devon and their advocacy/support groups), Devon County Council's Adult & Community Services, and NHS Devon Partnership Trust (Mental Health). The project offers learning and development opportunities for carers and service users to help them have the confidence to speak up, and for the staff providing those services to help them understand the issues from the perspective of the people who use their services.
Migrant Network Development Project
Exeter CVS worked with other public agencies who came together in a Migrant Workers Task Group in Devon. The task group worked to ensure that the interests and support needs of migrants were being considered.
Moving On - (A Grundtvig 2 Learning Partnership)
Exeter CVS led the European-funded project until December 2005, which produced a video entitled ‘Moving On’. The video portrays the journey of 5 disadvantaged people from across Europe returning to learning. Its message to other learners is that the learning achievement can make a huge difference to their lives, and help them overcome barriers, whether it is disability, family responsibilities, lack of confidence and self-esteem.
Neighbourhood Engagement Project
By establishing local partnerships this project created neighbourhoods where all residents had an opportunity to make their voices heard concerning local issues and decisions affecting their local area. The work is now being carried forward by the new Take Part Exeter project.
New Inclusion through Capacity in Exeter - NICE
The NICE Project was supported by the Learning and Skills Council - Devon and Cornwall until September 2005. The project’s focus was organisational development and the project helped over 50 organisations in the 18 months that it was running. The project supported organisations in various ways, from outreach to managers’ forums, and dealt with all aspects of organisational development, including funding, quality assurance and training.
Pension Service Partnership Project - Improving financial awareness for older people
Working in partnership with Exeter CAB and Bideford CAB we provided entitlements advice using community champion volunteers, delivered developmental workshops for individuals and a dissemination conference looking at the issues of the "hard to reach".
Refugee and Migrant Employment - Progress GB Project
This project addressed the issue of unemployment and under-employment of refugees and migrants by working both with refugees and employers, which developed positive images and maximised the employment potential of refugees and migrants. The emphasis was on partnership working between agencies from different sectors, in order to pool their expertise and knowledge. Exeter CVS set up a multi-agency partnership for the South West pilot in Plymouth, which employed a Refugee Employment Advisor. The project ran until June 2007 and was managed by Plymouth MIND.
Refugee Integration and Empowering Citizens Project
This project, which finished in June 2006, supported the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in Devon through:
- interviews with refugees, service providers and employers to identify the issues and barriers
- Cooperation with public and voluntary sector providers at all levels to improve the services provided to refugees and asylum seekers
- Promoting active citizenship with refugees and asylum seekers - what are their rights and responsibilities, what can they expect from public services
- Supporting voluntary organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers, e.g. by developing partnerships.
Read more about refugee intergration and empowering citizens project
Side By Side
What is the Side by Side scheme?
Side by Side is a community-based scheme which places volunteers alongside adults who have a learning disability, to support them in achieving their personal goals. People with a learning disability are given an opportunity to develop their personal and independent living skills and to have greater access to facilities and activities in the community.
Once a match is made, volunteer and client meet weekly or fortnightly to spend time together for a minimum period of six months. This could involve having a coffee in a café, going for a swim, attending a college course or undertaking a specific project.
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