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MERSEYSIDE PRISON LEADS THE WAY ON LEARNING
MAGHULL based
HMP Kennet is set to lead the way in reducing re-offending in
Merseyside by implementing the LSC’s new integrated offenders’
learning and skills service (OLASS). The service aims to break
the cycle of failure and drive down re-offending by providing skills
for employability, giving better access to employment on release.
OLASS also aims to integrate offender education within mainstream
academic and vocational provision to ensure offenders experience
seamless provision in both custodial and community settings.
HMP Kennet is a male category C prison, accommodating 350 prisoners.
All inmates are expected to benefit from OLASS, which will cover
areas such as construction skills, media, catering, IT, numeracy and
literacy. Merseyside based training provider Mercia
Partnership (UK) Ltd has been awarded the contract by the LSC in the
North West to deliver learning and skills services to the prison.
Mercia Partnership’s Managing Director, Andrew Taylor said:-
“Access to quality training dramatically impacts on the quality of
life and the chances of employment offenders can look forward to
when they leave prison and also on their rehabilitation. We are
pleased to be able to deliver what will be a very specialist high
quality provision of learning that will make a real difference to a
great many people.”
Helen France, LSC Director of Area for Greater Merseyside comments:-
“Since August 2006 the LSC has been responsible for offender
learning and skills across England. In line with government targets
the service aims to help reduce the re-offending rate by ten per
cent by 2010. The North West was one of the first regions to deliver
OLASS and Merseyside will be at the forefront of this innovative new
service.”
The Governor of HMP Kennet, Steve Lawrence, said:- "This is
the first public sector prison to open since 1996. I am looking
forward to working in partnership with the LSC and Mercia
Partnership (UK) Ltd. The regime at the prison is built around
training and education facilities for offenders. If we get this
right we should meet our targets for reducing re-offending.”
Energy Costs Go
Through The Roof
DID you know
that in a typical British home around 1/3rd of the heat produced by
a central heating system is lost through the roof and walls? This
means that for a poorly insulated property up to £1 out of every £3
spent on central heating is literally going through your roof and
walls. In a bid to target this unnecessary waste of money and
energy, the Heat Project, a long running nationwide campaign,
actively aims to reduce householders’ energy usage and save them
money.
The Heat Project is a hugely successful campaign that was
established by the award winning firm of energy consultants, Enact,
in 1997. The project has been endorsed by Local Authorities across
England and Wales for 10 years, saving over 10 million tonnes of CO2
which has helped to significantly reduce householders’ own carbon
footprint through the installation of loft and cavity wall
insulation.
The Heat Project plans to target all households in the Lancashire
region including Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Bury, Chorley,
Formby, Ormskirk, Preston, Rochdale, Skelmersdale and Southport,
over the next few months through a mail shot campaign intended to
inform homeowners, private tenants and those on benefits of the
grants and heavily discounted prices available to them for loft and
cavity wall insulation. In some cases, insulation measures could be
installed for free.
Providing potential energy savings worth up to £345 a year, the
insulation measures available through the Heat Project not only make
financial sense but also alleviate the ‘green’ conscience of
householders by drastically reducing their impact on climate change
through the reduction of C02 emissions. If you would like
further information about the Heat Project in your area please call
free on 0800 093 4050. |
SWINGERS WANTED!
MANCHESTER
based production company Juxtaposed Productions are holding open
auditions for their forthcoming 2007/2008 season which will start
off with ‘Get Happy’ a swing concert at The Bruntwood
Theatre, which is part of the RNCM this coming November. The show
will feature X-Factor babe Rowetta and The Kings of Swing Orchestra.
Juxtaposed are looking for strong vocalists from the age of 7 to 16
and adult singers aged 17+. Juxtaposed Productions are a leading
theatre producer who are also producing ‘Christmas on Broadway’
at The O2, London in December staring Stephen Gately and Marti Webb.
They are also producing a National Tour of ‘Oh Happy Day’ in
the new year which will feature the one and only Gloria Gaynor.
All auditionees could be considered for other projects, producer
Daniel Wood says:- ‘We are initially looking for vocalists for
Get Happy, however if we find the right person they just might find
themselves on the O2 stage in London or on tour dressed as a nun!’
If you would like to audition and want to have a shot at stardom
then you can attend the open auditions at The Royal Northern College
of Music on Saturday 6th October 2007. Call times as follows:
Children aged 7-16 9.30am Adults aged 17+ 11.00am. You should
prepare a song of your choice to be performed unaccompanied and
bring along a CV and photo if you have one.
Juxtaposed productions are committed to offer the people of the
North West the same opportunities that are available for London
based singers. Producer Daniel Wood says:- ‘Being a Manchester
based company we always come back to Manchester to audition as well
as auditioning in London, and we often find the best singers are
here in the North West, I just hope we find some new artists at our
forthcoming auditions!’.
So if you have what it takes then come along and have ago at the
open auditions, you never know, you might just get in! Get
Happy will be performed on Saturday 3 November 2007 at 7.30pm at The
Bruntwood Theatre. Tickets are £12.50 and £14.50 and can be
purchased by calling 0161 907 5555 or in person at the RNCM. You can
also book
online.
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