With this in mind the school council have discussed how Beyond the Garden Gate funding could possibly help the school. By consulting with the 1650 pupils and staff they are proposing the unique idea of a ‘study sanctum’. This would benefit the pupils of the school and all pupils in partner and primary schools within the borough.

A ‘study sanctum’ would include all of the latest in media technology such as I-pads, kindles, computers in addition to traditional methods such as collections of books. This would make for a more relaxing and enjoyable experience of learning.

Equipment such as I-pads would allow for students to keep up to date with current affairs, develop and run extra curricular clubs such as science club or literature club all of which become very useful and  important when looking to apply to university.

At present there is nothing like this anywhere in the borough this could allow for a unique leading the way experience for the pupils and with many children not having access to technology in this way the pupils of the school council we quoted as saying:

We would like to create an area where ours and the extended community can have the same opportunities as Private Schools. This study sanctum could be used by every subject and every student no matter what their needs.

The pupils have put a lot of time and effort into their proposal and have thoroughly understood the meaning and the benefits of Beyond the Garden Gate. We will keep you updated on their progress.

 It is the first of its kind in the northwest and will help to launch the arrival of the Beyond the Garden Gate programme in the area.

We are hoping to see a number of children and families enjoying the game over the Easter holidays.

At Sure Group, our people are our greatest strength, and engineers are the most visible aspect of our business, dealing face to face with customers every day.

Engineering Apprenticeships help to drive our business forward, so we are keen to attract motivated and enthusiastic recruits, and provide them with a high standard of quality training.
We have a position for an apprentice to join Sure Group. working specifically within our Halton Housing Trust Team.

If you have at least 4 GSCE (C/3 or above) passes or equivalent, and if you are a great communicator who is self reliant, responsible and able to demonstrate pride and effort in all tasks undertaken, then we would like to hear from you.

You will undertake a 3 year apprenticeship to qualify as a Domestic Gas Service Engineer. You will enroll at college and successfully complete an NVQ level 3 via continual assessment, as well as joining the Sure Group/ Halton Housing Trust Engineers gaining vital on-site experience working in domestic properties.
T

o apply for this position, please apply in writing, sending your contact details, including information of your qualifications, and why you should be given this apprenticeship to:  Rachael Bennett, HR Officer, Sure Group, The Matchworks, Speke Road, Liverpool, L19 2RF

SURE Group Ltd – specialist M&E provider with an outstanding reputation for risk management, delivering excellent levels of service and actively promoting equality of opportunity.
We need to receive your details no later than Friday 30th March

We will ask successful candidates to attend an interview and aptitude test. The apprentice will be employed by Sure Group.

Background Information
Established over 50 years, SURE Group works predominately for the residential, social housing and commercial sectors, providing a full range of gas, electrical, mechanical maintenance, installation, repair, and new build / refurbishment services.

We have regional offices in Birmingham and Liverpool and over 150 engineers are employed within the business.
To find out more about Sure Group visit www.suregroup.co.uk

 Nick was put through his paces by plumber Ste Bounds, who started his career as an apprentice with the Trust over six years ago, and Mike Corrigan, an apprentice plumber who has just joined the Trust.

 Mike was in the third year of his apprenticeship when his former employer went into receivership and was offered the chance to complete his training with the Trust.

 Nick joined them on various repairs jobs and spent most of his afternoon fixing flushes and leaks on a variety of toilets! He also got to grips with the hand held PDA devices that the repairs team use to log their work and receive all their work.  He also provided a live update throughout the afternoon on Twitter.

 He said: “It has been really full-on, going from one job to the next. I have learnt so much in one afternoon but I’m still not sure I would trust my plumbing skills unsupervised!

 “Having an opportunity to get stuck in, meet a cross section of people and experience what we do reminds you about the difference we are making, to both our customers and our apprentices.  This is what makes working in housing different to so many other careers.”

 There are12 apprentices currently working with the Trust across various departments – accounting for five per cent of its workforce.

 The Trust is working withRiversideCollegethroughout the week, including an open evening on Monday where local employers were invited to talk to students about the advantages of an apprenticeship.

 They are also sponsoring RiversideCollege’s apprenticeship awards. Mike Wilson, an apprentice with the Trust who has now gained full time employment with them, will be attending along with other staff members.

 Mike has also been through the college’s apprenticeship programme and will appear in a film at the awards on Thursday talking about his experiences.

 The week will end with a special presentation where all the Trust’s apprentices will receive tool kits.

 Nick added: “If you don’t provide these opportunities where is the next generation of professional skilled people going to come from?

 “Especially in the current climate with youth unemployment now over one million and changes to the education system, these schemes are more important than ever before to help young people gain skills and a career.

 “We are absolutely committed to providing apprenticeships and I would encourage other organisations to consider offering these opportunities.”

 National Apprenticeship Week, from 10^th February, aims to show employers the advantages of employing apprentices, to highlight the range of apprenticeships available and to promote the skills of apprentices to employers and the wider public.

They have asked for BtGG help to support them renovate the first floor of the building so they can extend their services and engage with young people that are not in any form of education, employment or learning.

If sucessful the students themselves will be completing the renovations as part of their hands on construction training.

To show your support you can either ‘LIKE’ the project via www.facebook.com/beyondthegardengate and/or use our voting function on our website.

The community surrounding Crow Wood park have got together with BtGG to raise funding for an innovative outdoor football snooker game. Sounds Bizzare but its very brilliant!

For more information please see http://www.playinnovation.co.uk/

With your support this will be the first of its kind in the Northwest

Its simple, to show your support you can ‘LIKE’ the project on our facebook page www.facebook.com/beyondthegardengate and/or you can use our quick vote poll on our homepage!

Funding is available via Beyond the Garden Gate but we need to know the community supports the campaign. You can show your support by accessing our www.facebook.com/beyondthegardengate facebook page and/or by accessing our quick poll on our home page.

Exciting plans have been put forward by St Bede’s Catholic Junior School to build an outside classroom facility that will be shared with the surrounding community.  As an added benifit the school is hoping that the facility can be built by Joinery student wishing to use the project for their final examinations due summer 2012 (saving a whooping 10K!!)

The Classroom will be the first of its kind and will be used to facilitate outside classroom activities, music practice, collective worship, drama and art projects to name a few!

The first of its kind

They have been successful in being offered an apprenticeship – which will last up to four years – with Halton Housing Trust. They will learn from experienced employees and tradesmen as well as attend college training courses.
“We have made a commitment to supporting training and employment opportunities for local people and this is part of that work,” said Sue Baxendale, the Trust’s Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development.
“There is a great deal of satisfaction in giving these young people the tools they need to succeed in life.”
Halton Housing Trust is working in partnership with Riverside College in order to provide full training and qualifications for the apprentices.
The Trust is investing £40million in neighbourhoods across Runcorn and Widnes as part of the Beyond the Garden Gate programme over the next five years and has agreed with contractors that they will also create training, employment and work experience opportunities for local people.