Policy Statements and Initiatives

ScotGov: Plans to bring a national focus on skills by bringing organisations together into a single skills body have been announced in Scotland as part of a new skills strategy - Skills for Scotland, A Lifelong Skills Strategy.
 
The development of a skills strategy for Scotland was announced as part of the Scottish Government's first 100 days commitments by Ms Hyslop during an education debate in June and the merger of Careers Scotland and Learndirect Scotland is the first step towards creating a unified skills body.
Press release ~ Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy ~ Careers Scotland ~ Learndirect Scotland ~ Futureskills Scotland - Home ~ SSASCOT - Sector Skills Alliance Scotland
 
DCSF: A major review into the provision of services for children and young people with speech, language and communications needs has been launched by Children, Schools and Families Secretary of State Ed Balls and Health Secretary of State Alan Johnson.
 
It will advise the Government on how the very best provision can be mirrored in all areas, so every young person up to 19-years-old with speech & learning difficulties gets support as early as possible.  It will also advise on how local services can work closer together so children get the support they need, when they need it.
 
It will report by summer 2008 and the Government will formally respond in due course.
Press release ~ Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists ~ I CAN ~ Afasic
 
BERR: Employment Relations Minister Pat McFadden has announced 28 projects awarded grants worth a total of £2.8m from the Union Modernisation Fund (UMF), which was set up two years ago to help trade unions adapt to a changing labour market & modern workplaces and to provide examples of best practice for other unions to follow.  Last year a first round of 35 projects worth £3m was awarded.
 
A range of bids have secured funding under the second stage of the funding, including projects to:
* help adapt to increasing diversity in the workplace (and address vulnerable worker issues)
* improve two-way communications within unions
* support development of union representatives to promote equality
* apply modern management methods to unions
* develop the professional competence of union officers
 
Leeds University Business School will provide a final independent evaluation of the fund in late 2008.
Press release ~ Union Modernisation Fund (UMF) ~ TUC - UMF
 
DIUS: Skills Secretary John Denham has announced a £35m fund to help 30,000 people a year in the workforce to gain new skills. The Adult Learning Grant (ALG) is intended to give eligible adults up to £30 a week to help improve their skills and progress. 
 
The ALG is a weekly grant designed to help adults studying full-time with the costs of learning and it is targeted at the 5.8 million people who are working and do not have a level 2 qualification.  Individuals who are in receipt of 'out of work' benefits, such as JSA, are not eligible for the programme.
 
The grant is income assessed and pays up to £30 per week (around £1,000 a year) for full time learners aged 19 and over who are studying for a first full Level 2 (5 GCSEs at grades A* to C or an NVQ2 or its equivalent) or a first full Level 3 (2 A levels or an NVQ3 or its equivalent) qualification.  It is paid only during term time for weeks when the learner is in attendance at college.
Press release ~ Adult Learning Grant ~ Learning and Skills Council - ALG ~ 'Our Future, It's In Our Hands'
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