Getting it Right for Early Years
Scottish Pre-school Play Association’s National Early Years Conference

SPPA’s conference theme has an emphasis on Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC). This programme aims to improve outcomes for children by promoting an approach that builds solutions with and around children and families. This year’s conference will demonstrate how pre-school providers can give their children the very best start in life.

Our keynote speakers are Dr Carol Craig the Chief Executive from the Centre for Confidence and Well-being; Alan Sinclair, a Visiting Fellow at the Work Foundation; Jim Stephen, Head of the Early Years Framework Team at the Scottish Government; and Gavin Oattes, the Managing Director from Tree of Knowledge.  This year we are also re-introducing study sessions and workshops with inputs from Learning and Teaching Scotland, Health Promotion Lothian, Edinburgh’s Growing Confidence Project and Parenting Network Scotland.

This is a Continuing Professional Development conference.

For further information contact: Mags Harwood at mags.harwood@sppa.org.uk or 0141 221 4148, or download booking form at www.sppa.org.uk  Delegates fees range from £55 - £135.

Click here for the booking form.

Developing our Strategy & Promoting Recovery in East Ayrshire Thursday 2 September 2010 9.30am-4.00pm

Grand Hall London Road Kilmarnock Ayrshire KA3 7AA.

This one day conference will provide an opportunity to develop the strategy from both a local and national perspective.  It is an excellent opportunity to consider and discuss recovery from an East Ayrshire perspective.

The aims and objectives of the day are to influence the East Ayrshire Recovery Strategy. All workshops will be asking participants to comment and suggest on what it is they perceive to be a priority for action.

Click here for more details.

BBC Blast Coming to Ayr

BBC Blast are going on tour across the country with 2 Scottish events in Ayr and Perth, the tour gives people an opportunity to apply for taster sessions and free workshops in everything from dance and music to film, fashion and lots more, for more information go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/events.

Ever fancied becoming a BBC reporter? Well now is your chance as BBC Blast is holding an event in Ayr down the low green on the 26-28th of August 2010, and one of the attractions on offers at the Blast event is that it will offer young people between the ages of 18-24 with an interest in the arts and culture to become BBC reporters for between 1-3 weeks.  The reporter slots are classed as work experience however unfortunately the posts are unpaid and applicants cannot claim expenses. To find out more about the reporter slots check out the website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/workexperience/blast/.

BBC Blast are also holding a fashion design competition for all you budding Vivienne Westwood’s out there full details can be found at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/188433 entry date closes on 6th of June 2010.

Free Financial Management Training Workshops

As part of their commitment to significantly improve the capacity of Third Sector organisations, CEiS, and partners, are running free of charge financial management training workshops across Scotland that will allow delegates to control finances and engage in high quality financial planning.

Targeted at a cross section of individuals with everything from little to advanced knowledge of finances, these interactive workshops will use a participative process with worked examples based on sector specific experiences; appropriate learning from the wider commercial sector as well as the experience of Business Advisors involved in the training delivery. It also allows for the participants to contribute and share ideas and experiences.

Click here for more information.

Free Tender Writing Workshops

As part of their on-going commitment to social enterprises CEiS, The Supplier Development Programme & Partners are running a series of free tender writing workshops across Scotland. As part of a capacity raising exercise this programme has been designed specifically for managers and staff of Third Sector organisations, who have responsibility for business development and tender writing. The workshops promise to be key training events for any organisation wishing to compete for public sector contracts.

Click here for more information.