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At present NOVA is happy to be delivering 9 projects to support local people:

Adult Community Learning Fund (ACLF/ NIACE) Online for Better Lives Project

• Outline: Digital inclusion project that unites four organisations, to work collaboratively and bring digital learning to two of the most marginalised communities in North Kensington – people from Stable Way Travellers Site and women from the Moroccan and Arabic-speaking community. The project builds on the experience of partners to create strong pathways to wider community involvement, volunteering and formal learning. NOVA is the lead partner working with Westway Development Trust, Stable Way Travellers Site, Al-Hasaniya Moroccan and Arabic-speaking Women’s Group and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
• Activities: An initial series of informal outreach basic ICT sessions at the community partner venues and further sessions in-house at NOVA. Course participants contribute their ideas for learning in liaison with the tutor to build the curriculum.

Fit For Work Services (FFWS) NHS Project

• Outline: NOVA and Open Age, with NOVA as lead partner, have been successfully delivering FFWS Pilot Project in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea since April 2010 and have been selected to continue delivering until 2013. The project offers employment support through 1:1 sessions for employees who have been signed off work sick or are in danger of being signed off and is part of a wider range of services offered to each individual referred to the NHS FFWS Team via doctors.
• Activities: Initial 2-hour 1:1 Information, Advice and Guidance Session, Additional 1:1 Support Sessions (up to 6 hours), Continued support on exit and In-Work Support via follow-up communications.
• The Fit for Work Service is a free service for individuals who are off work sick, and who are struggling to go back to work and deal with their health issues. Access to a range of health and other services tailored to help you return to work as quickly as possible can be provided. To be eligible for the service, you must be employed, and either be living or working in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, or the City of Westminster.
  Please open attached flyer to see more information. Click here.

EU Integration Fund: PIP Pathways to Integration Project

• Outline: A 2-year project beginning July 1st 2011. This partnership bid aims to support new migrants in Inner London, in particular the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham to develop a better life through their successful social and economic integration.
• Activities: Needs Assessments, ESOL Courses, Work Focus Activities, Introduction to Citizenship Courses, Reviews and Volunteering Opportunities.
• Delivery partners are Westway Development Trust, Paddington Development Trust, MRCF (Migrants and Refugee Communities Forum), Clement James and Groundwork UK

RBKC ACL First Steps

• Outline: 2011-2012 academic year Adult Community Learning (ACL) grant from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (Skills Funding Agency, Adult Safeguarded Learning). Reaching learners from the SOU (super output area), widening participation and encouraging learner development and progression to Level 2.
• Activities: Accredited ICT, Numeracy, Literacy and ESOL courses

Lloyds TSB Foundation

• Outline: 2- year funding from June 2010 – June 2012 to support adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop their basic skills and confidence. Holistic funding which provides course costs, a contribution towards IAG for course participants and contribution to core costs.
• Activities: Basic Skills Courses and Information, Advice and Guidance Sessions to support learners to progress

Kensington and Chelsea Foundation

• Outline: 3-year funding from DMGT (Daily Mail and General Trust) group via Kensington and Chelsea Foundation from March 2010 to March 2013 contributing to the Building Skills and Confidence Project to support disadvantaged adults living in Kensington and Chelsea.
• Activities: Year 1 (2010-2011) Basic Skills Courses and Information, Advice and Guidance to support learners to progress; Year 2 (2011 – 2012) Volunteer-led ESOL courses, Information, Advice and Guidance to support learners to progress and support for learners to become volunteers.

National Careers Service (formally Nextsteps)

• Outline: Contract through South London Learning Consortium to deliver Information, Advice and Guidance to referrals from the National Careers Service referral service for West London via their website and for walk-ins (not referred from website).
• Activities: Up to 3 one-to-one Information, Advice and Guidance Sessions are offered to each adult aged 16+ that is referred to NOVA.

Campden Charities

Outline: ‘The Campden Charities’ is an amalgamation of endowed charities the first of which was founded in 1629. They provide grants for individuals for vocational courses and interview clothing. NOVA refers clients and the charity provides NOVA with the cost of supporting those individuals. There are strict eligibility criteria concerning and referrals must:

• Be of working age (under 65)
• Currently living in the former Parish of Kensington (Kensington north of the Fulham Road and not Chelsea)
  • Been living in Kensington continuously for more than 2 years
  • Have British or EU citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain
  • In rented accommodation
  • In receipt of out of work benefits
  • Have less than £1000 in savings
• In addition, referrals must agree to have a Grants Officer visit their home.

UK Online

• Outline: The UK online centres network was set up by government in 1999 to provide public access to computers. NOVA is one of 3,800 centres. The aim of UK Online is to give people the skills and confidence to get online. Their aim is to get one million more people online by 2013 in order to improve individual lives, strengthen communities and achieve social inclusion. NOVA has monthly targets to introduce new users and go through the online basic programme.
• Activities: Supported sessions for clients to learn how to use the Internet independently in a wide range of tasks and gain basic computer skills.