Wolverhampton YMCA
Commissioned by the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership, the Regeneration Apprentices Programme (RAP) provides learning opportunities for individuals already working in, or intending to work in Regeneration. RAP has a communication and liaison role and provides a brokerage and commissioning service for capacity building in these areas. Working with individuals, the project provides guidance, training and support that are tailored to fit a client’s skills gaps, regardless of qualifications, experience, or employment status. The project’s approach is simple - people learn from experience and reflection. Working with organisations, RAP can assist with the learning and development needs of voluntary groups or companies via its network of partner organisations and contacts.
Individual development - by learning through RAP, individual RAP ‘apprentices’ can gain skills and knowledge through combining a varied set of learning opportunities:
Increase understanding of regeneration processes.
In-depth audit of current skills, knowledge and experience.
Negotiate a personal development plan.
Learn through job shadowing, work experience and networking.
Updates on regeneration, voluntary and community sector training events.
Signposts to ‘mainstream’ courses to develop skills & knowledge.
These varied learning experiences are put into context via a programme of coaching & mentoring sessions that encourage people to learn about working in regeneration by working in regeneration.
Groups and organisations - how they may benefit from involvement with RAP:
Communication & Liaison service.
Brokerage and Commissioning service.
Networking – access to contacts and information
Develop, up-skill, & motivate your workforce and volunteers for an improved service for clients.
RAP skills & knowledge products & services: ‘Trade Secrets,’ ‘Community Skills.’
Bespoke organisational development and purpose built programmes.
RAP’s great strength is its flexible and responsive approach to clients and its capacity to evolve over time to better meet the needs of its learners. Understanding the barriers which learners face from having worked closely with individuals through their personal development plans and coaching sessions. From the lessons learned from working on a one-to-one basis RAP have been able to adapt and expand the service offered to provide one-off events and courses to address the skills needs of those involved in regeneration, as well as maintain one-to-one coaching service. RAP have developed unique and innovative learning & development products and services such as ‘Trade Secrets ’ – a series of field trips / events exploring regeneration themes, and ‘Community Skills: Regeneration Skills and Knowledge’ – a programme of courses designed for the voluntary and community sector.
RAP believe in taking an inclusive approach to regeneration skills & knowledge development and courses and events are ‘purpose built’ to include people from all walks of life, operating at all levels in regeneration activity - be they volunteers, community development workers, residents, community artists, employees in the built environment, planners, conservation officers, neighbourhood managers, residents and those employed in, or curious about regeneration. RAP are currently developing a curriculum framework to include all of the training and development programmes available for regeneration capacity building. The aim of this is to identify clear and cohesive progression routes and to address gaps in training provision via the project’s Steering Group and network.
Marie Cooper, RAP Project
Manager
Wolverhampton YMCA
29-31 Temple Street
Wolverhampton
WV2 4AN
Email: marie-cooper@btconnect.com
Tel: 01902 771235
Richard Ashwell: ashwellr@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Tel: 01902 821929 or 317532
Website: www.ymca-wolverhampton.co.uk