The Third Sector National Learning Alliance
The Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA) is a growing, national alliance of voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises involved in learning and skills. It aims to provide a coherent national ‘voice' from and for Third Sector providers across government departments and other important bodies, and a forum for developing Third Sector ideas and proposals.
Vision
The TSNLA will be:
- a powerful national advocate for Third Sector providers of learning and skills, able to listen to their views and influence thinking across government
- inclusive, equitable and diverse in the way it works, and take action to involve all Third Sector providers, including more isolated and under-represented organisations
- credible and authoritative so that Third Sector providers, relevant government departments and agencies, and other key stakeholders can trust its ideas, evidence and proposals
- membership-led, accessible and transparent, so that its processes are as simple, open and stable as possible, with regular, interactive communication
- well connected through a national communication network and collaboration with other national, regional and local networks and organisations with shared interests
- sustainable through efficient processes, minimal bureaucracy, strong financial planning and quick responses to the changing environment
The TSNLA will:
- stimulate, inform and listen to the views of Third Sector learning and skills providers;
- work constructively across government and with all key stakeholders to influence policy and other developments affecting Third Sector providers
- undertake or commission research for and about Third Sector learning and skills providers to inform national debates and developments
- gather, analyse and circulate information relevant to learning and skills in the Third Sector
- enable Third Sector learning and skills providers to communicate well with each other, with policy makers and funders, and with the wider learning and skills sector to make timely, informed and effective interventions
For more information on the TSNLA visit www.tsnla.org.uk
16 - 19 Transfer Project Board
Since March 2009, the Foyer Federation's Chief Executive, Jane Slowey, has been representing the TSNLA on a 16 -19 Transfer Project Board; set up by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), to oversee the development of the new arrangements. The group meets monthly and its membership includes officials from relevant government departments together with representation from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), local government and providers. It receives reports on how the Transfer project is going and there is also an opportunity for Stakeholders to provide feedback.
Issues covered so far have included:
A report back from a National Panel that has been assessing proposals from sub-regional groups who will take responsibility for commissioning from 2010. Overall, most sub-regional groups are considered to be 'on track'. A small number will be receiving support from their Government Office and the Raising Expectations Action Programme (REACT), a unit set up within the Local Government Association to ensure local authorities are ready to take responsibility for 16-19 learning.
Information about the development of a National Commissioning Framework for 16 - 19 learning.
You can download the latest TSNLA support briefing paper onThird Sector organisations seeking funding for 16-19 learners (including 19-25 learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities) here.