SPAT-C suspended all training activities as of 29th August 2008, due to failure to receive payment for training activities already undertaken for the Job Centreplus and Entry 2 Employment training programmes.

During the past 5 months the agency has put up a valiant effort in the face of extreme opposition to continue to deliver training to students emanating from across Sheffield's deprived wards.

The SPAT-C staff have shown true dedication and commitment by so far having worked as long as 5 months without payment of wages as the agency waited upon receipt of monies so as to ensure training continues whilst the agency dealt with the barrage of demands many of which came after SPAT-C had been starved of cash both through withholding of payments due as well as at rates of receipts far below that anticipated.

Whilst others gorged themselves on funding meant for "tackling disadvantage and social inclusion" , SPAT-C actually practiced what others autonomously repeat as a mantra to secure funding.

Frontline charities such as SPAT-C at the very heart of the fight against poverty and social inclusion are right across the country being annihilated by paper pushing pseudo quango's many of whom have a ZERO footprint within a deprived areas let alone have to deal with demanding clients on a day to day basis.

The government voiced their concern earlier this month by warning of the growing potential for social unrest as the economy takes a sharp downturn. Following whatever consquences transpire during 2009 of the economic crisis, the evitable public inquiries will look at why the frontline charities that could have made a difference were SNUFFED out by over zealotry by those that totally failed to understand why they are in receipt of funding who's purpose is to train individuals from within deprived communities out of social exclusion and into the mainstream.

Tutors in hot water over tea breaks

A SHEFFIELD training company has asked council bosses to intervene after auditors heavily criticised its tutors – for allowing students to have tea breaks. Sheffield Positive Action Training Consortium is based in the Wicker and provides training in IT, basic engineering and computer maintenance for black and ethnic minority communities.

It also teaches English and numeracy to asylum seekers, refugees, and people with dyslexia and has run many successful courses over 10 years.

Bosses at SPATC say they are baffled by what they call "extraordinary and absurd criticism" from auditors.

The auditors are sent in by The Voluntary and Community Sector Training Consortium, known as VC Train. It is based in Rotherham and its assessors check courses are being run properly.

SPATC says it has always had a good relationship with the assessors but recently things have changed dramatically.

Chris Searle, from SPATC, told a council meeting: "We have helped to teach English and other vital subjects over the past decade and we have always had a very cordial relationship with our auditors at VC Training.

"We have had many good and useful conversations with the assessors who have been very supportive.

"But a few months ago there was a change in the regime and management and suddenly we have started to get a completely different response.

"We can't understand why, as little has changed with our work.

"We have had some extraordinary criticisms, such as students shouldn't have tea breaks and we are wrong to use computers to teach literacy and numeracy.

"They have also criticised our tutors which is absurd as many are in the education and university system.

"We would like the council's support in trying to find out exactly what has changed."

Council leader Paul Scriven said he was "perplexed" by VC Train's attitude.

He said: "SPATC has given individuals real skills over many years and through them they have gone on to be active citizens in Sheffield.

"SPATC employs professors from York and Manchester universities, so to say they are not qualified just doesn't stack up. VC Train's auditors didn't even go into the classrooms to watch them.

"SPATC provides a superb service and I will personally write to VC Training. We will also look at ways to make sure SPATC's excellent work continues."

VC Train were unavailable for comment.

An Invitation to a SPAT-C Activity day at The University of Sheffield on 11 th March 2008 .

Beginning at 11. 45am. Finishing by 4.30pm .

Come and join us at the Information Commons for a Halal lunch and a programme of joint activities involving students and staff from The University of Sheffield and SPAT-C.

You will have an opportunity to find out about the many different ways you can become a University student.

Take the Supertram or no. 52 bus to the University stop by Brook Hill roundabout. Make your way to the entrance of the Information Commons building which is the distinctive copper-green building on the corner of the roundabout. University staff will be in the reception area to meet you.

…………………………………………………………………..

Please complete the following tear off slip and return to SPAT-C

Yes, I would like to attend the Activity event on 11 th March 08

Name…………………………………………………………….

Address………………………………………………………….

Postcode…………………………………………………………

Contact Telephone Number………………………………

Bangladesh Cyclone Relief: Fund-Raising Dinner

  - At the Kashmir Curry Centre, Spital Hill, Sheffield S3, At 6pm on Sunday 16 th of December 07

The poorest of the poor communities in Bangladesh have had the misfortune of experiencing a second major natural disaster in the space of less than five months this year. Thousands have been made homeless and entire communities have been wiped out. People desperately need your help to be able to get basic medicines, shelter food and clothing. The situation of children, women, and the elderly is particularly desperate.

The management of the Kashmir Curry Centre has kindly agreed to host this fund raising meal. The cost of the meal (a three course Thali meal, with meat and veg options) is £12 per head and the curry centre will donate half of this i.e. £6 per meal to the relief fund. The money will be given to the Oxfam South Yorkshire Bangladesh Cyclone Relief Fund

PLEASE COME AND JOIN US IN THE SUPPORT OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND THE SUFFERING PEOPLE OF BANGLADESH – Bring Friends and Families along – Also an opportunity to network with other like minded persons.

Please let us know on 0114 2756815 or 2812320 and speak to Juthsna Begum or Yasmin Ahmed or Amineh Salehi to confirm. A pre-booking by phone or email will be greatly appreciated ( spatc@hotmail.com )

The Event is Sponsored by Sheffield Positive Action Training Consortium (SPAT-C). in partnership with local Bangladeshi community and SHEBEEN (Sheffield Black and Ethnic minority Environmental Network).

The day for Sheffield, a northern English city started as usual, wet and rainy, yes there have been forecasts for a wet June and possible flooding in Northern England, but Sheffielders felt safe in the knowledge that their hilly city is not prone to flooding.

Not even Sheffielders remember when the last big floods occurred. Digging back into history you would have to back over 150 years to 1864 when the Dale Dyke Dam burst.

SPAT-C situated at the SYAC Centre on the river bank felt the full force of the flooding as the following time-line and the news reporting illustrates:

1.30pm - The River Don that runs through the heart of the city was a raging torrent, but in the near 15 years we have been in our current premises, I have seen this many times before, many times.

A colleague suggests that the river is going to burst its banks, having only been with us for barely 2 years, he obviously was not party to my inside knowledge that it has never flooded in at least 15 years, nor have I known any serious flooding in Sheffield in the 40 years I have lived here. So I ask my colleague to put his money where his mouth is, a bet ! "I bet you £50 the river won't burst". But he won't take the bet !

About 10 min's later, 1.40pm with the waters rising, I venture out to take a closer look.

Read the Full Flood Time Line

Thursday, 14 June at SADACCA at 7.30pm

Showing :

‘The Iron wall’: Film on the fragmentation of the Palestinian Gaza Strip by the Israeli authorities, backed by a powerful and brutal military machine—and the huge pain and suffering it is bringing to the defenceless people of Palestine (particularly children—1 out of 10 Palestinians are children under the age of 15.)...

‘Mountains of light’: An inspiring documentary on selfless work of thousands of Cuban doctors in some of the most remote and deprived parts of the world...

Consultation Meeting for New Training Course

by (Supporting Outside Links Inside Detention) in partnership with Sheffield Positive Action Training Consortium

DATE : Monday 4th June

Time : 7.pm to 9pm

At SYAC Centre, Room 12a
Wicker , Sheffield S3 8JD

Aims of the training is to provide ex-offenders with skills such as

• How to go about getting a job for yourselves
• Personal skills for independent living (building your personal confidence, and learning how to put your best foot forward - Personal Finance — How to build positive relationship).
• The benefits systems : How it works and, how to make sure you get your full rights etc.
• How to avoid the re-offending trap. Also family and parents role in this.

These are some ideas we have, but would welcome you to participate and tell us what exactly will be useful for the user groups to learn, so that we can come up with the best possible training.

Light meal (yard food) will be provided
Assistance with bus fares

If you carry on learning with SPAT-C

Help with all you need to get a job !

•  improve you skills and confidence

•  help with your CV

•  job applications

•  Interviews

•  help you get work placements

Help with qualifications or just training in:

•  Photography & Film Making

•  ‘DJ-ing' and Mixing Music

•  Managing Personal Finances

•  Computer Animation Graphics

•  Creating a Web Page

•  Many Other Courses

•  Basic Engineering

The support and help you'll get:

•  allowance of £25 to £30 ‘every week' in your pocket

•  a £15 voucher when you start

•  bonuses £25 to £150, possible

•  bus fares and lunch money

To make learning fun, you will have plenty of outdoor stuff like sports, visiting museums, cinemas, climbing or fishing.

For further information, contact -

-Pedro or Amineh on 0114 2756815

SPAT-C - C/o SYAC Centre - 120 Wicker - Sheffield S3 8JD - Tel 0114 2756815

Email : e2e@spatc.com

The ‘Explosion of colours' Art Exhibition at SPAT-C from 9 th November to 16 th November 06, celebrates the artistic skills that refugee communities bring to their new homeland. The artistic creations of Meghedi & Maryam, two young Iranian women artists, adds new vibrancy to community artistic endeavours in Sheffield .

Sheffield Positive Action Training Consortium is pleased to host - an exhibition of water-colour and oil paintings by young artists from New Arrival communities From 9 th – 16 th November 2006 at the SPAT-C, SYAC Centre (Room 11) Exhibition Launch by the Lord Mayor, Cllr. Jackie Drayton, will be at 12.30 p.m. on the 9 th November. The exhibition continues up to the 16 th (daily from 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.). Entry free. The range of lovely paintings are choreographed under separate themes such as ‘Violet: the Life of Flowers', ‘the Colour of Rain' and ‘Bahaar - Spring'. The art-work of the young Iranian artistes Maryam Mashayekhi and Meghedi Esmaili beautifully captures the exuberance of visual styles and images that are uniquely Persian, and a pleasure to look at. Contact: SPAT-C, C/o SYAC Centre, 120 Wicker, Sheffield S3 8JD Tel: Amineh on 0114 2812320 http://www.spatc.org

SPAT-C Graduation Ceremony

Thursday, 9 th November 2006 from 11.30 am to 2.00 pm

at the SYAC Centre, 120 Wicker, Sheffield

We are pleased to invite those of our trainees who have achieved OCN qualifications from SPAT-C.

The Lord Mayor of Sheffield , Cllr Jackie Drayton, will be the guest of honour and hand out the trainees awards at 12.00 pm onwards.

The graduation ceremony will coincide with the opening of an Arts exhibition, showcasing the paintings and artistic work of several of our trainees, and former students who attended our ‘ Art as Therapy' course (as well as SPAT-C's own collection).

A light lunch will be provided after the ceremony.

Agenda for the Day:

Opening address and introductions – SPAT-C Chair and Chief Executive – 12.00 – 12.10 pm

The COMPASS of Horror International Film Festival

October 28 th to November 9 th 2006

SPAT-C provided critical capacity building support to a group of young people to develop their programme activities and a film enterprise (Compass Film Intl ltd) which has made remarkable progress in the short space of months. They are now poised to put on their first ever Film Festival on the genre of ‘horror films' at some of the most prestigious venues in Bristol . The festival will showcase the best of horror films from across the globe ( Japan : ‘Rampo Noir'; Canada : ‘Ginger Snaps', ‘Nigeria End of the Wicked' and England : ‘The Dust Devil'

In attendance will be top most film artist and film directors from Japan , Nigeria , Canada and Sweden as well as film academics from Brunell University , University of Bristol , and University of West England .

The film presentations have been marketed in a way so as to attract diverse audiences, rather than the usual horror film buffs, so as to widen audience participation of films from across the globe. Each film is followed by a discussion session between the audience, academics, and actors and directors present.

Networking Course to start Online on 1st of August 2006 and run for 12 weeks.

The course will cover the following networking topics.

Week

1. Introduction to UKCollege.org procedures
2. Network Overview
3. Network Overview (Cont)
4. Network Cables
5. Network Cables (Cont.)
6. Network Segments
7. Network Segments (Cont)
8. Network Topology
9. Network Topology (Cont)
10. An Introduction to Peer to Peer Networking
11. Server Based Networking
12. Final Test.

To Enroll... Ensure you have registered as a student at http://www.UKCollege.org

Then join the course before 1st August 2006.

The Sheffield City Council Asylum Seekers Team

The City Council receives government funding to support asylum seekers who come to Sheffield under the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).  This is a national scheme managed by the Home Office. The Council's Asylum Team is located in Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield S1 2SH. The Asylum Seekers Programme Manager is Belinda Gallup. As well as having overall managerial responsibility for the Asylum Team she performs a regional role, in partnership with colleagues at Leeds City Council, co-ordinating delivery of the NASS contract by the Yorkshire & Humberside local authority consortium. Support Team Katie Drake is the Support Team Manager responsible for accommodation and support services to asylum seekers. The Support Team:

• welcomes those new arrivals that are the responsibility of the City Council under the NASS contract;
• introduces them to the city and the services on offer;
• settles them into their temporary accommodation, and;
• carries out an assessment of their needs.
• Assessment
• Planning
• Implementation
• Review of 'Children in Need' and those who have suffered and/or are likely to suffer significant harm.

Enrol today to start o­n the next run of the the Inter-Cultural Communication Topics, is an o­n­line course for those looking to learn English abroad. The topic of this course is: Multi-cultural Japan.

The Course starts o­n 15th of May 2006 and will run for 19 weeks. (All delivered o­nline)

http://www.ukcollege.org

SPAT-C Recruiting for New Training Courses - Now !

We are currently recruiting for the following training courses:

•  ENGLISH (ESOL): Basic, E1 & E2, E3 and L1

•  ICT

•  Translation & Interpreting for Professional Interaction

•  Management Training for Export/Import

INTERVIEWS: 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. on the following days:-

ICT: (Computers) Mon 6 February 2006

ENGLISH (ESOL): Wed 8 February and Thurs 9 February 2006

Translation & Interpreting for Professional Interaction: Tues 14 February 2006

Management Training for Export/Import: Tues 21 February 2006

For further information, please call:-

SHEFFIELD POSITIVE ACTION TRAINING CONSORTIUM

Workshop 5 – The SYAC Centre – 120 Wicker – Sheffield S3 8JD

Tel: 0114 275 6815/273 9105 Fax: 0114 281 2327 Email: courses@spatc.org

or feel free to come in for an informal chat.

Are you using your language skills to the full?

..then let your language work for you!

•  NEW COURSE STARTS SOON!

Enrolment Day

14 th February 2006

9.00 am – 12.00 am

“Translation & Interpreting

for Professional Interaction”

Leading to OCN level 2/3

Get in touch for more info:

SPAT-C, Workshop 5, The SYAC Centre, 120 Wicker Sheffield S3 8JD

Tel: 0114 275 6815 e-mail: courses@spatc.org

Fax: 0114 281 2327 or visit the web: http://www.spatc.org

Management Training for Export / Import Course

(From Entry Level to Level 3)

Enrolement Day is 21st February 2006 - 9am to 12am

Contact SPAT-C (Phone 275 6815) or call in at Workshop 5, The SYAC Centre, 120 Wicker S3 8JD for a preliminary registration form.

The tutor, Steve Ayris , will be happy to discuss with trainees your personal training requirements.

Under the Home Office Star Rating Assessment, SPAT-C Achieved a 5 Star Status. Which means the project has achieved Beacon Status. In doing so the project has excelled in meeting indicators. It has shown a willingness to develop in the face of new challenges and has provided evidence to support this.