2011/12

ANNUALREPORT

SPRINGBOARDSUNDERLAND

IntroductionSpringboard Sunderland Trust enjoyed another year of development and continued to cement our position as one of the premier providers of high quality and innovative training services in the City of Sunderland and the North East region.

In this financial year 2663 people were active on programmes with us, of which 1259 were with Springboard Sunderland on a range of programmes, 1144 with our subcontractors and 63 on a Foundation Learning Subcontract we have with South Tyneside Council.

Other clients included 40 young people on alternative education programmes and 20 24/24 clients as well as 202 volunteers.

We are officially a Good Provider!In February 2012 we were inspected by Ofsted and were awarded a Grade 2 for overall effectiveness. The report from Ofsted has virtually every area of the organisation being assessed as "Good". The staff at Springboard across the North East are very pleased that their hard work and commitment has been recognised by inspectors; and learners and their parents can be reassured that the quality of vocational and personal learning provided by Springboard is consistently good. Inspectors commented that "The overall effectiveness of Springboard’s provision is good. Learners develop good skills and benefit from good support and guidance as well as having programmes and partners that meet their needs well,” They found that, "learners like the support and motivation to succeed” at Springboard, and that employers like "the excellent training that is well matched to employer need".

Welcome to new partners!During the year, due to changes in the Skills Funding Agency minimum contract values we also took on Springboards Southwark, Islington and CSVs SFA contracts in August. This now means that Springboard Sunderland has the responsibility for the management of these contracts and that these operations become subcontractors of ours.

FinanceThe overall income of the Trust for the year was £6,013,795. Our overall expenditure was £5,835,326. Staff costs decreased by £601,522, mainly due to the FJF project finishing. Trainee allowances and bursary costs were. £183,372, an overall decrease of £9,682. Payments to sub contractors increased.

At the year end the overall fund balance of the Trust stood at £2,859,547, represented in a large part by freehold properties owned by us and used to further our activities. The long term strategy of Springboard in terms of property and resource management in areas of development has proved again to be effective and sustainable.

New DevelopmentsAs a third sector organization Springboard Sunderland was given the opportunity to build for further funds from the Skills Funding Agency to work with the unemployed. Our bid which was successful included many of the CSV Learning operations and other Springboards as partners. The project was named Springboard or CSV Works and got underway in February 2012 towards the year end. This work was strategically important as it enabled us to work with adults again.

Summer of a LifetimeSpringboard Sunderland and our South Tyneside base have been successful through a CSV bid to deliver the National Citizen Service programme Summer of a Lifetime in summer 2012. Each centre will work with 4 different groups of 15 each making a total of 120 young people. Work has begun with schools and other organizations to recruit for the programme to begin in July.

The V Inspired 24/24 volunteering personal development programme has gone from strength to strength this year in supporting young people to gain greater confidence and skills through carrying out volunteering activities throughout Sunderland. We have built an enhanced working relationship with a number of youth and community organisations with a focus on: providing advocacy for youth volunteering, promoting volunteering and the development of quality opportunities throughout Sunderland, providing policy and coordination advise to community groups and implementation of standards in youth volunteering. 20 young people who were previously not in education, employment or training started on this programme.

The overall effectiveness of Springboard’s

provision is good. Learners develop good

skills and benefit from good support

and guidance as well as having programmes and partners that meet

their needs well,

SPRINGBOARDSUNDERLAND

Designed and produced by Upstream Communications - Tel: 0191 515 5335 Email: upstream@springboard-ne.org

SummaryThe Trust will continue to strive to improve on the quality of training it provides to young people and adults, particularly those with special needs, to develop and improve their skills and employability. The Trust has over the past years built up a sound base of experience and knowledge in the provision of training and it is our firm aim to continue to build on this base by being innovative and responsive to the needs of the community.

The Trust will continue to develop and train its staff so that it is always ready to meet new challenges, provide a high quality of training to learners and is committed to its tasks.

Achievements and PerformanceApprenticeship achievement rates continue to grow with an overall achievement rate of 79% compared to 69% for the last full contract year 10/11. Advanced apprenticeship achievement rates were very good at 86%. Notably the following vocational areas, Advanced Apprenticeships in Children’s Care Learning and Development, Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools and Intermediate apprenticeships in Storage and Warehousing and Horticulture all achieved 100%.

Excelr8 our Foundation Learning Programme continued to develop through out the year. Young People stayed longer on the programme during the year and qualification achievement rates continued to improve. This programme was the main focus of our OFSTED inspection and was awarded a Grade 2.

Springboard Nursery continued to offer flexible inclusive childcare and education for 26 children

aged 1 to 5 years delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The second Step Up Project continued to provide good outcomes for disadvantaged young people in South Tyneside although the ending of Programme Led Apprenticeships has affected the progression opportunities which were available for young people on this programme and Foundation Learning.

Additional volunteering opportunities created this year via our social action projects, have attracted a further 200 volunteers taking part in conservation, sporting activities and various community events creating 2400 hours of volunteer time.

The Trust also supported the work of communities and charitable groups in a range of other ways. Upstream Communications and Tower Design produced publicity and other material for a wide range of community and support groups; Springboard staff continued to serve on the boards and committees of other local initiatives across the region.

StaffingThe Trust demonstrated a continuing commitment to staff development and training that continued to meet our business development needs. Courses ranged from in-house developmental programmes and coaching to accredited training in assessment, verification and teaching qualifications. Staff numbers in 2011-12 averaged 93.1 compared with 142.9 the previous year, mainly due to the end of the FJF contract.

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