News & Event
31st December 2008
Planned New Courses for 2009: (Courses currently under accreditation)
OCN Access to Nursing/ (September 2009)
12th January 2009
College Board of Trustee Meeting (5.00pm - 7.00pm) Issues: College funding/ location to new College site/ New fee structure/ Policies/ Partnership & Quality assurance etc.
14th January 2009
Funding Appeal for New College premises and resources approved by the College Board/ New appointment to the Board of Govenors/ Trustees
9th February 2009
Advertisement for new Board of Trustees members - any interested parties should apply to the College direct.
24th February 2009
Central Birmingham College Board would like to congratulate Yolande Williams on becoming the new Vice Chair to the College Board of Trustees. Yolande Williams brings many years of Managerial experience gained within the voluntary and charitable sector.
13th March 2009
Volunteer Teachers of Maths & English required
Are you a Maths or English teacher? (trainee considered) Could you give some of your valuable time each Saturday morning for the new CBC Saturday Community Club (expenses paid). CRB's must be current and a must as you will be working with children from the ages of 11 upwards. If you are interested and require further details, please contact the Student Registry on 0121 604 7869
16th March 2009
Board of Govenors meeting - matters in discussion - Working in Partnership with other Colleges - appointment of Director of Finance - College premises/ Maguire Jackson - Corporate identity - Fundraising/ Donations - Internal Moderation & Quality Control Inspection - Examinations - ESOL in the Community - Smethwich, West Midlands.
25th April 2009
Board of Govenors meeting - matters under discussion / LSC Funding/ Partnership with other Colleges.
8th May 2009
Examination Publication Dates /
11-15th May 2009
Centre inspection IV - Quality Control Assessments - Health and Social Care/ IELTS/ Diploma in Legal Studies/ ESOL/ Student Feedback forms/ Examination Procedures Meeting - all staff members.
20th May 2009
Board of Govenors meeting/ General
19th June 2009
Board of Govenors/ Trustee AGM - matters under discussion, Election of New Board Members, including Chair and Vice/Deputy Chair / College Re - Development/ Funding/ Community Projects/ College course apprasial reports - all courses/ College new site proposals/ UK Border Agency Application - registration of learning providers/ Budget 2009/10/ Proposals of New College collective committee - replacing College Principal.
20th July 2009
New Chairman elected - New Trustees - College Principal to remain at the Head of the College. Discussion re New College Premises - College to have new Departments - School of Nursing and Health to be College flagship. New premises under negotiation for Summer 2010 occupation - College charitable status submitted and approved by Board of Trustees. Funding/ Request for College apprasial document - all course delivery programme submitted by College Curriculum Management & Strategic Committee - to be submitted at next Board meeting
August 2009
Board of Trustee meeting held. Issues under discussion - College new site proposals - Site identified - Viewing arranged with trustee members.
14th September 2009
Application for Charitable status submitted/ Determination of College new site premises. Funding strategy
7th & 8th October 2009
Board of Trustee Meeting - Discussion re New College Premises (advance stage)/ Charitable status application - advance stage. Next Board meeting: 30th October 2009/ Conclusion of new premises/ charitable status. Board of Trustee chairperson: Mrs D Verma/ Treaurer: Mr H Dhillion/
Secretary: Mr B A Richards LLB(Hons) (list of members (trustees)available on request)
5th November 2009
College awarded Charitable Status - the Board of Trustees would like to thank Mr B A Richards who wrote the legal objects and determined the scope of the public benefit test along with Mr Loa in making this happen - Many thanks.
The Board of Trustees next meeting wil be 30th November 2009. The meeting for the 30th October 2009 was cancelled owing to illness. Discussions on the next meeting will focus on funding for the new schools opening in September 2010. Budget costs, Premises, Resources and the possibilities of having courses run over 7 days weekly.
30th November 2009
Trustees met and discussed the implication of trusteeship, duties and responsibilities, Induction programme arranged for all trustees. Further discussion focused on personnel - volunteers and trustees; Funding and resources, both core and capital - financial strategies, budgeting control etc. Project initiatives costing and budgeting, including initiative backgrounds provided in project guides to funders and organisations; The trustees discussed in depth the CBC Drug and Crime initiatives - concluding that greater emphasis should be developed on the programme in regards 'Alcohol use' and the young - a research paper has been submitted to the trustees and has been approved for publication within the CBC Drug and Crime guide., which will be sent to all participating schools within the West Midlands.
The trustees further discussed youth unemployment and the research paper submitted suggests that the organisation must work with local employers to create greater placement opportunities for young people to get a foot into the job market by way of placements.
Building premises and resources was also the source of discussion. The organisation is in need of its own premises for access and to forward the ground breaking initiative of having a place of training and learning opening 7 days a week. The current occupation of the Big Peg building is unsuitable and is restrictive. From September - December 2009, we had an overwhelming 1000+ applicants to many of our programmes (Nursing and Employment coming top). Our WEEKEND learning and training programmes will be ground-breaking. Funding for this remains hopeful, although it was decided that professional help would be needed to further such aims. The organisation has however identified a number of sustainable funding sources. The next meeting is set for 18th December 2009.
18th December 2009
Discussion was had on sustainable funding opportunities and this was the main concerns of the trustees. New premises and resources - greater partnership arrangements with local agencies etc. New premises, training and development - Financial prudence and viability of all initiatives were discussed along with contingency plans etc. The trustees repeated the emphasis that the organisation must remain a training and education provider that is ground-breaking. The need was to do away with rigid training and education and bring in greater flexibility in terms of training and learning opportunities. Young people into employment remains part of the organisations central goal. Next meeting 9th January 2010 where funding sources will be the main discussion and project viability.
9th January 2010
Meeting cancelled - Board meeting re-arranged for 19th January 2010 = Ditto as mentioned in the content of issues dated 18th December 09.
19th January 2010
Meeting held. Appointment of new Deputy Chair: Mrs. K Lal BSc. Mrs. Lal comes with a vast amount of administrative and organizational/ computer experience - all of which will benefit the functions of the organization. Discussion had included the organization projects evaluation , including best practice, quality control, exit and contingency strategies etc.
The trustees discussed at length, the feasibility studies re occupation of new building strategies and the funding etc. They concluded that an approach should be wide, including contacts with Birmingham City Council's property department and other private organizations. The trustees were also interested in locating individual funding organizations that shared our vision etc. Finally the trustees set a date for the next meeting - 2nd February 10.
2nd February 2010
Discussion focussed on the CBCED's move to new premises and upon funding. A number of applications were submitted for the CBCED Drug and Crime project and to the Skills for life programme. The trustees concluded that funding was slow and that our movements to new premises - including the engagement of staff members, were very much at the hands of funders.
Funding however, remains the strategic gold, which includes a move to new premises, resources and the engagement of staff members . All policy documentations on each of the organisations initiatives are now complete (with the exception of the TEENAGE Alcohol intiative - this will be completed in March 2010), including field and pilot studies.
Our new 7 days a week - including our flagship weekend learning and training programme - starts on 1st March 2010, with selected learning and training. programmes. The trustees however, expressed their concerns with disabled access to the present building and hope that this would be short term.
The Education in the Community has been a successful with increased studentship attending the 'skill for life programme' held at Sandwell Library, High Street, West Bromwich and at our Jewellery Quarter, main site. The trustees acknowledge the mutual partnership with the Library services in Sandwell, whose help and support, including providing free facilities, have made the education in the community - skill for life programme, a resounding success. More learners are added weekly and we have now added Tuesday afternoon, in addition , to our Thursday programme owing to increased learners.
The trustees intends extending the 'Education in the Community Programme' to include Smethwich, Ladywood and Winson Green, within the near future. The whole ethos of the initiatives is to get individuals involved in learning, training and employment opportunities - choice, flexibility and opportunities for all.
Our Back to work project is also to be launched on 1st March 2010 - this initiative will bring flexibility and help in jobsearching, CV writing, Interview techniques etc - we are the ONLY ORGANISATION that helps jobsearchers undertake 'MOCK' interviews. This means the jobsearcher is made aware of some of the pitfalls in job interview technique(s)
The Career shop opening hours will be extending to include Saturday mornings.
On the initiative of the Chair and Deputy Chair:
The trustees also made clear that they will be seeking to add young members to our Board of Trustees as they [the trustees] have a policy pledge to include young people in the organisations decision making plans. This policy will be implemented by advertising within Colleges and local community groups from 1st March 2010.
Ragavan Accountants were appointed as the organisations accountant - decision carried - Accounts/ Income and expenditure were discussed and the meeting concluded by setting the next Board of Trustees meeting for 5th March 2010.
5th March 2010
Trustees meeting held - discussions focussed on funding and new premises. ESOL programme ran under the 'Education in the Community' met with success - increased studentship numbers. Many thanks to Sandwell Library Services Wset Bromwich for providing facilities - Special thanks also to Birmingham City University for supplying STUDENT TRAINEE TEACHERS - all have been instrumental with the success of the project initiative. New initiative to commence/ the TTF (trainee teachers forum). Next meeting 5th April 2010 - matters up for discussions: TTF, Funding for new premises/ staff salary etc.
5th April 2010
Trustees met. Discussions on extending the TTF (trainee teachers forum) to other Universities - currently, a small group of students on placement to the College from Birmingham City University participate in the programme. The forum is to be a discussion place for trainee student teachers meeting and discussing training and teaching practices in the UK. A newsletter and membership will be on offer to each member in Jne 2010- meetings are to be held monthly.
The trustees discussed at length the problems associated with funding, including the long delay in replys from funders - often with few success. The organisation has described funding applications as something of a lottery - however well costed or ran, the initiative. The trustees are also concerned with the increased numbers of applicants to the ESOL community education programme now numbering 35 for the Tuesday and Thursday programme. The trustees have concluded that a professional funder may be engaged as funding for Staff salary, equipment and PREMISES must be and remain a PRIORITY. The trustees are also concerned with the back to work initiative as the current premises do not have wheelchair or diasbled access.
The launch of the Young people and alcohol programme will be delayed until funding has materalised; two possible funders have been identified and the applications for funding will be submitted shortly. ANY FUNDERS READING THIS, please consider the organisation. Next meeting 5th May 2010 - discussions - funding for new premises, appointment of new trustees (young trustee board initiative)
5th May 2010
The trustee met and began by looking at funding for the organisation - the organisation is in need of two full and one part-time paid staff, resources for our programmes - some of which like the dyslexia programme, requires specialised equipments etc. (FUNDING IS THEREFORE A PRIORITY)Mr Ali Ishaque has been chosen as our young trustee member - the appointment to full membership will take place at our AGM in June, date to be confirmed. The trustees are looking at how they may thank future funders and have decided to publicise funders and givers by including them on our 'Funders Gallery' webpage. Ernest Cook Trust gave 8000.00 in May 2010 and have pride of place on our gallery page. Many thanks to the Board of trustees from the Ernest Cook Trust.
More emphasis to be given to the 'Back to work' programme - with young people at the lower end of the job market in mind. The trustees would also encourage more seminar based programme for young people, in particular those wanting to start their own business with the Business in the Community Programme. Here, young entrepreneurs are given advice in the field of 'contractual obligations etc.
The AGM meeting will be held in June 2010 and as stated, no date has yet been fixed owing to the delay in published accounts. All senior Trustees/Manangement face re-election - ballots have been sent to all members, including future trustees for the position of Chairperson, Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer - this will be an open ballot. Rules in reference to elective post have been published and is available on request.
2nd June
Trustees met to determine end of year accounts - AGM meeting date. The Chairperson asked that a provisional date of 19th June 2010 be the fixed date for the AGM. Trustees have 7 days to consider this date, otherwise this date will be fixed as the AGM. Nominees for the ballotted positions discussed along with rules relating to appointments. Board to develop strategic budget and funding policies - re acquisition of new premises etc.
News: start of OCR accredited 'Back to work' programme; Business in the Community seminars; Dyslexia in the Community, Edexcel accredited Skills for life programme expanded in Sandwell and to include Birmingham. Next meeting AGM 19th June 2010