An Incident Day, planned around a drink driving car crash scenario has been held for students from schools and colleges across County Durham and Darlington. 

The day, arranged by Durham Education Business Partnership and The Work Place in liaison with Durham Constabulary, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Victim Support, The Crown Prosecution Service, Magistrates in the Community, County Durham 4 Real Team and HealthTec outlined the devastating consequences of drink driving and the way in which the emergency services work together in such circumstances. 

Over 130 year 10 students attended the event from seven schools and colleges across the county including Seaham School of Technology, The Education Village, Spennymoor School, Woodham Community Technology College, Bishop Auckland College, Durham Johnston School and New College Durham. 

The day focused on several aspects of a drink driving car accident including the emotional, physical and financial costs, how the emergency services work together in the event of an accident and the devastating statistics of drink driving. 

The climax of the day involved students being cut out of a wrecked car. The Accident & Emergency part of the day took place in HealthTec room of The Work Place, a unique facility in the north east offering a simulated hospital environment and real ambulance where the attending paramedic discussed the transportation of injured patients, the A&E procedure and the number of professionals that could potentially be involved with a road traffic accident. 

The event organiser, Penny Hudson, Work Related Learning Co-ordinator for Durham Education Business Partnership said ‘We wanted this to be a thought provoking day not only to convey a clear safety message to young people, but also to show an innovative and interactive way a practical example of co-operation by the various public services working together from various sectors’. 

Feedback from students and teachers included the day being a ‘hard-hitting’ experience, with others confirming how thought provoking it had been both from a professional and personal point of view. 

For more information about the activities provided by Durham Education Business Partnership and The Work Place please contact Kirsty Coates on 01325 375900.

In recent years, Durham Education Business Partnership (DEBP) has organised a successful evening to celebrate the achievements of students from local schools during their work experience.  This year DEBP are offering schools the opportunity to participate in a challenge to organise this event which will take place in November 2010. 

All schools are invited to attend along with students who have been identified as achieving exceptional personal goals from their work experience. A special guest is asked to present an achievement certificate and prize to each student. Employers are also invited to recognise their commitment in offering valuable opportunities for Durham’s young people. 

The Challenge, which will start later this month, will give students a great opportunity to develop a number of employability skills and showcase their achievements to the wider community. 

Students from schools in the South West area of the County are invited this year to take part in this Challenge which involves the design, organisation and delivery of the event. This will be rolled out every year to a different geographical area within the County. 

Jaqui Gardiner, Work Experience Manager for DEBP commented “This event is all about the students, so who better to plan it than the students themselves.  We are looking forward to working with them.” 

For more information on the Challenge contact Linda Fluke on 01325 375974.  

Durham EBP’s Penny Hudson introducing students to the competition during today’s launch event.

Student imaginations were lit today at the launch of the 2010 Bannatyne’s Bright Sparks Competition, held at The Work Place.

The competition, co-ordinated by Penny Hudson from Durham Education Business Partnership, is open to year 10 students from all secondary schools within the Darlington area and involves students using their entrepreneurial skills to develop a business idea in the form of either a product or service. 

They are supported and assisted by business mentors from the Darlington area.  Mentors involved with this year’s event come from companies which include HSBC, Darlington Building Society, Orange, TICA and Barclays Bank.  Students also benefit from a presentation/media skills workshop in preparation to the final. 

Teams then put forward their business ideas and advertising campaign to a panel of judges, including Mr Bannatyne in a dragon den style presentation at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington on 6 July 2010.  The event is sponsored by Darlington Borough Council with the prize money of £1000 being donated by Duncan Bannatyne.

Professionals from a range of organisations supported the event by providing a programme of varied fun and interactive activities which linked to the Every Child Matters agenda , stay safe, be healthy………… In addition some workshops were curriculum linked and introduced the pupils to the world of work. 

Organisations supporting this event included Orange, North East Ambulance Service, Education Business Partnership, North of England Forensic Services and Melting Pots Arts. 

The pupils from Esh Winning Primary, Evenwood Primary, Ouston Juniors, Ramshaw Primary and Willington Primary took part in activities involving enterprise, healthy food, first aid, safe use of mobile phones/cyberbullying and forensic science. 

Feedback from both students and teachers was very positive and comments included

‘All aspects of the workshops underlined messages from school to children, an excellent event, children were motivated and excited by the tasks’. Teacher.  

‘I have l earned a lot of things and when I am older I hope I become one (a paramedic!) I have learned different things and skills.  It was fantastic!!’.  Student.

For further information on learning opportunities or for organisations wishing to support events at The Work Place please contact Angela Wilkinson or Sarah Worsnop on 01325 375983 or email learning@durham.gov.uk

Over 80 Key Stage Four Health & Social Care students from schools across the region attended an ‘Investigating Healthcare’ workshop event at The Work Place, a purpose built vocational learning centre in Newton Aycliffe, on 28 January. 

Health professionals from a range of areas delivered a carousel of interactive workshops to students covering mental health, podiatry, occupational therapy, emergency care and tele-healthcare. 

Students took part in hands on activities with the health professionals, including experiencing what it feels like to be disabled, responding to an emergency and performing CPR. 

Feedback from both students and teachers was very positive; comments from some of the attendees included: 

“An excellent day…really inspiring and a change from the classroom” (Teesdale School teacher) 

“It was realistic and hands on!” (Seaham School of Technology student)

Organisations who kindly supported the event were: MIND, Durham County Council, Medical Services (North East), Co. Durham & Darlington Primary Care Trust, Teesside University, Co. Durham & Darlington Community Health Services and Durham Education Business Partnership. 

Schools in attendance were: The Education Village, Seaham School of Technology, Teesdale School, Durham Johnston Comprehensive and Sacred Heart High School. 

For more information on learning opportunities at The Work Place please contact Sarah Worsnop or Angela Wilkinson on 01325 375983.

Durham Education Business Partnership, as part of the North East region of EBP’s hosted ‘A Celebration of the Business Ambassador Programme’ at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts in Gateshead in recognition of the success of the Regional Business Ambassador programme.  The programme has been supported by One North East with funding of £1.4m since 2002. 

The event was held to recognise individuals and businesses for giving their time to help inspire young people’s work-related learning in schools across the North East, helping raise their aspirations and attainment levels.

Business Ambassador Margaret Brown, of Victim Support was given a special award by Durham EBP for supporting over 150 Business Ambassador activities since 2002, over and above what is expected of any volunteer.  Margaret has been described as epitomising the Education Business Partnership ethos and wholeheartedly encourages students to develop those skills that are needed in today’s business environment. 

Other Business Ambassadors who received awards from the other seven regional EBP’s were Julie Hewitson of Morrison Facility Services (Gateshead EBP), Steve Boon of Newcastle City Council (Newcastle EBP), Tony Kirsop of Northumberland County Council – Social Enterprise (Northumberland EBP), Susie Hodgson of Procter & Gamble (North Tyneside EBP), Norman Kaier of South Tyneside Homes (South Tyneside EBP), Kevin Burdis of Gentoo (Sunderland EBP) and Wendy Brown of HM Court Service (Tees Valley EBP). 

There are currently 650 North East business ambassadors, (BAs) or employee volunteers, with the programme having trained over 1,200 BAs and reached 85,000 young people across the region.  

Margaret Fay, Chairman of One North East, who presented the awards, said: ‘The aim of the programme is to raise awareness of career opportunities available to young people and to help them prepare for the world of work.  The Business Ambassadors’ volunteer work is invaluable as they offer their expertise and time to help people carve a successful future for themselves’.  

Jane Ritchie, Business Ambassadors Programme Manager, presented the history of the BA Programme and was herself presented with an award for her contribution to the programme over the last 15 years. 

Anne Gibbs, Manager of Durham EBP, added: ‘The awards are a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the fantastic success of the programme and thank the business ambassadors and guests for their outstanding contributions.  Many young people have benefited from working with the ambassadors and have been inspired by the programme’. 

Aspiring Business Ambassadors and employers who wish to get involved with the programme should contact Durham EBP, on Tel: 01325 375900 or visit their website at www.durhamebp.org.uk.

Sandra Brennen, Jessica Gibson and Penny Hudson will join Professor Winston for the 10th women only challenge to fund groundbreaking medical research work at the Wolfston and Weston Research Centre for Family Health in London.

They will be cycling 450km in Beijing province and need to raise a minimum of £10,000.  They will be among a group of about 80 women who will cycle for five days through areas of China that few westerners get to see.

The ladies say “This is a real fitness challenge for all of us, as none of us have ever been cyclists. We have just started our training and are really enjoying the cycle routes around the County.  You will be seeing us out and about and at next year’s cycle rides organised by DCC”.

Women for Women (www.women-for-women.org) raises funds to train women scientists and clinicians to work at the centre, empowering more women to lead in this field.  They will work to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions which cause genetic diseases, miscarriage, infertility, cancer and brain damage.  The fundamental aim is to improve women’s health and to ensure that more women have a normal pregnancy with a healthy baby.  With up to 250 babies dying every week in the UK from complications during pregnancy their work has never been so essential for women and babies worldwide.

These three ladies will be looking for support and sponsorship over the next 10 months and anyone who wishes to support them can contact them via e mail penny.hudson@durham.gov.uk.  You can also follow their progress and make donations via their web page www.justgiving.com/thedurhampedalpushers

The Award is run by the Institute for Education Business Excellence and accredits organisations to the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ National Standard for Education Business Partnership Organisations (May 2008).  It recognises the continued efforts and high standards achieved by Durham EBP in its ongoing work connecting education and the world of work for the benefit of young people in the area.

Durham Education Business Partnership promotes links between schools and local businesses in County Durham.  This is achieved by producing and facilitating a range of high quality work related learning, work experience and enterprise programmes to enrich the education of students and to enhance their employability skills.  The EBP works with nearly 4500 companies and 350 volunteers to support these programmes offering 20,600 students learning opportunities each academic year.

Anne Gibbs, Manager of Durham Education Business Partnership commented  “We are thrilled to be one of the first EBPs to be accredited with the Award for Education Business Excellence. It is very rewarding to be recognised for the continuing effort and hard work staff put in to improve the learning experiences of young people in County Durham.  Thanks must also go to local employers who are key to the success of this achievement and provide invaluable support to the EBP. We are very proud of the services Durham EBP provides and we look forward to helping many more young people prepare for their future, in the years to come.

Bannatyne’s Bright Sparks Set Final Alight

An enterprising competition, organised by Durham EBP, aimed at developing Darlington school pupils’ communication and decision making skills, reached its final last week, to determine the winning team.

Editor of the Northern Echo, Peter Baron, hosted the event. Judges who included multi-millionaire entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, awarded pupils from Darlington Education Village and their idea to create tailor-made wildlife gardens for companies, and for the £1,000 prize!  Pupils made bird boxes and other furniture for gardens on site and are using profits from the venture to fund a sensory garden for special needs pupils at the school.

The competition final, involving nine schools was the culmination of months of work by the pupils from Education Village, Hurworth House, Carmel, Hurworth, Hummersknott, Eastbourne, Branksome, Longfield and Polam Hall. 

Each school created a business idea and business plan before being grilled on their ideas by the Dragon’s Den-style judging panel.

David Heaton, chairman of Darlington 14-19 Partnership said: “Last year was successful but this year, we have taken a quantum leap forward.”

The final was held at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington on Monday 29 June 2009.

A strong field of students from local schools battled it out to become the Sculpture Competition Champions, earlier today at The Work Place.

The competition was held as part of the In Our Image project, the 16 metre high gigantic head and shoulders sculpture recently put into its permanent home at the Heighington Lane West section of Aycliffe Business Park to celebrate Newton Aycliffe’s industrial heritage and symbolise regeneration.

Newton Aycliffe based Aycliffe Fabrications constructed the sculpture and Managing Director Dave Spensley (pictured to the right together with the scale model of the In Our Image head) has maintained his involvement as the whole practical journey of the fabrication process has been created into an education programme that has been enjoyed by over 700 young people from 45 local schools and colleges. 

Only the strongest teams made it through and the one day competition final involved each school designing their own scale model based on a brief given to all students.  The judging criteria to decide on the winning team involved judges the teams on: 

• How well they worked together as a team
• The accuracy of their scale model
• Talking about the design and how it related to they school
• Sustainability considerations
• Appropriateness of the model

The project has provided a unique opportunity for them to see first-hand the fascinating creative aspects of engineering with an aim of encouraging more young people into considering a career in engineering.  

The competition was close but Tanfield School, Specialist College of Science and Engineering pipped the others to the post to become the overall champions.  Well done to all involved, a hard earned but well deserved win!