Welcome to the third edition of LINKnet's new online newsletter. The newsletter will be sent quarterly. In this bulletin you will find useful information about events and opportunities available around Edinburgh. It can also be used to share your experiences and successes of mentoring with other people involved with LINKnet. If you would like to contribute anything please contact Linda on 0131 225 6284 or email: linda@linknetmentoring.com
The main focus of the management of LINKnet Mentoring during this quarter has been the organising of the forthcoming publicity event. An AGM/Publicity event is being organised to celebrate LINKnet's achievements of the past six years. The celebration is organised as a tribute to the Big Lottery Fund, LINKnet's main funder. Mr. Dharmendra Kanani, the Director for Scotland, Big Lottery Fund, Rev. Ewan Aitken, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, Mr. Norman Murray, Leader of East Lothian Council and Mr. Mark Ballard MSP are the guest speakers of the event. In addition an array of international dancers, singers and poets will provide entertainment. LINKnet's mentor/ mentee presentations, the achievement summery of the past six years, awarding of certificates to mentors and the distribution of a special report and a free gift are also included in the day's programme. The event will be held on 30 March 2007 from 11am to 2pm at Edinburgh First's South Hall Complex within Pollock halls of residence of the University of Edinburgh. LINKnet wishes to extend a warm invitation to all. Please visit www.linknetmentoring.com and click on the "open invitation" link for further details and how to register.
LINKnet is currently working towards converting its second premises into a resource centre. The centre will have five computers with Internet facilities and other information resources with particular relevance to further and higher education and employment. Registered mentees and mentors of LINKnet will have free access to use computers either for the purpose of developing personal computer skills or for job search. The organisation hopes to keep the centre open for three full days of the week.
In addition to the use of computers and other resources LINKnet is planning to seek service of specialist career and educational guidance workers from Careers Scotland and Job Centre Plus in the form of open surgeries. Two half days of the week will be allocated to this programme and all minority ethnic individuals will be allowed to use this service. LINKnet is hoping to start this service at the end of April 2007. Please keep visiting LINKnet's website for further information.
Ranbandara Dissanayaka
LINKnet Project Director
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LINKnet's "16-24 Job Ready" project has become highly popular. So far 110 mentees have enrolled with the programme. LINKnet staff are persevering to recruit suitable volunteers to support these mentees. We would like to recruit people to join our pool of volunteer mentors from a range of careers (both qualified and unqualified) who will be willing to attend a one-day training session and have:
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As a mentor you will be rewarded by having the opportunity to:
If you are keen to help a black minority ethnic graduate through the process of getting a job we are looking for you. Improving the quality of life of another person will give you so much satisfaction.
People from different ethnic communities coming together and getting to know each other is essential for a peaceful and harmonious society.
If you or any of your friends or family are interested in becoming a member please contact a member of LINKnet staff.
March dates
FREE Information Sessions available from Careers Scotland
These brief sessions will give you the basic skills to begin preparing your CV (CV Workshop) or prepare for interviews (Interview Skills Workshop)
| CV Workshops: | Interview Skills Workshops: |
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Will give you the skills to:
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This session will cover:
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| Wednesday 14 March4.30pm-6.00pm | Thursday 15 March10.30am-12.00 noon |
| Thursday 22 March10.30am-12.00 noon | Wednesday 21 March4.30pm-6.00pm |
| Wednesday 28 March4.30pm-6.00pm | Thursday 29 March10.30am-12.00 noon |
* BOOKING ESSENTIAL *
Please speak to a member of Careers Scotland staff to book, or email apexhouse@careers-scotland.org.ukwith full details: Name, address, and postcode, telephone number, your preferred course and time
Venue details:
Careers Scotland Centre
79 Shandwick Place
Edinburgh EH2 4SD
The City of Edinburgh Council, in conjunction with the Electoral Reform Society and Lothian Valuation Joint Board, is organising a series of public, non-political, meetings to help explain the different voting systems that will be used in the elections to be held on 3 May 2007.
As before, Members of the Scottish Parliament will be elected using the "first past the post" system for constituency MSPs and the Additional Member system for the regional "List" MSPs. For the first time in the local government elections, however, councillors will be elected using the Single Transferable Vote system and these meetings will give you the chance to find out how that will work. There will also be information about Getting Registered to Vote, including postal/proxy votes.
Each evening will follow the same format and there will be plenty of leaflets and information to take away:
1815 Doors open
Tea/coffee available
1845 Getting Registered to Vote
How and where to vote
How the Single Transferable Vote system works
1910 Questions and answer
1945 Finish
Meeting dates & times:
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Learn to dance authentic Latin American Salsa with Gloria - 'La Reina de la Salsa'. Dance moves in English and Spanish ! Starts Wednesday 7th March !!! Every Wednesday 11.15 am to 12.15 midday at the Welcoming in the Methodist Central Halls, Tollcross, Edinburgh.
Bring trainers, a towel, loose clothes and energy !!! |
Explore Support Work (21 March)
There are 12 free places available for this session. To book a place, please call on 0131 475 2521, or email chris@cyrenians.org.uk
Explore Support Work - on Wednesday 21st March from 1.00pm- 3pm - is at Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, and will be led by Donna Layden from Potential Developments, with input from practicing Support Workers. It will be in the form of a practical, activity-based workshop, with a question and answer session, and advice and information about courses as a next step for those considering working in and developing a career in this field.
The course comprises 13 weeks of training and a 13 week guaranteed work placement.
Further particulars are as follows:
If you have answered 'Yes' to any of the above questions then this could be the course for you.
Please click here to download more information about this course
Although what you say at an interview and how you say it is crucial, it is
also important to think about the non-verbal signs you give out.
Eye contact is essential. When faced with a panel, look mainly at the
person who asked the question, acknowledging the others with a glance.
The bulk of the years of my youth I spent working as a marine engineer. After almost 30 years of service in the merchant navy I decided to change my career. With the help of my wife who already had years of work experience in the voluntary sector I managed to start volunteering at Men In Mind, a mental health project for black minority ethnic men. During this period I took part in their ten-week training program. The training and my volunteer work enabled me to obtain part time employment at Oxgangs Health Project.
While working for Oxgangs Health Project I came to know about LINKnet and decided to use the service to improve my career. I started working with my mentor towards getting new employment and improving my employability. I attended numerous short courses, seminars and workshops on my mentor's guidance. After a few months I succeeded in getting full-time employment with Skillnet Edinburgh. Today I am the most senior development worker at Skillnet Edinburgh and I head a separate project under Skillnet Umbrella.
My mentor continued to support me to be able to be efficient and effective in my new role. LINKnet mentoring not only enabled me to obtain the job that I desired but also to develop 'Mind to Work' project of Skillnet to be one of the most successful BME projects in Edinburgh. LINKnet also recognised the importance of the inclusion of its service users on its management machine. I am glad to say that I have been serving as the Treasurer of LINKnet Management Board for more than 4 years. Both as a Board Director and later as a mentor myself, I feel that I have given back a lot to the community for what I have received from LINKnet.
LINKnet has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund throughout. I offer my sincere thanks to the Big Lottery Fund for supporting LINKnet activities which in turn have helped hundreds of BME individuals like me to improve the quality of their lives.
Harbhajan John Singh, Development Worker, Skillnet Edinburgh
(LINKnet Mentee 2001)
On our new-look website (http://www.linknetmentoring.com), we regularly advertise jobs and training opportunities and the latest news about LINKnet.
