Our History
Where did we come from and why were we established?
On 27th July 1987, Jenny Mills was appointed by Hull CVS as a part time administrator (Training and Committee work) and, it was estimated, the training element would constitute 5 hours per week.
Jenny was a classic women-returner having been involved in voluntary work and then managing to find an appropriate training programme which led to employment. Jenny was passionate about providing accessible information and meaningful learning and development opportunities for adults seeking change in their lives and concentrated her efforts on that aspect of the work. The rest is history.
By way of fulfilling the need for accessible information approximately 400 copies of the first edition (shown below left) of Training News went out in the New Year 1988, followed by a further 2 editions in that year. You can download a copy of that first edition by clicking here. Its success can be evidenced by the growth in distribution which reached 7,000 copies in 2003.
The first Training News was used to promote some Social Services course places offered to the sector at preferential rates after negotiations by Jenny with their training department. The promotion proved so successful the courses were often over-subscribed.
Then, one of the trainers used by Social Services offered to deliver free of charge if Hull CVS put courses on themselves. This gave the impetus to a very successful Short Course Programme which later became part of the national programme promoted by the NACVS and drawing in participants from as far afield as Exeter. In the immediate period before the Humberside Learning Consortium was set up this was one of the largest and most innovative short course programmes in England. It was the first to introduce accredited courses as part of the programme.
The Hull CVS training team delivered funded programmes in the community using a variety of SRB, ESF and other funding. In the latter years of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) programme, one of the most popular series of courses at community level, Hull CVS managed to deliver more runs of elements of the programme than TPAS itself.
In 1995, and subsequently, with support from Hull College and the Open College Network, the team were busy helping other providers in the sector develop their programmes and access funding through a franchise (using FEFC funding) with the college. These programmes were subject to ALI (now OFSTED) inspection and attested to the commitment to quality provision.
Professional qualifications became an integral part of Hull CVS delivery. The most significant of these was City and Guilds 7307. Using part of this franchise funding the programme saw well over 300 tutors in the sector qualifying as Teachers of Adults. Since its formation HLC has continued to support tutors in the sector to gain both Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications.
Humberside Learning Consortium (HLC) was developed in response to the above changes following a consultation exercise in February 2001. The organisation was formed to meet the challenges and opportunities following the establishment of the LSC and the changes to post-16 education. Underpinning its creation was the belief that the voluntary and community sector would be in a better position to engage with the local LSC if it spoke with one voice and was able to respond homogeneously. It was also acknowledged that the sector had proven access to hard to reach members of the community. However the LSC did not, at that stage, have confidence in the sector to deliver learning. The communication channel was aimed at bringing together the learning needs of the hard to reach elements of the community with institutional provision.
The 2001 consultation was managed by the Hull CVS Training Team, but involved the main local development agencies throughout the sub-region. At the time there were 6 CVS's (Voluntary Actions included), who collaborated to gather the sector's views about setting up a consortium. This resulted in a massive 26% return of completed questionnaires. The consultation indicated there was a need and that the following were the priorities for a Consortium to deliver:
- Access to Funding
- Quality assurance
- Enabling the provision of affordable courses
- Working with existing providers to make training accessible
- Providing information about training opportunities
By February 2002 HLC was a registered company limited by guarantee and became independent later the same year. HLC became a registered charity in March 2003. HLC took with it three of the original Hull CVS training team.
The trustees of this new organisation were drawn from the original partners, plus North Bank Forum and the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council, who remain on the board to this day. The board is now supplement by representatives from CERT, Immingham, the Humber All Nations Alliance and three independent trustees, each bringing with them necessary skills. One of the latter acts as an independent Chair.
HLC Staff Team July 2007
In August 2007 Jenny Mills, the CEO responsible for creating the structure and culture of HLC retired, leaving a thriving and successful consortium model, celebrated across the region. A new CEO was appointed in August 2007 with a background of teaching and managing across a wide range of education sectors.
Since HLC established itself it has gained the confidence of both the LSC and providers within the sector. In addition, Humberside Learning Consortium, now Humber Learning Consortium has established itself as a national model of good practice.
