College faces
funding crisis
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Collegiate’s new look ?27 million Winwick Road campus is facing a major funding crisis and staff redundancies following government cutbacks.
The Collegiate?s funding bid to the Learning Skills Council (LSC) for ?10.5 million has been cut by more than ?1 million, which is set to hit adult education provision in the town.
Now principal Paul Hafren (pictured) has called for a meeting with the LSC, MP Helen Jones and Warrington Borough Council Social Services Department to reduce the impact the cuts will have on students, staff and in the community.
The Government body which funds education for over 16s, has told the college to prioritise its spending on courses which boost adult skills and lead to accredited qualifications.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) wants the college to deliver more provision targeted at 16-18 year-olds and apprentices, with a particular emphasis on increasing Level Two and Level Three success rates.
Funding budgets will rise in these priority areas but be reduced significantly for courses that fail to meet the Government?s criteria. Most affected will be adult students on courses that result in no qualifications or lower level qualifications.
The college currently provides courses in partnership with Warrington Borough Council Social Services, for learners with learning disabilities. These community-based courses will be particularly affected by the funding change.
The Collegiate is one of many colleges across the region and the country to be hit by funding reductions which come as a result of the LSC?s attempts to build a better trained workforce and raise adult skills.
Mr Hafren said: ?Our funding application for ?10.5 million has been cut by more than ?1 million. This is more than ?670,000 less than the college received last year. ?We are still trying to assess the impact this will have but it is highly likely that there will be job losses as a consequence. We will be consulting with the staff affected as soon as possible,? said Mr Hafren.
He added: ?Unfortunately we have no alternative but to balance our budget by cutting our provision in the areas highlighted by the LSC. We are one of the colleges leading the way in delivering the Government?s priorities and the Adult Skills Strategy and we remain committed to providing high quality learning opportunities for students.
?We will discuss with the LSC how we can best manage the consequences of these funding reductions on students, parents, carers and College staff and also explore the level of support the LSC is prepared to offer Warrington as we implement these changes.?
One option would be to find alternative funding, either through the students themselves, employers or through the borough council.
News of the cutbacks came as the college was being praised by another Government agency, Ofsted, for its teaching excellence.
?It is ironic that just as we move into a ?27 million new college building and receive a very successful Ofsted inspection that the LSC chooses at this time to reduce our adult funding by such a significant amount. Nonetheless, the College has shown before that it can overcome all the challenges it is presented with and this will be no different. We will strive to minimise the adverse impact these funding changes have upon learners, staff and stakeholders,? added Mr Hafren.
The Collegiate?s Business School recently had to announce seven redundancies although these were all taken voluntarily.
Golden Square opens
with festival of fun
by staff reporter
THE new ?120 million expansion of Warrington?s Golden Square opened today ? with hundreds of people queuing from the early hours of the morning to be the first to sample its attractions.
Mayor Coun Celia Jordan cut a tape to officially open the centre for shopping ? and the crowds thronged in.
Miss Warrington Holly Ikin was there and so was Warrington Wolves mascot Wolfie.
There was music and entertainers and a general festival atmosphere as shoppers rushed to be among the first in the new Debenham?s store.
Nearly 20 new big name stores were open and Golden Square owners Lend Lease say another 20 will be open before the end of July.
The list of stores either open or shortly to open includes H&M, River Island, Sportsworld, Topshop/Topman, Phones4U, Beaverbrooks, 3 Store, Monsoon, Republic, WH Smith, Games Exchange, Pumpkin Patch, La Senza, Jane Norman, Oasis, Clarks, Parchment, Carphone Warehouse, Games Station and Ernest Jones.
A six week programme of events has been laid on to attract shoppers to the new centre.
Town Centre car parks were free for the day ? and Warrington Borough Transport offered one penny fares for shoppers visiting the town centre from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
They do like to be
beside the seaside
by Lesley Wilkinson
STUDENTS from Warrington proved they do like to be beside the seaside – on a trip to Blackpool.
Four final year Business students from Priestly College had to organise a trip for other vocational and Public Services students as part of their BTEC coursework. They had to take responsibility for all aspects of event planning including marketing, finance and organisation.
The group rose to the challenge and fellow students enjoyed a visit to the Sealife Centre and the Pleasure Beach.
Organisers showed keen business skills as they managed to negotiate a free ride for the group on the new multi-million ? roller-coaster “Infusion.”
Business tutor Julie McDonald said: “Organising this event was very much out of the ordinary for some of the students but the experience will more than serve them well in the future as they had to unite as a team in order to come up with the goods for their paying customers.”
Student Matt Blakey said: “This type of experience will help at university as it gave me confidence in dealing with people and talking to large groups.”
Council elects
a new chairman
by John Hendon
NEW chairman of Birchwood Town Council is Coun Tony Higgins.
He was unanimously voted in at the annual meeting of the council.
His first duty was to thank outgoing chairman Coun Pauline Nelson for her hard work throughout the previous year.
?I look forward to the challenges of the year ahead,? he said.
Coun Mike Evans was elected as vice chairman and Coun Chris Fitzsimmons continues as leader of the council.
College students dress
up to fund trip to India
by Lesley Wilkinson
YOUNGSTERS aiming for careers in senior management or public bodies such as the police took to the streets of Warrington to raise funds for a trip to India.
The students on Public Services courses at Warrington Collegiate took part in a sponsored fancy dress in Warrington town centre.
Lecturer Jon Walsh said the youngsters are collecting money to fund a 15-day trip to India in March 2008.
More than 80 students are taking part in the trip, which includes visiting remote villages. They will take equipment such as sports shirts, educational books and pens and paper to help local children.
He said the trip costs ?3,000 per student and each has to raise ?1,300. The rest of the money has been donated by the Learning Skills Council.
He said: “The students are aiming for careers in management or public bodies such as the police. Visiting a country like India, helps them gain valuable experience for their future.”
Holidaymakers warned
to expect delays
by Lesley Wilkinson
TRAVELLERS abroad are being warned to expect delays and ensure they have adequate travel insurance, by Warrington-based Euro MP Brian Simpson.
He spoke at a public hearing on Aviation Security in Strasbourg, where he said that delays were likely as countries step up security at airports.
“I am afraid air travellers could well be faced with
delays this summer as countries like Spain step up their security as part of an EU wide attempt to increase security,” he said.
The MEP said these hold-ups together with delays caused by traffic congestion could add “many hours” to holiday journeys. He advised holiday-makers to go to the airport fully prepared.
“Firstly, make sure your holiday insurance not only covers you for delays but for luggage also,” he said. ?Secondly, insist under EU regulations on denied boarding and delay, that you receive refreshments when the delay exceeds two hours and reimbursement of fares after five hours.
?Thirdly, ensure that the kids can be entertained and fourthly, ensure that all liquids, gels, manicure sets, perfume are put in your hold luggage and last but not least, try to travel with just small items per passenger as cabin baggage and keep some euros for the airport.”
He said every year millions of Britons travel to the sun for their holidays and delays are almost inevitable. Many people arrived at the airport unprepared for hold-ups, leading to frustration.
Resident’s association
to set out its aims
by staff reporter
A MEETING of the fledgling Wilderspool Resident?s Association is to be held at St John?s United Reformed Church, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington on Wednesday, June 6.
Two previous meetings have been held, with the attendance doubling for the second, earlier this month, when it was decided to form a resident?s association.
The Rev David Coaker, minister at St John?s said: ?At this next meeting we will be discussing a draft constitution and, subject to that, electing officers to support our efforts to represent the views of all residents to help us make our neighbourhood a better place to live.?
The meeting will start at 7.30pm.
Bridge to close
for repair work
by staff reporter
THE Chester Road swing bridge in Warrington will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians on the weekend of June 2 and 3.
Closure is to allow essential maintenance work to be carried out on the bridge.
It is expected that the work will be completed within two days, but further work may need to be carried out and if so road closures would continue on Sunday June 10.
Drivers should use an alternative route via A56 Walton Road, A49 London Road, Wilderspool Causeway and A5060 Chester Road.
