December 2009 Update

Welcome to the

December 2009 Update

from

The Aldridge Foundation

Francis Maude debates public service reform at Aldridge Foundation dinner

In the last of our 2009 private dinners, Rt Hon Francis Maude MP joined a select group hosted by Rod to debate co-production and co-design of public services.  It was widely felt that the current financial climate would lead to the design of more innovative and creative models, which did not necessarily need to be delivered by the public sector itself.  The key was to increase capability, capacity and skills, to ensure the development of new models of delivery linked to outcomes, proportionate monitoring processes and for the public sector to act as an “intelligent customer”. 

Aldridge Foundation welcomes Career Academy students

At the end of November, the Foundation was delighted to welcome a group of DACA students who had attended the Career Academies UK Student Conference.  The Aldridge Academy students had taken part in a range of activities designed to make them think about their future and develop “work skills” such as networking, before visiting NESTA where they talked about their unique entrepreneurship specialism.  Career Academies is a national charity which facilitates a framework for schools and colleges to engage with businesses to raise the aspirations of young people aged 16-19.  DACA was the first entrepreneurship Career Academyin the country.

For more information on our work with Career Academies and our wider careers Information, Advice and Guidance programme – Aspire 2 B, contact:

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Aldridge Foundation piloted dance programme reaches 100,000 children

Essentially Dance, the programme originally piloted by The Aldridge Foundation, and designed in partnership with Darren and Lilia of the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, has gone from strength to strength, with approaching 100,000 young people involved in the programme.  Working within schools, Essentially Dance train school teachers to deliver ballroom and Latin American dance within core PE provision. 

For more information on the Foundation’s involvement with dance, including Rod’s role as Chair of the Dance Champions Group backed by the Department of Health, contact:

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Rod Aldridge takes part in turf-cutting for Academy at Falmer

At the beginning of December, Rod led a turf-cutting party, which also included Cllr Vanessa Brown, Colin Baker of Kier, and Principal Designate Phil Hogg, to celebrate the new £28 million Academy at Falmer.  The building will provide students with an inspirational learning environment and state-of-the-art ICT, sport and entrepreneurship facilities.  The building will include entrepreneurship pods which will allow students and the wider local community to start their own businesses and social enterprises.

For more information on our Academies programme, contact:

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Seasons Greetings to all our readers – with best wishes

for the Festive Season and the New Year,

from Rod, Sally, Petra, Elizabeth, Joe, Anita and James