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| News from the Core Group (September 2008) |
 A summary of the latest Core Group Meeting is now available. The main focus of the meeting was the successful funding bid to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. The Group also discussed the announcement that Railtrack intend to open up the Ollerton railway track for training purposes and possibly rebuild Ollerton Station.
Download the summary here (PDF, Adobe Acrobat Reader required). |
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ICT courses take off! |
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 One Wednesday, back in March, ODEF invited anyone interested in attending a basic ICT course to an open evening. To the delight of the training team, the event was a real success and they launched a training project. Every Wednesday evening, between the hours of 5-7pm, eager students have been gaining a little more confidence in their ICT skills - whether it is surfing the net, learning how to email and message friends or finding out about IT security. Now, the training team are pleased to announce that all the students who submitted their work for an OCN qualification have passed. Congratulations!
Following the success of the pilot project, the training team have now extended the training sessions to two evenings per week, which are very popular. Anyone wishing to join the sessions should speak to Lynda or Lara on 01623 863887 or please email us to find out more. |
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How life can change! |
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 One of our clients, Mark Eggleton, was so pleased with ODEF’s support service that it inspired him to put pen to paper and write about his experiences. He had been involved in an accident at work that left him with a serious brain injury. As a consequence he approached ODEF's training team to help him renew his skills. Here is his letter in his own words, reproduced with his permission. He hopes that it will encourage others in a similar position to feel confident about approaching ODEF for help.
“Well, how do you start a story like this? I’d had an accident at work and I was feeling ‘Christ, what has happened to me? Why me?’. I knew there was no possibility of me returning to drive a lorry for a living. To start with, I felt scared. I took the plunge to do a basic computer course. The emotions were different; when I was walking up the stairs, for the first time in my life I was wary and unsure if this was the right thing to do. But, as the course unfolded, the changes in me have been great. The ladies have made a great difference as they have made the computer course feel easy and something I could conquer. I will be honest; before the accident it was something I would not have done. It helped that all the people I have met on the course have had the same fears and being in the 'same boat' has helped. You can see the improvement in everyone. The knowledge I now have has made me full of confidence, and I don’t have the feeling of nervousness anymore. Lynda gave me a notebook once so that I could write the things down that I was struggling with at home and it is now full. I am now back in full time employment.
I am looking forward to the next course. Cheers everyone.
Mark |
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Free NVQ Customer Service course offered to community and voluntary organisations
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In partnership with Lincoln College, ODEF is offering staff and volunteers who work for voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises, a fantastic opportunity to gain an NVQ in Customer Service. The training is free of charge, flexible, and anyone working for a relevant organisation can apply - no previous qualifications are required. Come along to our information session at Ollerton and Boughton Town Hall on 8 October 2008 to learn more. To book your place, please contact Nikki or Carol by telephoning ODEF on 01623 863887 or emailing carol@odef.co.uk
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Future of local bus services decided |
 There has been much speculation in the community about the future of the Boughton Boomerang and Sherwood Sweeper bus services. ODEF was originally one of the partners involved in the Rural Bus Challenge funding bid and staff were concerned about the rumours that the service would be finishing on Monday 1st September. Louise Tarrant from ODEF contacted Andy Buckland from Nottinghamshire County Council to find out the facts. Andy acknowledged that the original grant funding for the two buses had expired. However, the Council has put together a £100,000 funding package to secure one service which will maintain all the fixed routes covered by the Sweeper and Boomerang; these include the commuter and shopper services. However, the demand-responsive element of the bus services will not continue. The small yellow buses will be replaced by a standard red Veolia bus, which seats more passengers. Around Ollerton and Edwinstowe the bus will display the number 14, with the suffixes A, B and C - depending on the journey. When it serves the villages further away from Ollerton, the bus will display the number 32. Timetables were issued to libraries and parish councils yesterday (28 August) and Andy added that drivers should be able to give regular passengers the new timetables now. |
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Employment service set to continue thanks to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust
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 The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has agreed to fund the continuation of ODEF's highly successful Employment Support Service. A grant worth £100,434 will ensure that the service, which has been used by nearly 700 people over the last two years, will continue until 2010 providing assistance and advice for those seeking work or training. The Employment Support Service operates alongside ODEF's Community Breaks Project which also tackles the social problems suffered by local people who are not in work. At its peak in March this year, the Employment Support Service was signing up 25 new registrations per month and, if not for the CRT grant, the future of the service was in doubt. People visiting the ODEF office can make use of the wide facilities available for finding work and can also gain valuable help with literacy, numeracy and computer skills. Voluntary work is also included as well as advice for those looking to improve their careers. |
Local businesses to feature in the Eco Shop |
 The ODEF Eco Shop is now decorated and eco products and leaflets are arriving daily for display. One of the project's aims is to to encourage people to buy locally and so Lindsay and Carol are now looking for shop keepers and companies in the area who sell items with an eco, organic or fairtrade theme to contact them. If you own a business and are interested in your products being featured, please click here to read more about the Eco Shop or contact us. |
ODEF and the BBC make reading fun! |
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 The ODEF Training Team returns from a successful foray into Leicestershire as part of the BBC RaW Family Storytelling Festival. Lara and Lynda joined Max and Lara’s Travelling Space Circus at Abbey Park for the weekend to help promote reading throughout the East Midlands region. Around 1000 people visited this event undeterred by the rain and thunder. ODEF challenged families to work together to write and illustrate a second ‘Dora the Dragon’ adventure. The original book was written by young mums who attended Ollerton Youth Project and was a great success. More RaW events are planned and we will update you about them as soon as we have more information.
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| Congratulations to Joan Seager! |
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 ODEF is proud to announce that Joan Seager has won 2008 ODEF's 'Service to the Community Award'. A tireless worker for many local groups, including ODEF's Disability Action Team, the Older Person's Forum, the Celebration Dance Group, Activity Friend and Ollerton of Yesteryear, Joan has shown that age is not a barrier to being active in the community. Mike Manning (pictured), a community support officer at ODEF, gave a warm and witty speech about her contributions, mentioning her role as a Volunteer Ambassador in which she motivates older people to volunteer. One thing is for certain, keeping active has meant that Joan has the energy of someone much younger. Well done Joan!
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News from the 2008 AGM by David Heathcote, Development Manager
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 The 15th Annual General Meeting of ODEF took place on 3rd July 2008 at which the Trustees presented the Annual Report. Those in attendance were also asked to vote for members to serve on the Core Group.
The Chairman welcomed everyone and in his opening address referred to the important work being done and how ODEF was still a key player in the regeneration of Ollerton and its surrounding villages.
The Annual Report and Accounts showed that the year began on an optimistic note with the news that The Big Lottery would be supporting ODEF’s Community Breaks project with a grant worth £284,000 over three years. ODEF was also successful in obtaining a grant from the Alliance SSP Market Towns Challenge Fund to enable the opening of an eco-shop in the town. ODEF’s most successful public service remains the Employment Support Service. This was the third year of  operation and the average number of new clients rose sharply during the year. ODEF has continued to offer training courses with many students gaining qualifications – sometimes for the first time in the lives. As well as basic skills training in literacy and numeracy, ODEF has introduced a selection of environmentally themed courses. ODEF’s volunteers continued to play a part and the various Action Teams were very busy during 2007/08. The report concluded with the news that, in the future, ODEF will need to address the problems of office space and the inadequate computer network.
The Company Secretary presented the Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2008. The Accounts showed a much-improved financial position due to two large funding grants and increased earnings from public services.
The Annual Report 2007/8 is now available to download from the website, please click here to access it (PDF, Adobe Acrobat required)
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News from the Core Group (June 05 2008)
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 A summary of the latest Core Group Meeting is now available. This month it includes an update on the progress of ODEF's funding application to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, discussion about the future of the Local Strategic Partnership and, as could be expected, more debate about the future of Ollerton Roundabout and traffic congestion around Ollerton in general - does Ollerton need a bypass? Download the summary (PDF, Adobe Acrobat required)
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'Living Naturally' course launched - places available |
 Are you interested in developing environmental and horticultural skills? ODEF, in partnership with Eco-logic, a Community Interest Company specialising in environmental and social regeneration, has now launched the 'Living Naturally' course. Participants will learn about ecology, conservation and garden horticulture at a location in Sherwood Forest. The course is open to anyone who has an interest in developing their skills in this area, and free places are available for those who are disabled or unemployed and receiving benefits. Indivduals who complete the course will gain a National Open College Network qualification. To find more about the course, please contact us. |
News from the Core Group (May 01 2008) |
 A summary of the latest Core Group Meeting is now available. This month it includes updates about the County Council's decision about the future of Ollerton Roundabout, funding for the ODEF Employment Service, the 'Homegrown' project and the latest on ODEF's training services. Download the summary (PDF, Adobe Acrobat required) |
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Transport to health centres and hospitals - what do you think? |
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 Organising transport to a hospital or health centre can be difficult. The Transport to Health group, chaired by Mike Manning from ODEF, is carrying out a survey to find out what you really think about this subject. Judy Byrom, from the Newark and Sherwood Voluntary Transport Scheme has set up a survey online, and would really like to know your views, which will be kept confidentially. All the results will be collected and analysed and then presented to the Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust. Adrian Hartley (Foundation Member) and Tracey Brassington (PALS Manager) represent the Trust on the Transport to Health Group. To fill in the survey, please click here. Thanks for your time!
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News from the Core Group (April 23 2008) |
| A summary of the latest Core Group Meeting is now available. This month it includes updates about the continuation of the Boughton Boomerang and Sherwood Sweeper bus services; the success of ODEF's job search service and the progress made with the Eco Shop. Download the summary (PDF, Adobe Acrobat Reader required). |
New 'Living Naturally' OCN qualification offered* |
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 ODEF, in partnership with Eco-logic – a local Community Interest Company specialising in environmental and social regeneration – is currently developing an NOCN (National Open College Network) course in environmental and horticultural skills. The course, entitled 'Living Naturally' aims to develop the health, personal and practical abilities of the participants, whilst improving the local environment at the same time.
It is anticipated that participants will be introduced to the concepts of ecology and conservation and will gain an understanding of local habitats, in particular those within the Sherwood Forest area. They will develop skills in garden horticulture, such as identifying plants and flowers and caring for plants grown from seed. Participants will also be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle by exploring their personal fitness and diet. The project will be located within the heart of Sherwood Forest and practical projects will take place in Ollerton and within the surrounding countryside. It is hoped that the project will be developed alongside the innovative ODEF Eco-Shop, which aims to encourage people to live in a more sustainable way.
The NOCN is the leading credit-based awarding body in the UK, offering high- quality and flexible qualifications. It is recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). If you are interested in the above course or would like training in similar areas, please contact the ODEF office for more information.
* UPDATE - AS OF SEPTEMBER 2008, THE COURSE HAS NOW FINISHED. AS SOON AS NEW FUNDING HAS BEEN GRANTED WE WILL POST NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE ON THIS WEBSITE.
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