What's special about Fircroft?

How good is the training?

Can you guarantee the quality of the training?

How is The Certificate in Managing Diversity and Equality accredited?

Who leads the programme?

How much does the programme cost?

How do I find out more?

How do I book a place on the programme?

Who are our clients?

What do our customers say?

What are the course dates?

Want to find out more about Diversity and Equality?

What's special about Fircroft College?

Fircroft College of Adult Education was founded in Birmingham in 1909 to pioneer residential education and training for ‘working people’. The purpose of Fircroft’s education was to “promote social justice”.

From its inception Fircroft had strong international links. The College was modeled on the democratically elected Scandinavian ‘People’s High Schools’. In the 1930’s many trade unionists and political activists fleeing Nazism came to live and study at Fircroft.

Tom Bryan, was appointed as Fircroft’s first Warden (Principal) in 1909. Tom Bryan strongly believed that Fircroft should be “a residential college for the common people of England”.

After the Second World War, one quarter of Fircroft students came from overseas, and the college became a vibrant multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community, which actively supported the independence movements in Africa, South Asia,and the Far East. In the mid 1980’s many major figures in the South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) and the African National Congress (ANC) came to live and study at Fircroft, after being released from long imprisonment on Robben Island. They returned to play key roles in the newly independent nations of South Africa and Namibia.

Joseph Helao Shityuwete was arrested, detained and tortured in Namibia by the South African Apartheid regime. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Robben Island. On his release in 1986, he came as a student to Fircroft and wrote a book about his experiences. He returned to Namibia at Independence and was a senior official in the country’s first democratically elected government. Read more: www.worldviews.igc.org/awpguide/strugone.html

WAITS (Women Acting In Today’s Society) began as a women-only project at Fircroft in the 1990’s. WAITS has since developed into a highly influential independent charity which focuses upon building women’s leadership skills “so they are equipped with a sense of their own power and ability to work for social change”.

Find out more: http://www.waitsaction.org/who_we_are.jsp

WAITS staff at a recent training event in the gardens at Fircroft

In the late 1990’s, following the publication of the Social Exclusion Report, Fircroft led a major Home Office initiative to develop Community Leadership skills in South Asian communities, in rural areas, and among the homeless.

More recently Fircroft has pioneered a variety of courses for mental health service users, and we are currently working with Mencap to provide training skills courses for people with a learning disability, so that they in turn can deliver Learning Disability Awareness training to public and private-sector organizations.

	“Over 250 members of staff, clients, and volunteers from Mencap England, Mencap Cymru and Mencap Northern Ireland have attended training skills courses at Fircroft college since 2004.”

Fircroft is celebrating its first hundred years in 2009! But In the 21st century our mission remains to “promote social justice through excellent adult education and training”.

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How good is the training?

The current NOCN Certificate in Managing Diversity and Equality has been running for almost five years. The anonymous evaluations show a very high level of satisfaction with both the quality of the course and the quality of teaching. You can find out who our clients are and also read what they have said about the programme.

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Can you guarantee the quality of the training?

Yes. If you come on one of our Diversity courses and do not feel that the quality of the training is good enough, then you can de-register and get your money back. Simple as that!

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How is the Certificate in Managing Diversity and Equality accredited?

The Level 4 Certificate in Managing Diversity and Equality is accredited by the University of Warwick. Warwick is one of the UK’s leading universities, with an international reputation for excellence in research and teaching. This Certificate is the first, and currently the only University accredited Level 4 qualification in Managing Diversity and Equality in the UK.

The Certificate in Managing Diversity and Equality is fully accredited and validated by the National Open College Network (NOCN) at Levels 1, 2, and 3. The National Open College Network is a QCA, CCEA and ACCAC recognised national qualification awarding body.

The accreditation schemes for both Certificates in Managing Diversity and Equality have been updated to include the latest Diversity and Equalities legislation.
 

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Who leads the programme?

Programme Leader: Dr. Simon Taylor

Simon Taylor gained his doctorate at Liverpool University in 1980, and is the author of a number of books on racism, immigration, contemporary multi-ethnic Britain, and Diversity and social policy. He has delivered Diversity and Equality programmes in the UK, France, Germany and Southern Africa. He co-wrote and delivered the first specialist degree in Race and Ethnic Studies at Birmingham University, and was the European Consultant to the Museum of Tolerance (Tolerancenter) in Los Angeles.

He currently leads the Making Diversity Work programme at Fircroft College, as well as the National Training Skills programme for Mencap England and Mencap Cymru. He has been a councillor in local government, and is active in the voluntary and community sector.

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How much does the NOCN Certificate in Managing Diversity and Equality cost?

If you register for all three courses (six days’ training) then each training-day costs £165.00, and the total cost of the programme is £990.00.

If you register for a single course (two-training days) then each training day costs £195.00 and the total cost of the course is £390.00.

The fee includes a 2 course lunch, and refreshments on each training day.

As we are an educational charity, VAT is not payable on course fees.

Any surplus from our training programmes is ploughed back into the college’s work with disadvantaged communities.

Don't let the fees stop you coming!

If you want to come on the non-residential programme, but cannot afford the fees, please let us know!

You may be eligible to apply to our Widening Participation Fund to help with the cost.

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How do I find out more?

For further details, contact Dr. Simon Taylor the Programme Leader.

Tel: 0121 472 0116            

Email: simon.taylor@fircroft.ac.uk

Or contact Yvonne Godwin

Email: yvonne.godwin@fircroft.ac.uk

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How do I book a place on the programme?

For the NOCN programme, complete and forward the Diversity Training - Non Residential Application Form.

then send it to:

Dr. Simon Taylor, 1018 Bristol Rd., Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6LH.

For the Warwick University Programme, please contact Simon Taylor or Yvonne Godwin for the Application and Registration forms.

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