len simkins
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After 9 years as Manager of Bedfordshire County Council Welfare Rights Unit I launched Infotrain in 1999. I wanted to use my extensive experience in social welfare and advice training to further develop and support the local advice sector. Having worked with over 70 organisations in Bedfordshire and the Eastern Region I have an established reputation as a specialist in issues that affect the advice sector, in training (assessment, delivery and staff development) and quality standard requirements for third sector organisations. -
A strategic thinker, I know how to articulate and develop the vision of the organisations I work with and the networks I facilitate. For example, I have supported Bedfordshire Advice Forum to become the voice of the local advice sector - membership is currently 42 organisations. I represented Advice UK for over 10 years in the Eastern Region and extended this work into the East Midlands as well as helping to set up Advice Alliance East and to support Advice Alliance East Midlands.
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From a young age I have been passionate about promoting a fairer society and tackling inequalities. For over 20 years I have been involved in anti-poverty initiatives in Bedfordshire and Luton through the Tackling Poverty Together Group and Bedfordshire Child Poverty Action Group. I am currently consulting on the development of Child Poverty Stragegies in Luton, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. In the past I have had direct experience of giving benefits advice, case work and tribunal representation and I have worked as an adviser on disability discrimination.
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Having initially trained as a teacher, then trainer and tutor (incliuding on-line tutoring) I have a lot of experience in recognising particular training needs as well as being adept at design and delivery of training courses.
- A partner of Quality Development Services - a specialist NVQ assessment centre providing support services relating to NVQs in Advice and Guidance.
- Vice-Chair of Bedfordshire Child Poverty Action Group
- Company Secretary of Advice Bedfordshire
- Football Coach for Under 15s at Brickhill Football Club
In addition to my work as a Director of Infotrain I am also: