the connexions card wendy violentano head of connexions card unit – dfes 24 th september 2003
TRANSCRIPT
THE CONNEXIONS CARDWendy Violentano
Head of Connexions Card Unit – DfES
24th
September 2003
Purpose:
To encourage young people to stay in learning by:
• Motivation
• Reward participation and attainment
• Reduce financial barriers
• Improve career and life choices
• Empowerment
The benefits of the Connexions Card - to young people
• Rewards attendance
• New & exciting experiences
• On the spot discounts
• Proof of Age
Why is the Card needed?
• To help address stubborn problems which include:
• low levels of participation and attainment
• high drop out rates and switching
• poor levels of participation in sports and cultural activities
A holistic approach
• To provide an incentive to participation and attainment in
learning and personal development through a ‘rewards’
package
• To financially help young people through a range of
discounts
• To help young people make a considered choice from the
wide range of post-16 options open to them
• To use the Card to record attendance in learning
Unique experiences
• Behind the scenes at sports events, concerts or fashion shows
• Presenting radio programmes
• Lessons from the professionals
• Driving a bulldozer
• Attending film previews
• Interviewing the stars
• Visiting a trade or profession
• In the studio for a recording session
• Swimming with dolphins
Collecting attendance data
• Choice of solutions to meet the needs of Learning Centres
• Methods:
1. Existing MIS systems
2. Connexions Card and Readers
3. connexionscard.com
4. Helpline
• Pick & Mix approach
Potential Developments
• Transport – Cashless ticketing, Railcard
• Incentives for Young Offenders
• Incentives for the Armed Forces/Emergency Services
• Portable personal learning record
• Pre 16 and Post 19 cards
• E-Purse
• Young People in employment
• And on and on………
Pilot Developments
• Current and Potential Multi-application cards in partnership with
– Doncaster MBC– North Devon– Sheffield E-Voting– Kettering Leisure Pass– Transport authorities
Current Position
• Over 300,000 Cards issued
• 1600 Learning Centres signed up
• 2500 Organisations visited
• 17,000 unique reward redemptions
• 6000 Discounts available
• 500,000 Website hits per month
• 1,000 cardholder logins per day