What is ALARM?

Project details | Details of ESF

Project details

ALARM stands for Administrative, Legislative and Accountable Records Management.

Project description

ALARM is a partly ESF funded project which looks to address skills gaps among eligible SMEs in Objective 1 West Wales and the Valleys. From November 2005 until April 2007 it provided free information on basic records management and electronic records management, addressing issues involved with legislative compliance affecting SMEs, and providing a pathway to further training by offering optional OCN level 3 accreditation. From May until July 2007, there will be a post-implementation review period, and the results of this will be available here.

Project delivery

The project began on 1 February 2005.

There were two delivery methods, depending on the level of qualification (if required):

1. A single day, looking at the basics of records management and legislative compliance, but with beneficiaries having the opportunity to explore all aspects in greater detail through exclusive access to training materials on the website. Beneficiaries wishing to gain a single OCN level 3 credit were expected to produce an additional short piece of workplace-related work, which was assessed.
2. A series of sessions comprising a 2 hour seminar, discussing course content and problems faced by SMEs, followed by six 2 hour workshops. These workshops were workplace-related and included a number of exercises, as well as a total of 16 hours spent on exercises outside of the sessions for those beneficiaries wishing to gain three OCN level 3 credits. Again, beneficiaries have exclusive access to training materials on the website.

All sessions were held wherever there was demand. Attendance was gender monitored, and provision made for the disabled. Sessions were delivered by staff from The National Library of Wales (NLW) and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (UWA), all of whom have considerable experience and knowledge of records management principles and practice, and of legislative compliance.

All beneficiaries have exclusive password-protected access to extensive training materials on the website, which also provides regularly updated FAQs, useful links, etc.

All documentation has been produced bilingually, and training was delivered in either English or Welsh, as appropriate. Even if the content of the course was delivered in English, a Welsh speaker was present at every session to answer any questions or concerns.

Project management

The project is led by a Project Manager, assisted by a Project Administrator (until June 2007). Both of these posts are part-time and filled by National Library staff. A Project Board meets quarterly to monitor progress, and comprises representatives of participating organisations (NLW, UWA, Open College Network Wales (OCNW), Coleg Ceredigion, and Mid Wales Manufacturing Group). A Management Group, comprising NLW and UWA, meets monthly to monitor developments and feedback.

Accreditation

For those beneficiaries wishing to gain it, accreditation has been through OCNW, who administer OCN credits leading to level 3 standard. The learning programme has been approved by OCN, and quality assurance has been maintained through internal moderation. External assessors check documentation, programmes, assessment standards and records twice a year.

Details of ESF

The ALARM project has been awarded £57,199 from the European Social Fund (ESF, http://www.esf.gov.uk/), which amounts to 43% of the total projected costs. This European funding is provided through the Welsh Assembly Government (http://www.wales.gov.uk/index.htm). The Welsh European Funding Office (http://www.wefo.wales.gov.uk/) acts as the body responsible for the implementation of Structural Funds on behalf of the Assembly Government.

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