Through training and networking we can encourage people to actually get the most from these interactions and

give autistic spectrum worker are real change to secure long term employment. Additional to this, the Aspire team will be working to create qualifications designed specifically for autistic-spectrum individuals. This is a gap in the existing market; no qualification exists which is tailored to suit the learning requirements of autistic-spectrum individuals. We are working to develop connections with Lancaster University academics who specialise in this field, as well as corporate and NGO partners. Contacts: sife@lancaster.ac.uk; o.monks@lancaster.ac.uk FORUM LANCASTER Forum Lancaster is a local economic rehabilitation project, which falls into two distinct hemispheres of operation. Firstly, Forum will set up the first (we think) student-run market research organization in the history of SIFE. The purpose of this is to assist smaller local businesses by giving them access to market research services which are usually entirely out of their financial reach (but, by economy of scale, are widely used by larger companies). The particular focus of these activities will be designed to facilitate a better flow of student money into the citys businesses, and intends to work with our corporate partners and supporters at the University to achieve this. The second hemisphere of the project is to set up the Lancaster Forum, an alternative to the citys Chamber of Commerce which is exclusively for smaller and privately owned businesses. Through this venture, we hope to advocate and facilitate community-level solutions to community-level problems. We have a host of supporters and financial backing lined up for this project, and we will

SIFE Lancaster PROJECT PORTFOLIO 2012-13

ASPIRE Aspire is a project designed to work on a national and local scale which seeks to address the difficulties faced by individuals on the autistic spectrum in gaining, and retaining employment. The first and most basic objective of the project is to collect together academics, employers and autistic spectrum individuals into a programme of training and showcase events. This is about education and direct empowerment. Autistic spectrum individuals are some of the most intelligent and able people in the country, and yet the employment statistics are dismally asymmetric when compared to those of non-Autistic spectrum workers. We believe that much of this is because of a lack of understanding; that if employers could better understand the specific requirements of autistic individual (i.e. the necessary working conditions, etc.) then these rates could soar. Most people reading this document will have encountered people with learning difficulties through their working lives: think about that experience. Most likely, you were extremely conscious to not put a foot wrong, to be politically correct and (unfortunately) get through the interaction without incident. This is familiar, and clearly incorrect.

expect candidates to evidence their ability to network and represent the SIFE brand, as well as a clear understanding of the social need we are striving to address. Lancaster, once identified as a prosperous destination shopping city in the North-West, has experienced a serious decline in diversity over recent years. Increasingly larger corporations are entering the city and forcing smaller employers out of the market. By working to divert some of the incredible amounts of student money back into smaller businesses, SIFE Lancaster may genuinely be able to show that we have kept businesses in business; and employees in employment. The project will launch with a 5year plan, with the actual running able to transfer to the Lancaster Forum business community towards the end of that period, guaranteeing sustainability. Contacts: sife@lancaster.ac.uk; b.swinnerton@lancaster.ac.uk LANDLOCK The LandLock project identifies and seeks to remedy the decline in the Lancastrian agricultural sector, which follows the national trend of falling productivity and sustainability. This project will launch with a 10-year plan, with SIFEs exit strategy taking place after 5 years. Through LandLock, we seek to engage agricultural sector workers to pay micro-contributions into a legal trust fund which SIFE Lancaster will establish. Once money starts to move through the fund, the possibilities for rehabilitating the sector are almost limitless. The objectives of the trust fund can be classified in a threefold manner: a.coomer@lancaster.ac.uk;

1. Make finance more available to agricultural sector businesses, particularly to support training and workforce diversification (this is required to make sure the project is rooted in empowerment); 2. To support the efforts of the LandLock team in diversification consultancy, proving the funding and knowledge to make agricultural businesses more sustainable by making better use of the resources available to them; 3. Identify opportunities for long term investment in Lancashire into sustainable forests, renewable energy and other environmentally friendly investments. These can then be pitched to corporate partners as an alternative type of investment to stocks, shares and banking, while indirectly creating a strong, lasting impact on the county. Contacts: a.coomer@lancaster.ac.uk THE MENTOR PROJECT The Mentor Project is a fantastic schools based project launched last year by SIFE Lancaster, and has been generously supported by LUSU Involve. The project was presented last year, and has achieved some outstanding work to replace the phased-out AimHigher programme recently revoked by central government. Discussions are ongoing about the projects future development, and ideas are being mooted to expand the project to include more schools and make a more lasting impact on the students whom we seek to benefit. Contacts: sife@lancaster.ac.uk; g.bird@lancaster.ac.uk a.coomer@lancaster.ac.uk;

THE ZIMBABWE ORPHANAGES PROJECT As part of SIFE Lancaster, this voluntary project aims to raise awareness and improve the living conditions of Zimbabwean Orphanages on a long term basis. Food storage and hygiene is one of the main problems within Zimbabwe, particularly orphanages that are simply not given the training and knowledge they need to in order to store and handle food correctly. As a consequence food is wasted, money is lost and living conditions continuously deteriorate. This project aims to educate the carers within the orphanage to give them the essential skills needed to improve their ability to maintain a better standard of living for themselves and the children. In order to do so, we plan to create a detailed information pack, which will inform the carers of how to make Zeer pots. A Zeer pot is a way to preserve food for longer, in order to consume and sell it at the local markets to sustain trade. It is made out of clay, sand and a small amount of water. The pots are designed to extract heat from the middle section of the pot, which allows food to stay fresh for up to 75% longer. This will allow the orphanages a safe way to store food, which they are able to consume themselves and also sell in order to make money to spend on other essentials. If the project is successful we hope to extend into other areas of Zimbabwe and also encourage the orphanages to sell the Zeer pots they make in order to increase income by making profit from their business.

PROJECT BRAZIL This project supports a childrens community centre in a poor favella area of Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The project is very hands on. One side involves looking at the centres finances and accounts and finding ways in which costs can be controlled more vigilantly. Furthermore, we need to find ways in which we can make the long term objectives happen by raising 3,000 reais for a sand-filled football pitch for the kids. Aim: To inspire and improve the lives of children of Vila Kennedy, Rio de Janeiro by ensuring that CCI are equipped with the necessary expertise and skills to meet their goals. Background: This project has been running for a year. Last year it successfully raised enough money for several laptops to be sent to the community centre, along with a member of the group travelling out to help set up and give lessons on the laptops. the project and build a 5-year plan which transfers some of the incredible energy from the London 2012 Olympics into Rio de Janiero 2016, which is soon to become one of the worlds most important cultural cities.