Comino Centre Director:
Diana Burton, B.Ed, M.Ed, PhD, FRSA, ILTM.
Pro Vice Chancellor (Delivery),
Liverpool John Moores University
Roscoe Court,
4, Rodney Street,
Liverpool
L1 2TZ
Phone 0151 231 3033
d.m.burton@ljmu.ac.uk

Who we are

The role of the Liverpool Comino Centre is to further the aims and purposes of the Comino Foundation by supporting and developing projects that are working to enhance the achievement of individuals and groups within a prosperous and responsible society. Our current focus is re-settlement issues for homeless young people.

Where we are based

We are based in the Faculty of Education, Community and Leisure at Liverpool John Moores University (www.ljmu.ac.uk). Each University Faculty is sub-divided into schools and the Centre is associated with the School of the Sport, Dance and Oudoor Education (http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/ECL/sdo/index.htm), which runs the Faculty’s community-based programmes and research projects (http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/ECL/sdo/76337.htm).

Where we’ve come from

Originally based in the Department of Education at the University of Liverpool, under the Directorship of Rita Marsh, the early work of the Centre was in using GRASP to support the establishment of the new General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) in schools and colleges. On the re-location of the Centre to its current base, we joined other Comino centres in support for school improvement. We also developed our particular interest in the social and educational inclusion agenda of the late 1990s, supporting the ‘Kids who don’t fit’ programme and working with New Start Merseyside, using their quality framework to develop and accredit effective inclusion projects.

What we do now

We use the GRASP approach in developing and implementing our projects and we encourage our partners to try it.

We work with the Greater Merseyside Connexions Training for Excellence Partnership (www.connexions-gmerseyside.co.uk) in the training of Personal Advisers.

We work in partnership with Homeground. Homeground is a hostel in Liverpool for homeless young people, established as a partnership between Local Solutions (www.localsolutions.org.uk), Business in the Community, the Liverpool City Council, in consultation with the local community.

Our joint action plan is to:

  • Develop university student and staff volunteering and placement
  • Develop appropriate life skills learning materials for Homeground residents
  • Develop programmes of (i) arts activities for residents, e.g. music, art, drama and (ii) healthy eating education, advice and activities
  • Develop a model of re-settlement which could be disseminated locally and nationally
  • Work with and strengthen the local network of re-settlement agencies and housing associations
  • Explore ideas of social capital and active citizenship

We would like to hear from groups or individuals who are working in the same fields and with whom we could exchange ideas, share resources or develop partnerships.