Lancashire Adult Learning News
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News from 2010From Chernobyl to Chipping From Chernobyl to ChippingFamilies from East Lancashire who will be looking after children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster have signed up to attend Russian classes provided by Lancashire Adult Learning. More on this story can be found at the following websites: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8515170.stm http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Chernobyl-visit-sparks-rush-to.6081868.jp
Ceremony to honour top adult learnersPublished Date: 09 March 2010 Awards were being handed out to successful adult learners at a special ceremony tonight. The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) was hosting the Lancashire Adult Learning event in recognition of the hard work and commitment of adult students. There were awards in 16 categories including a Carers' Award, Apprentice of the Year Award, Skills for Life Award and Older Learner Award. Peter Garrod, head of Lancashire Adult Learning, said: "Lancashire has a long and proud tradition of providing adult learning opportunities to its residents. "Funding to support adult learning has been stretched in recent years and has had to respond to changing government priorities. "Despite this, Lancashire residents have continued to enjoy a wide range of courses. "I would like to congratulate everyone who will receive an award." Source: www.lep.co.uk
News from 2009Groundbreaking E-learning Programme Wins National Award Top Marks For Lancashire Adult Learning Service Tactile Waterway Visitor Project Scoops Prestigious Award
Groundbreaking E-learning Programme Wins National AwardLancashire Adult Learning's recent work with offenders from HMP Garth training prison has earned the service national recognition at Becta's Next Generation Learning Awards. Becta is the government agency that aims to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning. Their first ever awards ceremony was held at The Science Museum, London on 4th March 2009. Leading figures in technology for learning from the Further Education and Skills sector gathered for the ceremony which was presented by broadcaster and comedian Sandi Toksvig. Lancashire Adult Learning received the Offender Skills Award for their groundbreaking e-learning programme which, through Learndirect, trains offenders to receive technology qualifications and skills for life that help them break the cycle of offending and re-offending. In August 2007, Lancashire Adult Learning was chosen as the preferred provider for the Lancashire area to offer e-learning in the form of Learndirect to offenders serving custodial sentences. The first prison to get engaged in the project was HMP Garth in order to help offenders in custody to access education outside the mainstream regime. The aim was to enhance employability skills and improve quality of life for offenders and their communities. The impact of the scheme was that learners gained new skills and achieved recognised qualifications such as Skills for Life or ECDL and because the learning was done online it was easier to track and evaluate their progress. As a result of the offenders' engagement with learning, prison staff have also noticed and remarked on some very positive outcomes not related to education, for example improved behaviour, mental health and well-being. Click here to view a video about this award winning project.
Top marks for Lancashire Adult Learning ServiceLocal people who find it difficult to access adult learning opportunities are receiving 'outstanding' support according to the latest Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) inspection. Lancashire Adult Learning, the county council's adult education service, has been highly praised for providing programmes and activities that are outstanding at meeting the needs of learners and the local community. The service has been highly commended, particularly for its work in supporting and providing courses for isolated groups and those who would not normally access learning opportunities, including people from different cultural backgrounds, over 55's, young families, and people with learning difficulties and offenders. Other key strengths identified in the OFSTED report include: "Outstanding actions to widen participation" – providing a wide range of courses to over 30,000 adult learners at its three colleges and in over 600 community venues across Lancashire. This includes providing a range of accredited and non-accredited courses, family learning opportunities, NVQs and apprenticeships, Skills for Life and employability courses "Outstanding partnership working" – working with other colleges, Job Centre Plus, the voluntary sector and the probation service to offer employability courses that help people return to work. "Good teaching and learning" – providing opportunities for adult learners to develop good personal and social skills helping to increase personal confidence and self esteem and to achieve their learning goals. Overall Lancashire Adult Learning was judged to be delivering a consistently good service across all areas making it one of the leading local authority adult education services in the country. Peter Garrod, head of Lancashire Adult Learning at Lancashire County Council, said: "We are very pleased with the outcome of this inspection and it is a credit to the hard work and commitment of our staff. What inspectors have confirmed is that Lancashire Adult Learning is highly effective in ensuring that people from all backgrounds and from all communities can access learning which is right for them, that the quality of our provision is consistently good, and that our learners will be very well supported to achieve their goals." Last month, the county council’s held its first countywide annual Learners Awards. The ceremony recognised the hard work and commitment of adult learners from across Lancashire who achieved outstanding success in a wide range of subject areas. Ged Fitzgerald, chief executive for Lancashire County Council, added: "We have a proud history of supporting and meeting the needs of adult learners in Lancashire through our Adult Learning Service. The service offers a rich mix of day and evening courses and opportunities at our colleges and community venues which are being undertaken by over 30,000 adult learners of all abilities each year across the county.” TACTILE WATERWAY VISITOR PROJECT SCOOPS PRESTIGE AWARDA unique partnership scheme headed up by Lancashire's dedicated blind and partially sighted charity has scooped a major waterway regeneration award at a glittering ceremony in Liverpool’s showcase Arena. The joint venture was delivered by Galloways Society for the Blind, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society and British Waterways. The finished product has enhanced this popular three mile circular walk with the waterway as its centrepiece. Now their painstaking efforts have been rewarded by recognition at the national British Urban Regeneration Association and The Waterways Trust ‘Waterway Renaissance Awards’, winning the Education & Learning category. Galloways and their partners produced the series of interpetation panels about the canal’s fascinating heritage designed to be available to all. The tactile panels, which were designed jointly by members of Galloways and the canal society, are located between the top and bottom locks. The project was based upon a mix of formal and informal teaching and learning methods, including: Canal Society chairman and historian Mike Clarke said ‘Bringing the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Back to Life’ was first suggested as far back as 2002 when the canal society worked with Galloways to provide a workshop on the canal at Lancashire College in Chorley. “The project highlighted the importance of small historical detail in bringing the canal's heritage to life and its focus on the Johnsons Hillock flight of locks near Chorley gave members of Galloways an introduction to canal history,” said Mike. “Working with members of the canal society, the group then produced historical information panels about the Leeds & Liverpool Canal aimed at the widest possible audience,” he added. The project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Waterways Trust and Lancashire College. British Waterways maintenance teams installed the panels. In awarding the prize, the BURA panel described it as: “a brilliant project aimed at people with a visual impairment but anyone can learn from it. It is truly inspirational.” SOURCE: British Waterways News from 2008Family Fun at Outdoor Learning Event Lancashire Constabulary Benefits From Free IT Qualifications Top of the "Health and Safety Class" for Local Student Lancashire College Celebrates Adult Learners Week Adult-ed is splash hit for Gretna duo Pukar Disability Centre welcomes international education visitors Free NVQs at Lancashire College News from 2007Lancashire College gets thumbs up from Integra Lancashire College helps BAE to strengthen Spanish relations A Reiki life for husband and wife Royal approval for placing Greek on the Lancashire map
Family Fun at Outdoor Learning Event – October 2008Every year Lancashire Adult Learning holds a Family Learning residential weekend to enable parents and children to spend time together and enjoy fun learning activities. This year, 10 parents and 10 children went to Borwick Hall near Carnforth to enjoy an outdoor pursuits based weekend. Despite the bad weather, the families got involved in activities such as canoeing and climbing, helping each other through the challenges that they came up against. One activity that was particularly challenging was a night trail which involved parents and children taking turns to lead their blindfolded partner through mud, tunnels and woods. A good time was had by all and the bus home was filled with happy chatter about the weekend’s events, including discussions about who ended up in the canal when their canoe capsized! Many of the families took away more than just happy memories, though, with one parent saying “I’ve enjoyed working together with my child and boosting her self confidence,” while others expressed an interest in getting involved in similar activities on a regular basis. Tutors noticed that there were amazing changes in the relationships between parents and children over the course of the weekend as they learnt to support each other through positive interaction and communication. The parents also commented on how much they had enjoyed the weekend, with one parent stating that “We have had a great time in our outdoor pursuits, which we never thought possible”. To find out more about Family Learning in South and East Lancashire, please contact Hilary Jenkins-Beard on 01257 276719 or email hilary.jenkins-beard@lancashire.gov.uk
Lancashire Constabulary Benefits from Free IT QualificationsThanks to the government’s Train to Gain initiative, Lancashire Adult Learning has been able to provide free National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) to adults in a range of job roles across the county. Lancashire Constabulary has benefited from the provision of the ITQ, which is an NVQ for employees who use IT regularly as part of their job role. PCSO Nick Stratton, who is based at Bacup Police Station, was the first member of the Lancashire Constabulary to complete his qualification. Before completing his ITQ Nick had only ever used a computer for word processing but he has learnt to use Excel spreadsheets and Publisher for designing newsletters. He admits that he learnt lots of new IT skills that he didn’t have before and has found quicker and easier ways to do his job as a result of working on his ITQ. “I’ve gained loads. I’ve found easier ways to do what I’m already doing. Certainly, it will save me time. Certainly, like doing spreadsheets and using formulas - I can use the same document and it does it for me instead of me being sat there having to work it out in my head or working out percentages on my mobile phone!” Similarly, Mark Nelson who is a Casebuilder in the Criminal Justice Systems department at Chorley Police Station has also benefited from an ITQ. He had never received any formal IT training and yet needed to use the computer on a daily basis in his job role and his fear of using the computer was having a negative impact on his self-esteem within the office. After completing his ITQ, Mark said “I feel so much more confident now. We didn’t have computers at school and I used to feel that if I touch it and press the wrong button everything would break. Now I am using it every day in my job and have the freedom to use it and try things out. The other day a colleague was struggling with a document and I was able to show her how to fix it - she nearly fell off her chair!” Lancashire Constabulary has helped several employees through ITQs, having recognised the benefits of the flexible approach of NVQs, which are designed to fit in with both the employer and employee. While the employee obviously benefits by receiving a free qualification, the business can also expect to see benefits such as greater productivity and increased job satisfaction. NVQs may be free to employees over the age of 19, working in customer service, business administration or IT focused roles, who do not already have a level 2 qualification (or higher) in a similar subject. If you are interested in NVQs please contact Lancashire Adult Learning’s NVQ team in South and East Area on 01257 276719.
Top of the "Health and Safety Class" for Local StudentLocal student Sue Scott has achieved a fantastic 95% mark on one of the UK’s leading Health and Safety qualifications. Sue achieved the grade on the Unit C section of the course, but has also scored highly throughout the rest of the course. Sue undertook the NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health through Integra Training and Consulting’s Chorley based training facility and worked for over 18 months to achieve her grade. The distinction is one of the highest marks ever achieved by an Integra student and one of the highest ever to have achieved the grade whilst studying in the North West. Hazel Rounthwaite, MD at Integra commented: “We are so pleased Sue has been rewarded for the hard work she has shown throughout her studies. The NEBOSH National Diploma is a challenging course and Sue managed to juggle her busy work and home schedules, whilst also showing dedication to her studies by completing the course via a day release study method. Sue can now use her advanced knowledge in her professional life and will be an invaluable source information and experience to her work colleagues.” As a special well done Sue was presented with a bottle of champagne which she’ll be keeping on ice. Sue commented: “The day release study method was excellent as it gave me chance to come into the college and meet with colleagues from across a range of different industries. The class size was just right - we got loads of individual attention when we needed it, but we had a good group size so we could engage in some worthwhile group discussions. The tutors all had excellent knowledge and experience and working with a small team of tutors meant that there was good continuity and we all built up a good rapport with the staff. They made themselves very accessible, so if we had any concerns or queries we felt comfortable just dropping them a line or picking up the phone and making sure our questions or concerns were answered. Integra’s Health, Safety & Environmental training programmes run in facilities provided by Lancashire College. Scheduled courses run throughout the year providing a range of services to the North West region.
Lancashire College celebrates Adult Learners WeekLancashire County Council News Release - 09 May 2008 LANCASHIRE County Council Adult Learning will be hosting a series of free taster courses and events at Lancashire College, Chorley, and other venues across South Ribble as part of Adult Learners Week, which takes place from 17 -23 May. Courses to suit everyone’s tastes will be on offer including British Sign Language, Drug Awareness, Creative Writing, Holiday Italian, Reiki, and many more. The national campaign aims to inspire and motivate people to go back to college, pursue courses in adult learning or just participate in fun and interesting courses in the community. If you are looking to learn something new, start a new hobby, or return to learning and improve your skills and qualifications, Lancashire Adult Learning is offering a wide range of free taster sessions throughout the week in the community to suit everybody. The taster sessions will be held at Lancashire College and surrounding venues including: • Cedar Farm Galleries Information and advice on returning to education and the many different courses that are provided in the area and across the county will also be available. Also taking place during Adult Learners Week is National Learning at Work Day. On Thursday, 22 May, Lancashire College is inviting employers and employees to visit the college and find out about the variety of training and qualifications provided by Lancashire Adult Learning. Employees can also take part in a free two hour NVQ taster session which is taking place between 12:30pm and 2:30pm on the day. The session is designed to show learners how a NVQ works and what is involved in completing one so that they can make a more informed choice about which course is best for them. Andy Yeomans, assistant head of Lancashire Adult Learning at Lancashire County Council, said: "Why not come along and try something different, just for interest’s sake - or to begin what might become a lifetime’s hobby? There will be the opportunity to try learning new skills that could lead to better job prospects. And while you’re at it, we’ll be able to give you all the information on our full range of courses.” Lancashire Adult Learning is the county council's adult education service which runs day and evening courses for adults of all ages and abilities at local venues across the county. For further information about Learning at Work Day, please contact Dawn Vickers at the college on 01257 276719. For more information on Adult Learners Week and enrolment for courses visit online at: www.lancashire.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact 0845 600 1331.
Adult-ed is splash hit for Gretna duoTrue love has truly blossomed for a couple who met in unusual circumstances while on an adventure break. Johanne Burke met Paul Foster over six years ago when taking part in an outdoor education pursuits programme organised by Galloway’s Society for the Blind and the county council’s Lancashire Adult Learning. But the couple have had to overcome their own personal challenges. Paul lost his sight after a motorbike accident at the age of 21 and Johanne suffers with a rare condition called Alstrom syndrome which affects eye sight, the heart, kidneys and liver. While on the outdoor pursuits programme at Lancashire College in Chorley, Johanne and Paul took part in canoeing. Johanne, a nonswimmer, fell out of the canoe and Paul hurled her back into the boat. In return Johanne thanked Paul by throwing a bucket of water over him in a fun splash. From then on they’ve been the best of friends. After gaining confidence Johanne entered mainstream education at the Adult College in Lancaster, to learn basic skills and computing. In addition, she has achieved level-two canoeing, enjoys music and making her own cards. Paul, with his guide dog Glint, has taken part in many mountain walks, including scaling Scafell. In 2007, Paul took part in a leadership course and he says he now has the confidence to book the travel arrangements to take Johanne to Torquay to see the specialist in her field of illness. Now they successfully and independently manage their own home with equipment adapted for the visually impaired. Lyn Garside, activities co-ordinator for Galloway’s, said: “We’re all really delighted for Johanne and Paul and it’s thanks to our outdoor pursuits programme that they got together. Both have developed so much confidence from the activities.” She added, “Our partnership with the college stretches back 15 years and hundreds of visually impaired people have taken part in the varied activities and residential courses on offer at the college.” The happy couple tied the knot in February at a wedding ceremony in Gretna Green, joined by friends and family, and of course, Glint.
Pukar Disability Centre welcomes international education visitorsTHE Pukar Disability Resource Centre in Avenham, Preston, has recently played host to a group of education experts from universities and colleges across Europe. The visit marked the first meeting of a European-funded project called “Dia-logos: Language Learning as a Key to Participation and Integration”. The project has been set up to discuss and share experiences on how different countries, including the UK, facilitate the integration of new migrants to their respective countries through adult language learning and citizenship courses. The delegates came from as far away as Germany, Austria, Sweden and Finland. The visit was organised by Lancashire College – the administrative hub for the South Zone of Lancashire County Council’s Adult Learning Service - who run a number of courses in the community such as the Pukar Centre, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), IT and computer skills. Both Lancashire College staff and the international visitors met with adult learners from the centre to discuss their experiences of language learning and what barriers they felt they had encountered to successful integration into their adopted country. Lancashire College Principal, Steve Hailstone, said: “The visit to the Pukar Centre was a great opportunity for our international visitors to see how the county council and Lancashire College works closely with community organisations such as the Pukar Centre in successfully delivering ESOL courses and enable people to lead a more independent life and over come any feelings of exclusion they might have experienced.” Lancashire College is responsible for the management and delivery of all adult and community education provided by Lancashire County Council in the four boroughs of Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Preston. Lancashire College runs ESOL classes in Chorley, Preston and Skelmersdale at a variety of community based venues. The classes are held at different dates and times, making them accessible to all members of the community. The classes aim to teach learners about all aspects of citizenship, not just language, to help them to get the most out of life in Britain. Anybody who is interested in a courses should contact Lancashire College on 01257 276719 or email insight@lancashire.gov.uk Free NVQs with Lancashire CollegeLancashire College in Chorley has secured funding to provide free National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) to adults across Lancashire as part of Lancashire County Council’s Lancashire Adult Learning service. The qualifications are free to employees over the age of 19, working in retail, customer service, business administration or IT focused roles, who do not already have a level 2 qualification (a previous level 2 NVQ or 5 GCSEs at A*-C). With funding provided by the government Train to Gain initiative, the college is working closely with local businesses to give employees the chance to gain a nationally recognised qualification which is specific to their own job role. While the employee obviously benefits by receiving a free qualification, the business can also expect to see benefits such as greater productivity and increased job satisfaction. Louise Smith, aged 35, works as an administrator at Southlands High School, Chorley, and recently completed an ITQ. A colleague in the school told her about ITQ, which is an NVQ for employees who use IT in the workplace. Louise missed out on gaining qualifications previously and was able to enrol on the NVQ for free through Train to Gain. Louise found the qualification to be really flexible, allowing her to work at her own pace at times that suited her schedule. Her assessor, Kay Ellis, came to visit her at work, and when work was busy she could call in to the college instead. She also provided regular support by email and phone. Kay helped Louise to pick units that best matched her job, included spreadsheets, word processing, presentations and artwork and imaging. She even learned some new skills that helped her to save time. Louise said “Because my NVQ is in IT, I could upload evidence to Kay via the Internet, which I didn’t know how to do before. Kay is a tutor as well as an assessor and she identified where I had gaps in my knowledge and provided training where I needed it. I learnt lots of new skills, including how to use a digital camera to include photos in presentations. I also learnt how to do things a different way when using a computer, I’d only used one way before but now I know many ways to perform tasks. She added “I really enjoyed doing my NVQ and have found it straightforward. I would recommend anyone to do it. It’s great to have the opportunity to get a qualification for free.” For more information about NVQs, please contact Dawn Vickers or Debs Bradshaw at Lancashire College on 01257 276719. Lancashire College gets thumbs up from Integra
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Lancashire Adult Learning, South and East Area, Lancashire College,
Southport Road, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 1NB
Tel: 01257 276719 lc.insight@lancashire.gov.uk
