Update from the Community Skills & Learning Team

There’s a lot going on right now with the Community Skills and Learning team.

 
Breakthrough – support into employment via learning – is a new programme, which enables the outreach workers to give one to one support for individuals to take the next steps towards sustainable employment. Each participant gets an individual Information, Advice and Guidance session and support to draw up their action plan. Ongoing support is offered through the programme so participants can best access existing services and courses. Breakthrough has supported 7 people so far into employment since it was started in July.
 
Skilled for health is another new, exciting project, which makes a significant contribution to both reducing health inequalities and increasing skills for life levels in neighbourhoods facing most disadvantage. Working with 8 partners, we’re running 15 health and well-being courses this term, with literacy, language and numeracy embedded in them. Learners can look at different aspects of health and how to manage their health more effectively as well as improving their skills for life.
 
We have introduced two new courses into our programme of first step learning in the community. Both courses were trialled last term and were positively received. Moving On is a 20-hour programme designed to help people to take stock of their lives and to move on into training, volunteering or employment. Feeling Safer is a 12-hour programme, mainly for older people, to enable them to feel safer at home and out and about in the community.
 
We are also running the following courses for local communities:
Face Paiting
One Pot Cooking
First Aid
Food Hygiene

 

Finally, we have had some changes in the team. Emma Lambert has left us to become a full time mum again and we wish her well. Dave Page has joined us as a new member of staff and Dena Melton has returned to her post after a 6-month gap. We’re looking forward to the rest of the term – refreshed and recharged!
 
Bee Pooley
Community Skills and Learning Manager