Community Learning and Employability

Herefordshire Council is committed to developing and supporting access to learning opportunities for adults within the county. It is especially keen to ensure that access is available to all, and not restricted by geography, ability, personal or financial circumstances. To meet these aims the Herefordshire Council's Community Learning & Employability works in a number of areas.

Providing a range of Adult and Community Learning courses

The Unit seeks to identify the needs of, and arrange provision for, Adult Community Learning courses. It encourages access to existing opportunities and develops and promotes new provision where required. Courses are non vocational and are either 'first steps' - aiming to encourage new learners who have previously experienced barriers to participation and progress them into other provision and on towards qualifications, or personal and community development learning - provided to to meet learners individual interests. Courses are delivered at local community venues throughout the county.

These include:

• Basic ICT computer courses for those who have no previous experience.
• First Steps courses providing pre employment skills
• Personal development courses through craft and creative writing
• family literacy, numeracy and ESOL

Supporting the development of adult and community learning.

Working closely with voluntary and community learning organisations, Community Learning & Employability is helping to widen the opportunities for adult and community learning within the county. It supports special needs and assists those with special needs requirements. The Unit also facilitates training for volunteers, co-ordinates resources and works in partnership to access funding for identified projects.

Identifying and accessing external funding

Community Learning & Employability works in partnership with organisations in Herefordshire, and sub regional local authority partners of Worcestershire and Shropshire, to develop bids to European and other funding to meet the learning needs of adults in Herefordshire. Projects assisted through these funds have supported beneficiaries in participating in a range of employment skills to help them into or towards employment.

More information is available from:

Community Learning & Employability
Plough Lane
PO BOX 4
Hereford
HR4 0XH

Tel 01432 260637
Fax 01432 383031

Email: mailto:clande@herefordshire.gov.uk