Family and Community Learning team helping hundreds learn new skills

Wiltshire Council is helping more people in the county learn new skills and gain knowledge to take next steps for their lives, as more than 600 people have taken part in Family and Community Learning courses over the last year.

Family and Community Learning (FACL) is part of the council’s Targeted Education Service. It offers a range of courses as an adult community education programme, which provides courses for adults in wellbeing, skills for independent living, helping their child, and work skills. The council also provides programmes in English for speakers of other languages who are resettling in the county.

In the recent annual report, 605 individual learners were signed up for courses last year. The learners made 750 community learning course enrolments and 355 family learning course enrolments. A total of 99% achieved their course learning outcomes and met the success criteria. Of these 80% of learners went on to further study, volunteering, work or other positive next steps. Demonstrating the wide-reaching benefits of attending these courses, 93% of learners felt more confident, and 84% made positive healthy lifestyle changes.

One of the learners who received an award for their work at a recent FACL awards ceremony was Maria Barandalla-Fernandez who received the Into Work award.

She said: “It has been challenging for me to go back into work trying to balance my family needs but I am really grateful for receiving the support from FACL. All the team from admins to tutors have been very supportive and encouraging in achieving my objective. I recommend anyone that needs to refresh skills or need to feel more confident to enrol on these courses. I am now enjoying my job at a school and I can only say thank you for what you do.”

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Family and Community Learning provides opportunities for support and development for people for whom formal learning may have previously been a barrier in the past. The courses work to help people gain confidence and realise potential. Gaining knowledge and new skills can open doors and opportunities and it can also help with health and wellbeing and confidence. This report shows the wonderful impact of FACL for Wiltshire residents and I look forward to hearing more positive stories in the future.”

FACL receives the Adult Skills Fund through a contract with the ESFA for Tailored Learning. The funding is used to deliver high-quality courses to engage individuals of different ages and backgrounds to gain new skills, reconnect with learning, learn how to support their children and better prepare them for progression to further learning, employment or volunteering.

There is a host of courses available including Balance your budget – a single session course, Wellbeing, Supporting myself to support my child, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.*

For more information on eligibility and to book a place, call 01225 770478, email familyandcommunitylearning@wiltshire.gov.uk or visit What’s On? - Work Wiltshire

You can read the report here https://workwiltshire.co.uk/facl_information/