Yorkshire and The Humber Region

Messages:
Adults in any kind of paid employment often need to gain new skills.

The people of Barnsley need access to adult learning.

It allows me to access education, which will hopefully improve my life chances. It may also help me to give back to my community, family and society in general.

It offers positives in dysfunctional lives by engagement, reduces the cost of the health service- mental health, and often an alternative (positive experience) to those involved in petty crime. All the above plus attainment, which leads to economic activity.

Without it id be lost! It provides,· Purpose· Variety· Incentive· Joy· Friendship· Openings

Where partnership working and collaboration working could be potentially powerful, LSC need to understand the value v’, risk of not meeting targets i.e. Skills 4 Life.

An LSC strategy for adult learning and IT, funding for engagement and ‘first step’ learning, urgently required.

It’s much more cost- effective to teach people when they are ready to learn, even if this is later in life.

What ever happened to life long learning?

Please stop testing- testing- testing. Give LLS time to consolidate and extend best practice.

If you want to make the most of the UK’s potential, you need to make it easy for people of all ages to continue to learn new skills.

Thatcherism does not work- for economies, society, or individuals.

Please consider carefully the importance of initial engagement activities for adult learners. Funding to pay for locality- based and community- based learning opportunities is critical in ensuring lasting benefits for learners.

It changes individuals’ lives and empowers local communities, thus contributing to the national well-being and economic prosperity.

You cant afford to forget people who have been let down by school education.

No matter how old or young people are they should all be able to have access to good quality learning, to achieve their own goals, not just a LSC target.
Dear Margaret, please note the financial benefits VCS Adult learning brings to the economy. What’s the cost of not doing it?
An LSC/ Gov Strategy for Adult Learning to include ‘Learning for learning’s sake’

Everyone needs a sense of purpose. What is relevant is that that have no opportunity to achieve that purpose.

It does transform lives through.· Meaningful, supportive relationships· A broad-based curriculum· A collectivist learning approach and· One that is ethical and humanist- not consumerist! It Works!

Education is an end in itself.

We need the FFA now. This will help people progress.

It provides the opportunity for self-actualization when basic needs have been met.

It brings equality and restores ‘lost’ life chances and opportunities to people.

People, adults and children alike, throughout their lives require opportunities to make a difference to themselves and to their communities.

It is the only sustainable way to regenerate communities.

Have a good think about all the contradictions; collaboration v contestability, PELTS v insistence on full L2. TSG v employers paying unequal funding, FFA and full L2, L3 progression.

Everyone needs the opportunity to learn when it is right for him or her.

Without learning people stop growing.

No coherent strategy for lifelong learning despite having a minister.

Reduced funding impacts in loss of infrastructure in organisation on front line delivery.

Increased emphasis on vocational training reduces opportunities for older learners and consequent proven benefits for their health and well-being.

Education is not just about employability for older people well being. Reduces demand on other service e.g. health

Removing opportunities for parents/ adults to learn about responsibilities/citizenship. Impact on children’s behaviour.

If government wants a more cohesive society and to improve educational attainment in schools. It MUST invest in adult education. Some Asian women in Bradford attended English classes- their children’s attainment improved as a direct result. AND their confidence and esteem has grown and they are more settled in the community.

Short term funding can destroy the enthusiasm of students as their courses come to a halt.

Loss of opportunities to learn English (ESOL classes) will have major implication for families and communities.

Education is more than a qualification that meets a target.

Government policy to involve vol sector in service delivery will be unworkable if funding continues to reduce for CPD and learning delivery.

Uncertainty about funding year on year means we can’t provide a clear progression route for learners to hit government targets. For example, someone might achieve a level 1 qualification but we can’t say if they can progress to level 2 next years because we have no confirmation of future funding. This means the learner could be lost.

Educational opportunity can be life changing.

A well-run community-learning centre can help hold a community together. Young & old learn together and learn to understand one another, at the same time as learning skill.

If all the emphasis is to be on vocational education and skills what is to happen to education for those who have retired.

Learner support is a real issue for my client group who are all parents. Last year our area spent over £20,000 in childcare for learners. This was all drawn down form project or initiative funding streams and does not include ‘in kind’ and other external support. Continued cuts in learner support will exclude parents form learning.
How can foreign language speakers take full and useful part in society if they are unable to communicate properly? ESOL is essential to society.

Short term funding impacts on learners who do not return on short courses.

Knock on effects;· Funding is cut from adult education· Most students can only participate if they pay· Fewer students participate· Courses are cancelled for lack of support· Limited choice of courses· Fewer students etc

The loss of funding for ‘first steps’ local courses will impact upon the number of adults accessing formal education, achieving level 2 and above and being able to access work and support their community.

Withdrawal of funding raises greater barriers to participation in learning.

Second chance or even first chance education works.

I would like to see a change in fee remissions. I myself followed a clear progression route form no qualification to a level 2 qualifications in youth and community work. I know work as a learning champion. I have no means of carrying on with my progression as now I am waged (in a low income) receiving working tax credits. I cannot afford to pay course fees for a level 3 qualifications, as they are too expensive. I also am not entitled to fee remission, so am stuck, as are many other people.