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Case Study: Humberside Learning Consortium: Embedding Basic Skills

Sponsored research indicated that, within a specific are,  very few people with identified basic skills needs followed the signposting guidance and entered into accredited training.

A local LSC responded to this information with a funding opportunity, The consortium was successful in bidding and the HLC set out to provide capacity building and learner support in the voluntary and community sector in addressing basic skills.

Two co-ordinators were appointed by the consortium to work within the sector, across the LSC region, to build capacity, engage and support adults with Skills for Life.

The aims of the project were:

• To develop and support programmes.
• Provide funding.
• To develop innovative projects addressing basic skills need.
• To raise skills for life awareness.
• To provide free training to community and voluntary workers.
• To link the sector with existing providers of accredited training.

Basic Skills Awareness training was offered free, at venues across the region, to sector managers and key staff. Attendance at the training was subsidised and directed at developing an organisation’s capacity to recognise and respond to basic skills needs within their client group.

Basic Skills Training was provided to volunteers and workers in the sector, at venues across the region, offering the City &Guilds Certificate in Adult Learner Support. The training was free and attendance subsidised.

Voluntary and Community organisations were contacted through the consortium and supported in developing their own ideas as to how they could respond to the basic skills needs of their client groups. Organisations were assisted in developing innovative approaches to this issue and were funded accordingly. Links were made with existing providers to work with the sector to deliver accredited training. The organisations were offered Basic Skills Training and Awareness Training.

Some 12 organisations participated in this activity developing projects supported by buddies and mentors, offering new activities to their client group which embraced basic skills and which allowed for existing providers to work in and with the sector.

The full outcomes of the project have still to be determined but the results were sufficiently significant to facilitate an additional year's funding from the LSC and parallel programme funded through ESF Co-financing arrangements.