Love of Learning – “Looking Good, Feeling Good and Back to Work”
Following a successful ESF Community Grants bid Lynne and Dorah-May from Love of Learning started a project within a small area of Cobham Fairmile, which has recently been designated an area of need. Two sets of six workshops have taken place for unemployed women, and the team have integrated themselves into the community. Partners have included JobCentre Plus, Voluntary Action Elmbridge, Brooklands College, Hillcroft College, a make up artist and a voice coach. People were referred through a variety of partners including Children Centres, Home School Link Workers, Oasis Family Centre and Look Ahead Housing. Ages of participants ranged from 17-68.
Workshops have included CV writing, interview skills, confidence building, voice coaching, make up and hairdressing - confidence and self esteem being paramount throughout the life of the project. Seven participants have booked on future courses at Hillcroft College. Some have participated in work placements, one person was mentored by an accountant and several others took literacy and computer courses. Each participant has been encouraged to progress and the learners have gained in confidence and self esteem. Partners have been very pleased with the emotional development and new motivation of the participants; all of whom have, in varying ways, have started to overcome enormous personal difficulties and move on. The participants recognised that these workshops were a great opportunity to gain confidence, take a risk, recognise their own worth and consequently improve and develop their own and their family’s lives.
The Elmbridge Community Learning Partnership has helped the project team to identify learning partners, make links to local networks and develop progression routes. For more information contact Love of Learning at dorahmayhancock@ntlworld.com Tel – 07703 011470
Introducing Community Learning to Lower Green (Esher)
Lower Green is an area of Esher predominately made up of social housing. The only community facility, the Lower Green Community Hall, was originally set up as a charity in 1979 but offered limited facilities for the community. The Elmbridge Community Learning Partnership worked jointly with the Chair of Trustees of the Community Hall, the Children’s Centre, Voluntary Action Elmbridge, Surrey Community Action and active local community members.
As a result a constitution that truly supported the community was developed new trustees were elected a local ‘learning at work’ initiative was set up resulting in 40 non English speaking workers taking language classes in the Community Hall the group was supported to apply for, and were successful in obtaining their own community grant to offer informal adult learning in the community. With ongoing support from a multi-agency team the community of Lower Green can look forward to extensive support and attractive facilities right on their door step. The Community will also benefit from receiving a community grant (October 2009) to support learning and skills development for local residents.
