English Language Programme at Deepcut Army Barracks
Deepcut Army Barracks is home to 18 Nepalese families. Due to their often low level of spoken English many are unable to integrate with other families. In partnership with Brooklands College, Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership worked with the Deepcut Welfare Office and Nepalese Welfare Officer, to encourage women at the barracks to take up English classes. Nine ladies registered at the first class and numbers remained high throughout.
The programme, taught by Brooklands College, was based on Every Child Matters and issues such as staying safe, healthy lifestyle and economic well being were covered and enjoyed by all. The programme has now finished and we are hoping to establish progression courses including a cake baking taster session (as requested by the learners) leading to a healthy eating course with Adult & Community Learning.
Part of the success of the project was the willingness of the Nepalese Welfare Officer to contact any ladies not attending the course on the day to encourage them to come along and participate. One of the barriers to establishing the project in the first place was finding available tutors as many of the prospective learners worked during the week, leaving Saturdays as the best time for the courses.
Following the success of this project, we are now also working with the Nepalese Welfare Officer at the Sandhurst Barracks to offer similar learning to adults living inside the Surrey border.
Family Fun at Old Dean
Around 130 people came along to a Family Fun Day at the Old Dean Youth Centre, Camberley during October 2008. Families could take part in a range of art, music and storytelling activities or make a healthy lunch.
The event also provided adults with opportunities to seek information and advice from a number of organisations including A4E who were on hand to advise about Pathways, a project to help people on incapacity benefits back into employment. Adults could also find out about local courses at the Old Dean Advisory Centre, Brooklands College and Surrey County Council Adult & Community Learning.
