The Community Education Fund (round 38) is now open for funding applications to deliver adult and family learning provision in the 2023-24 academic year (ending 31^st July 2024).

This funding supports learning opportunities for adults (aged 19+) and families in West Berkshire with specific focus on: gaining new skills and qualifications, improving health and wellbeing, developing employment opportunities, supporting families and developing local communities.

Applications are welcome from local education and training providers across the private, public and voluntary sector.

To apply for funding download the CEF Bid Form (Round 38) here. The deadline for applications is 5pm, Friday, 9th June 2023.

For further information contact the Community Learning team on email aclteam@westberks.gov.uk or telephone 01635 519060.

Multiply, is a 3 year national government funded programme aimed at developing adult numeracy skills.

The funding is available to providers from the public, private and third sectors who can reach adults with low maths skills and live, work or volunteer in West Berkshire.

All provision is to be delivered in line with the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework quality standards. Full training and support will be provided throughout the planning and delivery process.

Funding applications can be made at any time by downloading the Multiply application form.

For further information click here or contact a member of the Community Learning team on email aclteam@westberks.gov.uk or telephone 01635 519060.

Recovery Mind is  a locally based mental health organisation launched in 2016. 

It provides a range of courses to support adults, aged 18+,  to manage their own mental health and wellbeing.  All the courses are led by both mental health professionals and people who have had their own mental health challenges.

Recovery in Mind is the brain child of local resident, Angela Ryan, who explains why she believes in an learning based approach to supporting mental health recovery.

" I experienced a serious mental illness for 2 years before I decided to start Recovery in Mind.  My own experiences led me on my own ‘Recovery Journey’ which has helped me enormously to understand mental health and I have utilised this (with our team) to develop courses, support and establish a community of learning, acceptance and belief that recovery from mental health challenges is possible".  

Recovery in Mind students are encouraged to embrace a variety of learning opportunities that focus on developing a ‘toolkit’ to enable them to live better lives that is most helpful and personal to them. 

 One of the courses is called ‘Recovery Street’ in which students use imagery to describe the different themes and stages of their recovery.  The course included a visit to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford as part of their exploration to describe ‘Our Next Chapter’ on their journey. Other sessions involved creating and sharing individual ‘magazines’ of images under the guidance of a trained creative tutor. The sessions are fun, supportive and celebratory.

Click here for more information on Recovery Mind.

Educafe provides a range of courses, activities and support to people from across the local community.

One of the most popular initiatives is the weekly community café which has a ‘Chatty Corner’,  consisting of mainly non-nationals who come together to practise their English. To develop their understanding of the UK the group recently had a field trip to London to visit famous landmarks including Buckingham Palace!

To find out more, go along to the Community Cafe every Wednesday during term time at Newbury Library (11am - 2pm).

Click here for more information.

The Berkshire School of English has developed a new be-spoke accredited course entitled English in Everyday Maths.

Supported by the community learning service with Multiply funding, the course addresses the importance of having a good understanding and knowledge of English to support the development of numeracy skills.

English for Everyday Maths is accredited by Laser, a national awarding body, and is free to adults (aged 19+).

Other BSE courses include:

• Targeted English for Afghans living in Calcot (various levels)
• ESOL courses in Calcot, Thatcham, Newbury and on-line (all levels)
• Preparation for the IELTS English test and Cambridge English exams
• GCSE English exam revision and support

Click here for more information

Link Up, at West Berkshire Mencap, has been developing their trainees understanding of money with a new Money Handling Skills course.

Delivered in the Spring term the course focused on increasing the learner’s recognition of UK coins and developing an understanding of the value and use of money, including how to handle and look after it.

Many of the trainees who attend Link Up have very little understanding of UK money mainly due to their family or carers being responsible for the shopping and finances.

This course will encourage them to get more involved and practise their money handling skills outside the classroom.

Click here for more information on Link Up services.

The Flying Start course programme was recently shortlisted for the Early Years Award as part of the Campaign for Learning’s national awards scheme.

The courses were developed and delivered by Kirstie Hanson, Early Years Improvement Adviser and Louise Griffiths, Assistant Head, Victoria Park Nursery School, who both attended the announcement of the awards at the House of Lords.

Funded by the community learning service, Flying Start aims to support the development of early literacy and maths in the home environment prior to a child starting school. The programme has been hugely popular amongst parents across the district and has had a significant impact on improving school readiness.

There are two courses in the programme, literacy and maths, and both are delivered on-line throughout the academic year. The feedback from the learners has been positive in terms of need, content and format:

• 100% of the attendees found the course leaders to be friendly and approachable
• 100% of attendees liked the style and approach of the sessions
• 63% had never been given information or advice on how to support their child’s Speech & Language development.
• 67% had never been given information or advice on how to support their child with phonics and early reading
• 94% had never been given information or advice on how to support their child’s physical development and early writing skills.
• 100% of the parents felt that as a result of Flying Start they felt empowered to better support their child at home with the subjects covered in the course.

Comments made by the attendees:

• Really helpful and informative! Thank you very much.
• I found it very re-assuring and good to see what teachers will be looking out for when they start school.
• Great course and extremely useful handouts. I felt a bit nervous not knowing what was expected of my son starting school in September but feel a lot better now. Will see you at the maths course.
• Thank you very much! It was very helpful!!

For more information contact Kirstie Hanson: Kirstie.Hanson@westberks.gov.uk or telephone: 0782 689 1268

GRAFT is a Reading based charity that aims to eradicate barriers to employment for disabled, neuro diverse or disadvantaged people struggling to find work

As part of their EDI programme, Graft Thames Valley trustees, staff and volunteers recently completed training in Unconscious Bias with a focus on racial bias.

Learners were guided through a series of activities including discussions, presentations, exercises and videos on:

• The meaning of unconscious bias
• Why we need to understand it
• Its impact on us as individuals and the people we meet
• Its impact on our organisation
• What happens if unconscious bias is not addressed

Learners also received a ‘self-reflecting’ questionnaire which enabled individuals to recognise their own unconscious biases and to challenge these in a safe environment.

Graft CEO Hazel Wright said: “This has been an amazing training session and has given us a huge insight into how we can improve our EDI programme.  It has also given all attendees a chance to challenge their own personal biases in a safe and supportive environment. 

As a result of this workshop Graft will be reviewing its Equal Opportunities Policy and we will also be introducing an Unconscious Bias Policy alongside pragmatic implementation protocols.  We are all eagerly anticipating the next training session in this programme.”

Click here for more information about GRAFT

The Community Learning Partnership brings together West Berkshire based learning providers and community organisations to provide a high quality, accessible, safe and varied community learning programmes for adults and families across the district.

Members include adult and family learning providers, local apprenticeship and training organisations, funding bodies and local communities groups and services. The Community Learning Partnership is open to any organisation involved in the delivery of post 19 education and training within West Berkshire.

If you would like to become a member please complete the online registration form.

The next Partnership meeting will take place on Thursday 6^th July 2023 - Shaw House