The Family and Community Learning service (FaCL) at Wiltshire Council has had a record-breaking academic year with more than 1,000 enrolments taking place.
The team offers a range of free single-session and short courses to help get adults back into learning and is open for eligible people to sign up now.
In the last academic year FaCL had a positive impact for Wiltshire residents facing barriers to learning and supported them to attend courses, with 1,100 enrolments taking place.
FaCL tutors travel to teach learners in community venues around the county, as well as offering online courses for those who find travel challenging or have caring responsibilities that would make attending a face-to-face course difficult.
They have courses starting in September including the popular Working in Schools course, which allows adults to explore more about a career in supporting learning, courses for speakers of other languages to learn English, as well as courses for parents and carers to support their child to develop resilience and build wellbeing. The courses are listed on the FaCL website – Family and Community Learning – Work Wiltshire.
A range of single-session and short courses are also offered, online or at Wiltshire community venues.
Course topics include:
- Family learning courses to support parents and carers to help their child with emotional wellbeing and learning,
- Confidence and wellbeing courses
- Adult skills courses, such as English, maths, budgeting, and work-related skills, and
- Independent living skills courses for adults with additional needs.
Courses are free to learners who meet the eligibility criteria:
Learners must be aged 19+ on 31 August 2024 to learn with Family and Community Learning this academic year. Learners must also have a Wiltshire postcode and either have lived in the UK/EU for three years or meet certain residency requirements (for example, certain types of immigration status are exempt from the three-year residency rule). Learners must also be able to tick one of the following criteria:
- On a lower income, earning less than £25,000 a year.
- In receipt of benefits (other than child benefit).
- Care leaver, refugee, foster carer, carer, military family / ex-armed forces personnel, learning difficulty or disability, or have school-aged children who receive free school meals.
- Not in work and looking to go into work, now or in the future.
FaCL may still be able to help people who feel they don’t meet the criteria. People can contact the team to find out more on 01225 770478, email hidden; JavaScript is required or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Wiltsfamilylearning.