Fifteen Community Learning Trusts have been chosen to take part in a pilot scheme launching in August.
The successful trusts will involve FE colleges, adult education services, businesses and voluntary organisations working together to try and increase the number of adults taking part in education.
It is hoped the scheme will give communities more power to choose which courses are available in their local area.
Skills Minister John Hayes, announcing the approved trusts last week, said: “Learning is the lifeblood of personal and economic growth in our local communities, which is why we are working with these fifteen pilots to pioneer new ways of learning that put local people at the forefront of the decision-making process.
“By bringing passion, purpose and innovative thinking to the pilot scheme, the Community Learning Trusts can change lives by transforming attitudes and abilities, bringing communities together to nurture the common good.”
The approved Community Learning Trusts are:
– Birmingham CLT Blackburn with Darwen (Sustainable Neighbourhood Services)
– Brighton and Hove Community Learning Trust BHCLT
– CLCumbria (CLC), Community Learning in Cheshire (CLiC)
– Derby Community Learning Trust Learning-for-All (Bedfordshire and Luton)
– Liberate (West Sussex)
– Liverpool Opportunities for Community Adult Learning (LOCAL)
– Sheffield Community Learning Trust
– Sunderland’s Community Learning Trust The Luton Trust,
– The Solihull Source Trust in Learning – new curriculum, in new places for new learners in Exeter and West of England Community Learning Trust (Bristol) The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) have supported the pilot scheme.
David Hughes, chief executive of NIACE said: “We know that a better understanding of what people want to achieve and a joint approach to designing learning leads to better outcomes.
“We are excited to be supporting and learning from these pilot Community Learning Trusts and look forward to the ideas and processes they will formulate over the next twelve months which will set the agenda for community learning in the future.”
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