Community Learning Champions
An innovative programme to encourage adults back into learning, the Community Learning Champions scheme engages local volunteers to promote learning to other people in their communities.
Recruiting and supporting the champions
The volunteers, or champions, have been recruited from a wide range of backgrounds. Some face disadvantage themselves, but they see the benefits that new learning can bring. The programme will build their confidence and encourage them to foster their own talents and abilities. Employees of the local authority and the careers service work alongside the champions.
A resource pack for the scheme assists champions in developing the skills and knowledge they need in order to motivate and support other people to return to learning. You can order the pack from our online publications catalogue.
Availability of the scheme
The programme aims to benefit the champions in the following ways:
- raise self-esteem
- improve skills and knowledge
- discover key learning providers in their communities and establish links with them
- develop an understanding of how people learn and of the barriers that prevent participation in learning
- ensure support mechanisms are in place and the champions feel confident using them
- develop ideas and strategies for reaching reluctant learners and test these in practice.
The scheme, which began as a pilot project in Greenwich, is now a nationally available programme. It will be of particular interest to organisations aiming to widen participation in learning, including local authorities, community education teams, adult education and basic skills staff and local Learning and Skills Councils.
To find out more about this innovative programme, download the Community Learning Champions flyer (PDF, 29 KB), or email Bill Malley.
