Background
Background to the Initiative
Where we are today...
Background to the Initiative
The Learning Community began in 2004 as an initiative that came out of the Government’s Skills Strategy White Paper. The White Paper talked about using learning and skills development to create a sustainable and socially cohesive community in which individuals are connected and involved in learning. The initiative was “tested” in only 26 areas in England. The model was developed as a partnership between the GL11 Community Project, Gloucestershire Learning Partnership and Government Office for the South West.
The aim was to create an ambitious community where organisations and people provided mutual support to help each other learn and stay motivated to reach level 2 qualifications and raise the local employment skills base. There was a focus on increasing the capacity of communities to develop their collective base of skills and learning as learning communities and to build community aspirations – to encourage people to take ownership of their own learning and development.
The project made links with local business communities to identify their needs and the learning needs of their employees. The learning process was also connected with the economic priorities and goals of strategic key agencies and partnerships working in the area, such as the SW Regional Development Agency - FRESA, the National Skills Strategy, Vale Vision’s Community Strategy, Stroud District Council, and the Local Strategic Partnership.
Due to the success of the project, further funding ensured that The Learning Community was able to continue well beyond its initial eighteen month lifespan. In 2007, TLC was successful in securing 'Reaching Communities' funding and we are now concentrating on the following aspects for the next 3 years of the project:
- Developing a Learner Forum
- Developing the Membership Scheme
- Continuing with the PR, Website and Newsletters
- Supporting 30 Health projects linked to doctors surgeries over the 3 years
- Consulting with employers and local people
- Supporting and developing new community groups
- Linking into and supporting 7 local events each year
- Supporting learners and targeting employers and employees
Please click here for more details.
Why Cam and Dursley?
Cam and Dursley has had a prosperous economic history, beginning with the Cotswold Wool Trade and continuing with the traditional industrial employers in engineering, printing and upholstery. Most of the people living in the area were employed in these industries and many people from all over the country and also from Europe were recruited to fill positions. These industries have been in decline in the town for a number of years, this has led to fragmentation of the once strong community, deprivation and a lack of community strength and capacity to tackle issues such as social exclusion, unemployment, education and training, and crime and disorder.
