What does it do?

We believe that education and lifelong learning is about the provision of opportunities for people of all ages to acquire skills and knowledge, whether it is to help them acquire formal qualifications, the skills for their job, or simply for the personal satisfaction that learning can bring.

The Area Community Learning Partnership meets on a regular basis to provide a coordinated approach to meeting the needs of learners within the District. We aim to avoid duplication and to maximise resources through partnership working.

It must be noted that the Area Community Learning Partnership is not itself a provider of services nor a ‘super-agency’ attempting to oversee or direct the work of partners. It is a voluntary association of like-minded organisations who share a common belief in the virtues of learning and the merits of a collaborative approach where this is most appropriate.

How was it set up?

The Area Community Learning Partnership was formed in April 2003 and seeks to foster the broad range of learning opportunities available. It aspires to bring greater cohesion to the work of the various agencies, organisations and institutions, which serve to meet the learning needs of all people in the area.

It fully recognises the wealth of good practice in the field of community learning already established within the area, much of which is secured by agencies working in partnership. The Area Community Learning Partnership seeks to strengthen these ties and thereby ‘add value’ and further develop the capacity for joint working.

Key themes

We believe that Warwick District should be “a total learning community” where everyone, regardless of age or life circumstances, is enthusiastically engaged in learning. This will bring benefits to individuals, families, communities, the economy and the environment. The ACLP will also continue to work to avoid duplication both within the statutory and voluntary and community sectors.

In order to achieve this we will need to make sure that:

• people can learn in places convenient to them whether this is at home, in a family setting, at work, in places dedicated to learning like libraries, schools and colleges, in a local community centre or elsewhere
• the value of learning is understood by those making decisions about resources to ensure the best possible learning resources are available to learners in the district
• full use is made of technology including computers to make learning available to everyone
• barriers to learning have been reduced so that everyone has the chance to satisfy their learning needs
• all organisations that provide learning work closely together to ensure that the needs of learners are put before the needs of their organisations, so that the best use is made of available resources and learners can freely and easily move from one organisation to another

What have we done so far?

A major focus for the Area Community Learning Partnership since the beginning of 2004 has been to develop a network of organisations across Warwick District who are committed to supporting learning for adults (16+) and families.

The initiative has been branded as ‘CHOICES’.

CHOICES aims to support the development of Warwick District as a 'sustainable community', by developing a cohesive and inclusive approach to learning provision across the district.

CHOICES aims to make it easier for people to build their skills in places that are familiar and 'safe'. We will do this by:

• Helping organisations to identify and develop opportunities for 'embedding' learning into other activities
• Developing inter-agency work to help bring learning opportunities to where people are and to make it easier for people to move between organisations and courses
• Promoting the learning opportunities offered using the 'CHOICES' brand

If you would like to know more about choices please visit the website on www.choicesnetwork.co.uk

What is our focus for the next twelve months?

We have a detailed action plan showing what we hope to achieve during 2005/06. The items listed below are just a small number of the things we hope to achieve. If you would like to know more or you would like a copy of our plan please contact the Chair of the Group Tim Howram on 01926 412043 or Janet Neale who supports the partnership on 01926 412751 or through email on janetneale@warwickshire.gov.uk.

• To continue with the development and promotion of CHOICES.
• Support the work of the Warwick District Welfare Rights Partnership
• Undertake an assessment of the learning needs of the Portuguese community in Warwick District.
• Develop Extended Schools provision throughout the District
• To develop existing and further partnerships with providers of family learning opportunities
• Roll out the Help a Mate programme within Warwick District.
• To continue the development of the Youth Forum for the District as a mechanism for engaging with young people
• Designated Children’s Centres established.

Who is on the Warwick District Community Learning Partnership?

Representatives from the following organisations currently sit on the ACLP. The Group is currently Chaired by Tim Howram and supported by Janet Neale. There contact details are shown above.

• The Coventry & Warwickshire Learning & Skills Council
• Council for Voluntary Service
• WCC Libraries, Heritage & Trading Standards
• Coventry and Warwickshire Connexions Service
• WCC Chief Executive's Department
• WCC County Education Department
• Warwickshire College
• Warwick District Council
• The Coventry Diocesan Board of Education
• Coventry and Warwickshire Nextstep
• WCC Social Services
• South Warwickshire Primary Care Trust
• Employment Training Warwickshire
• University Of Warwick
  

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