A wide range of learning courses available this month

Glamorgan Star news 11/09/2023

2 minutes read

START your learning journey with Adult Community Learning in the Vale of Glamorgan.

There is a wide range of exciting courses beginning this month, making it the perfect time to improve skills, build confidence and to focus on wellbeing.

Tutors are getting ready to welcome learners to Palmerston Community Learning Centre and the Vale Learning Centre in Barry Library, as well as community venues across the Vale. Courses are part time and term time only, making them perfect to fit around family life and other commitments; and with a range of different times available, including twilight and evening classes, there is something to suit every learner.

A series of Sign Up events are being held throughout September at Adult Learning Centres, libraries and community centres. Staff will be available with advice and information about the courses, and how to enrol. Just drop in to one of the events.

The Vale Council’s Get Back on Track programme provides a wide variety of courses that are FREE to those who are eligible.

The Digital Skills Courses can help you feel more confident in a digital world with a range of classes and workshops across the Vale. Focus on developing your digital skills and gain valuable qualifications such as ICDL (International Certificate for Digital Literacy) and Agored Cymru to support you in life and work.

For those wanting to improve their literacy and numeracy skills? Need qualifications for work? The Vale Learning Centre in Barry Library offers FREE essential skills (English and maths) courses at a range of levels. Enjoy part time courses in this central location and work towards recognised qualifications with City and Guilds, as well as Agored Cymru. Friendly, experienced tutors can help build confidence with reading and written work as well as help learners use maths skills in everyday life.

And for those who are looking to progress onto further and higher education, new Fast-Track Level 2 Courses in English and maths could give them the qualifications needed to succeed and move on in as little as 18 weeks.

The Vale Learning Centre also offers ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) from beginners to Level 2 with the chance to practice speaking, reading, and writing in English and gain qualifications with Trinity College London.

Employable Me Workshops are run throughout the year in a variety of local settings and are perfect for anyone looking to improve their job prospects with relevant qualifications. These one-day workshops include Health and Safety, Fire Safety, First Aid, Customer Service and CV and Interview Skills.

Also offered is British Sign Language through easy access online workshops – a great addition to anyone’s CV and particularly valuable in customer service and educational settings. Digital devices are available to help learn online.

Wellbeing workshops can support mental health and help to build confidence after the challenges of the last few years. Courses include woodwork, sugarcraft, pottery, sewing and gardening, along with mental health and wellbeing and confidence courses. Palmerston Centre also offers a weekly Men’s Shed Group and a Gardening Club – perfect for making friends while supporting wellbeing.

A spokesperson said: “Our learners tell us that our courses improve their lives – increasing their confidence, health and wellbeing, and helping them progress to further learning and training and employment. Research shows that the happiest people are those who never stop learning!

“For more information on new courses starting in your area, drop in to one of our Sign Up events or call Palmerston Centre on 01446 733762 or

“For Essential Skills and ESOL courses, contact the Vale Learning Centre 01446 736466 .”

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