The North Glasgow Learns Programme is an exciting new initiative which brings together an impressive number of partners* all committed to improving local residents’ literacy and numeracy skills through delivering neighbourhood based programmes. The local nature of the support means that people are more likely to ask for and get involved in the courses that are running – giving more people the chance to access a whole new world of opportunity.

Helping people to read, write and deal with numbers more effectively is the first stage in improving their quality of life. Without these basic life skills people can feel isolated and excluded – many are unable to access jobs, new learning opportunities and training or even do basic things like helping with their childrens’ homework.

This extensive partnership is all about providing comprehensive literacy and numeracy support to local people – wherever they live and whatever their age or ethnic background. The partnership projects will be targeting services at both adults and young people for whom literacy and numeracy problems are preventing them from accessing a job or new learning opportunities.

Outreach work features strongly with learning support taken directly into communities where no literacy and numeracy programmes currently exist and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is also delivered to help refugees and asylum seekers with little or no language skills to better access information, health, education and employment services in their community. The lack of childcare, particularly for lone parents, can also be a barrier so this has been built into the programme so that more people can access the services on offer.

This programme is not about replicating what’s already there – it’s more about filling gaps and reaching out to people to offer new ways to access services which can help improve their basic reading, writing and number skills. Once these basic skills are in place people are much better placed to access learning, training and employment opportunities further down the road.

If you would like to find out more about literacy and numeracy programmes running in your area then contact Peter Clough at GNRA on freephone 0800 917 0198

* Partners include Culture and Sport Glasgow, The Disability Community, Glasgow North Regeneration Agency, Queen’s Cross Housing Association, Anniesland, North Glasgow and Stow Colleges and Rosemount Lifelong Learning.