Unemployment, poverty, deprivation and personal debt has long afflicted the community in Castleford and surrounding areas. Castleford Community Learning Centre (CCLC) is at the forefront; supporting approximately 50,000 learners in trying to overcome these circumstances through the power of education over nearly 28 years.

This work is recognised by the TUC and unionlearn and CCLC's role cannot be underestimated in instilling confidence and providing skills which has helped maintain a sense of community cohesion in an area that has experienced profound change.

CCLC provides high quality Information, Advice and Guidance, as well as supporting opportunities for progression within and into employment. CCLC also provides a home for Unite the Union to deliver learning to its members and the community, which includes Literacy, Numeracy, Skills for Life (SFL), ECDL, ICT, and 1-2-1 Information Advice & Guidance (IAG) sessions. CCLC brings together the following unions under one roof NUM, GMB, CWU, Unite, Unison, RCM and BFAWU, as well as other community organisations, and providers such as the WEA and Wakefield District College.  

It integrates unions with the wider community through learning.   CCLC shows how unions can use community relationships to improve opportunities for workers and their families, to assist the revitalisation of an area crippled by the withdrawal of its main industry.

CCLC provides adult education within the community in a friendly and relaxed environment. The aims of the Centre are:

•          To provide quality education that is totally socially inclusive.

•          To generate income and build reserves to achieve financial stability

•          To work with our partners – to increase the range of courses available

•          To increase enrolments and retention rates

•          To ensure staff are given the training development they need

•          To be involved in local regeneration priority areas within our communities

CCLC has always aimed to increase and encourage the take-up of informal learning, thus creating a positive perception of learning which has led to individuals progressing on to formal learning.   To support this work CCLC has established and strengthened links with voluntary and community organisations to raise the Centre’s profile in the local community. Organisations currently with an association with the centre include: Miners Welfare Associations, Jobcentre Plus, Victim Support, West Yorkshire Police, the Labour Party and local amateur sport clubs.  

This work forms an integral part of CCLC’s learning - making the bridge between informal and formal learning at all levels. Activity surrounding the Celebration of Learning held at the Centre has raised the profile of informal learning and has led to increased activity and requests for learning events.

CCLC are also now looking to facilitate a number of equality awareness events in order to raise awareness and understanding working with a wide range of community groups.

CCLC provides services such as Reception, Administration and Refectory in a warm, friendly, informal atmosphere that enhances the learner experience, which has improved retention and take up rates. The Centre is also accessible to disabled users, having a lift to the first floor IT suite and fully complies with DDA legislation.

CCLC supports the progression of learners, providing IAG and encouraging learners to complete an initial assessment ensuring the correct level of learning and support.   The centre also provides Foundation support and well structured programmes which reduce drop-out rates.   

Learners are encouraged to enrol on Skills for Life programmes with support, giving a blended approach to learning. For example John G lives in Pontefract and has been travelling to the centre over a number of years.   He started attending when CCLC was based at Wesley Street on a CICERO course, attended a TUC course held at the centre when he was in employment and when he was made redundant he returned to brush up on his computer skills.   He completed a Level 1 Clait course, moving on to a Level 2 ECDL and the confidence John gained from attending this course enable him to move on to Doncaster College to study an Access to Higher Education Course.

Overall CCLC have gone from strength to strength, as the inaugural winners of the National Learning Awards in 1993 they have developed, refined and improved their offer to learners and the longevity of their project speaks volumes regarding their inclusive and welcoming ethos, flexibility in adapting and evolving with the times, and their sheer determination to stay open even when times have been tough.

The achievements of the learners at the CCLC are many and varied.   The staff at CCLC strive to create a warm friendly and supportive environment where learners can achieve at their own pace.   Many of the learners arrive at the Centre with absolutely no skills in their chosen subject area.   For example, John was referred to CCLC by the local Job Centre in 2010; he lives locally and had no IT skills prior to his arrival at CCLC.   In John's own words "with a lot of determination and a superb tutor I found it all very baffling but I'm getting there" and indeed he is, John having now reached his 60th year has passed IT Foundations, ITQ and is currently studying for his Level 2 ECDL qualification.

It is a testament to the success of CCLC that their learners keep on returning to the Centre, Lesley a housewife and mother found herself at a loose end when her children had left home and ventured to the Centre after seeing an advert in the local press.   Lesley wanted as she put it to "improve her brain power" and she started by attending short courses on Health & Safety, First Aid and Food Hygiene, then she completed a beginner’s course in computing and then Clait diploma.  After a break Lesley returned to the Centre to attend a variety of courses including Aromatherapy, Family History and she also thought she would brush up on her English and Maths  -  Lesley went on to complete her Level 1 & 2 in English and Maths and despite nursing her husband through a heart attack gained a grade C in her GCSE English.

 The Centre is also very flexible in terms of responding to changes in circumstances  - Jean was working part -time in the office of a local catering firm as a book -keeper and wages clerk but after being widowed for nine years she felt lonely and lacked self-confidence.   After seeing some leaflets advertising courses at CCLC she decided to enrol and learn Italian as she had always been fond of opera and Italy was one of her favourite holiday destinations.  

Jean is now able to make herself understood when she visits Italy and feels confident when writing to her Italian friends who speak no English. However, when funding was withdrawn leaving the group without a tutor, the team at CCLC were not thwarted and determined to continue to provide a learning experience they supported the class as it evolved to become a self-study group.   Jean and other members of the original class still meet once a week, they read and hold conversations in Italian, learning from each other and supporting new members who join the group and this is a key example of the ethos of resilience and adaptability that has been the lifeblood of CCLC.

CCLC has also been instrumental in learners progressing on to study at a higher level. Liz a young mum with two children enrolled on a Leeds Metropolitan University part time B.A. Combined Studies degree course  -  and best of all -  using the qualification she gained, Liz went on to become a Tutor Organiser for the WEA, then worked for Learndirect, and thus  played a role in helping other learners to achieve their goals and learning aspirations.

 CCLC 's welcoming and inclusive atmosphere has also meant that over the years individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities have felt supported and safe when studying at the Centre.   Yu Tian, a young Chinese woman originally came to CCLC looking for an ESOL course.   CCLC referred  her on and she successfully completed this qualification.  Remembering the warm welcome she had received at CCLC  -  when she decided she wanted to progress with her learning CCLC seemed the obvious place to return.   Yu Tian has studied English and Maths and completed Level 1 and 2 qualifications in both subjects.   Yu Tian was referred on once again and achieved a GCSE Grade A in Maths and she is currently back at CCLC studying ICT.

This is just a small selection of the learner stories from CCLC all of whom are remarkable, their journeys have been varied and each one is unique. This variety is a testament to CCLC and the quality of their service and learning provision.

The project is managed by means of an operational group. This approach has proved to be highly successful. The group members have well defined roles working together to meet shared objectives. A key element of the operational group is the sharing of information and performance data.

The Operational Group comprises the following posts: A finance officer, a programme coordinator an administrator and a Project Manager. The group liaises with key workers from unionlearn for support and advice where required.

The overall strategy of the project is supported by a Steering Group which in order to engage learners has widened its membership and now includes a diverse range of partners. Meeting on a quarterly basis the Steering Group is made up of representatives from unionlearn; trade unions including CWU, NUM, GMB, USDAW, and RCM; learning providers; community and voluntary groups; and employers. The Steering Group has taken an active role in developing activity at the Centre and ensuring that CCLC remains up to date with new developments.

This and the tireless work of the operational team to promote and deliver activity around Adult Learners Week, Learning at Work Day, Celebration of Learning, Go On and Workage  has led to CCLC's sustained integration into  local workplace and community agendas. The Steering Group continuously undertakes to support the quality of the project and to increase learner engagement and will continue to do so into the future.

Whilst CCLC track usage of the centre using signing in sheets and course registers it should be noted  that this is not a full reflection of the number of people the centre engages with as not all interactions can be recorded.

CCLC also captures and compiles case studies which are a key element to reporting performance within the project, re-enforcing good practice and raising the profile of the Centre. These case studies are due to be published on the new CCLC website and will form the basis of a ''Learning in Partnership'' book planned for later this year.