Get Learning for Life

24 June 2002

Cromer's Learning for Life Project begins this week with a morning of fun taster sessions at the new learning shop at 10 Bond Street.

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb and NNDC Chairman Don Venvell will officially open the shop on Friday, 28 June, and will get a taste of what will be on offer to Cromer people.

The Learning for Life Project will give access to courses in areas like languages and computing, giving people the basic skills they need to improve their confidence, job prospects and quality of life. The courses will be run by a variety of local organisations and agencies, and in many cases will be free.

The Project will also offer one-to-one advice and guidance for people who are unsure about how to improve their qualifications, get back into employment, or who wish to improve their quality of life through learning.

The morning's programme will run as follows (with events being held at the project shop unless otherwise stated):

9.30-11.30am - Language workshop: order a cup of coffee in different European languages with the help of Cromer High School and Language College.

9.30-10.30am - Women's health workshop: to be held at the Women's Health Information and Support Service (WHISS) office at 3 Bond Street.

10.15am - PROJECT LAUNCH by Norman Lamb MP, introduced by Councillor Don Venvell. They will then be shown how to produce a poster using a computer.

10.30am-12.30pm - Drawing workshop: get sketching in just a few minutes, with the help of Paston College.

10.30am-12.30pm - Computer workshop: design and print your own poster in 10 minutes, with the help of Adult Education. To be held at the WHISS office at 3 Bond Street.

11.30am - The Women's Employment Enterprise and Training Unit (WEETU) introduces its Full Circle and Enterprising Women initiatives. A small business counsellor will be available to offer one-to-one business advice.

Prince's Trust Volunteers will have a display throughout the morning, with information about their next course in North Norfolk. There will also be information and displays about a range of opportunities available through Learning for Life.

Members of the public are welcome to pop in to the learning shop on the day of the launch and take part in the free activities. Tea and coffee will be available all morning.

The media are also welcome to attend. If you would like to attend the launch, or see the activities taking place, please call Tony Knowles or Nick Manthorpe on (01263) 516039 or 516059.

The shop will be open for members of the public to drop in on Mondays and Wednesdays 10am-3pm, and 10am-1pm on Fridays - or by appointment at other times. Call John Morgan, Cromer Learning for Life Project Manager, on (01263) 519454 to make an appointment or for further information.

NOTES FOR EDITOR:

• Learning for Life is a two-year, £239,000 project part-financed by the European Social Fund, led by North Norfolk District Council, and run for the benefit of people in Cromer Town and Suffield Park wards.
• The Project Partners are: Paston College, Norfolk Adult Education Services, Women's Employment Enterprise & Training Unit, Prince's Trust Volunteers, Redundancy Advice Network, Jobcentreplus, Great Yarmouth Business Advisory Service, Norfolk Learning & Skills Council, North Norfolk District Council, East of England Development Agency and European Social Fund.
• Learning for Life offers courses across a range of personal and career development subjects, like introductions to computers and the internet, book-keeping for beginners, 'return to work' courses for office or retail jobs, first aid, parenting, gardening, arts and crafts, confidence-building and assertiveness.