Adult Skills minister John Healey today announced that the Adult and Community Learning Fund will be extended, providing GBP 5 million more towards training for the 25% of adults who have had no education since leaving school.
The funding will be directed towards innovative and imaginative projects involving the socially excluded and disadvantaged. The minister commented that projects "will use activities – from arts to healthcare and the environment - to boost skills, including improved literacy and numeracy." It is intended that they will also encourage progression to further learning.
Healey also announced that a contract to train the 1,800 managers and staff of Neighbourhood Nurseries has been awarded to a Consortium led by the Basic Skills Agency. The training will enable the nurseries staff to assist parents with literacy and numeracy.
Among the reasons cited for the withdrawal of Individual Learning Accounts was that they were failing to reach the adults with the least experience of training.
