AGENDA ITEM

COMMITTEE: , AND AREA COMMITTEE

DATE: 21 JANUARY 2003

SUBJECT: OPENING THE LEARNING CENTRE REPORT BY: KIM ALEXANDER – CENTRE MANAGER

CONTACT OFFICER: MAL HUSSAIN, MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS MANAGER

IMPLICATIONS:

LEGAL COMMUNITY SAFETY

EQUALITIES ENVIRONMENT

FINANCIAL CONSULTATIONS

STAFFING OTHER

WARDS AFFECTED: LEWSEY AND SURROUNDING

PURPOSE

1. To provide low cost learning opportunities for local people.

RECOMMENDATIONS

2. That the report be noted

BACKGROUND

3. An SRB6 bid and ERDF bid were accepted through the and Partnership, the Lewsey Farm Learning Centre Trust was developed, became a registered company and is looking to gain charitable status.

REPORT

4. Lewsey Farm Learning Centre will be officially opening on 3rd February 2003, with a newly refurbished site ready to provide learning opportunities for local people.

5. The centre has a music room and studio, a training kitchen, meeting rooms, classrooms, a large hall and an ICT suite, later in the year the crèche will also be ready to open and provide childcare for the learners accessing the centre. With

Page 1 of 3 the help of local trainers, Barnfield College and LBC Lifelong Learning Department, the centre hopes to provide local, friendly and supportive training within Lewsey Farm and surrounding areas.

6. Lewsey Farm Learning Centre Trust has been created from people within the Lewsey ward, interested in helping their area access external funding to provide free and low cost training to the Lewsey area. The Trust has become a registered charity and is currently going through the process of becoming a registered charity.

7. The Learning Centre, based at the old Chantry Junior school site on Tomlinson Avenue, has been awarded funding through SRB6 and ERDF and the Trust will also be applying to other grant awarding bodies to help the centre become sustainable, also helping this process the Trust hopes to rent out office space, classrooms and other facilities.

8. The centre already has introductory computing and Internet courses planned, language tasters, aromatherapy massage, computing qualifications, improving reading and number work and cooking on a budget – and is open to suggestions from local people and employers. The Trust has also won funding to run a music project – The of Media Excellence, which will be running workshops in Dj-ing, mixing and working in the music industry, the Customised training and returning to work project will research the needs of the local labour market and provide specific training to local unemployed people. Luton Lives will be providing free training in video making and editing and North Chilterns Trust will be asking local people to help transform the grounds into newly landscaped gardens.

9. The centre will provide careers advice and guidance for local people, a place to learn – for fun as well as for work. The centre is for everyone – all ages, working or not working. The centre hopes to provide Lewsey with a place to enjoy learning – with extra support and progression routes both within the centre and out to colleges, training providers, further and higher education. With local voluntary organisations and other externally funded projects involved the Trust hope to get the local community involved, to react to local needs and rally help people in Lewsey move forward to fulfil their potential.

10. The official opening on 3rd February, where Kelvin Hopkins, MP will open the centre, will also give a chance to look around the facilities, ‘have a go’ at some of the courses on offer and look at the stands in the main hall from local organisations offering learning and other services. Refreshments will be provided.

APPENDIX

11. There are no appendices to this report

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