Adult learning opens doors for Milton Keynes residents

Above: Lai Shan Chow, nominated for the Peer Support Champion Award, collecting her certificate from the mayor alongside more than 40 learners and their families at the City Council’s Learner Awards

Local adult learners and their families have been recognised at Milton Keynes City Council’s annual Learner Awards.

Hosted by the City Council’s Community Learning MK service, the awards highlight the achievements of local people who have learned new skills with them, many pushing themselves beyond what they thought possible and unlocking skills that will help them find work or develop their career.

Learners and their families were joined by tutors and learning support staff plus Mayor of MK, Councillor Paul Trendall, for talks and presentations at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone.

Community Learning MK provides apprenticeships, community learning and education programmes for adults and young people. They offer more than 300 workshops and courses from Maths, English and IT for adults through to creative and arts-based subjects.  Many of these are free and others are charged at a reduced rate for people who are not in work.

They also offer free practical help and advice for those returning to work including CV and interview preparation as well as where to find local vacancies.

“Our adult learning courses continue to open doors for residents across Milton Keynes, helping people gain new skills, build confidence and progress into employment, further education or volunteering. This year, we’ve enrolled more than 2,500 learners on our academic and skills-based courses ranging from Employability to English as a Second Language. I'd like to thank our partners and dedicated team for the vital role they play in delivering this programme."

To find out more about the City Council’s Community Learning MK service and the courses and workshops available from September, please visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/adult-education

The City Council also provides courses for those with a learning disability who want to learn at a pace more suited to their needs. Courses include Autism Social Skills and Support into Employment. There is also ongoing support into Further Education for those who want to progress. For more information, please email communitylearning.mk@milton-keynes.gov.uk