A local college is celebrating one year of adult learning in Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre.

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is celebrating a successful twelve months of delivering adult community learning courses in the heart of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre.

Over the past year, Keele in Town has been the home to NSCG's town-centre provision, welcoming adult learners of all ages and backgrounds to benefit from inclusive and flexible courses designed to support personal development, employability and lifelong learning.

NSCG explained that with the exciting programme of courses on offer, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), functional English and maths, digital skills, introductory accounting and health and social care pathways, NSCG's adult learning hub has played a key role in helping local residents gain confidence, upskill and take positive steps towards employment or continued study.

Learners have praised the welcoming environment and practical nature of the courses, highlighting the positive impact on their confidence, wellbeing and future aspirations. Many have progressed into further study, volunteering or employment as a direct result of their learning journey with NSCG.

One student, Adriana Constantinescu, has chosen to study both English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Entry Level 3 and the Introduction to Accounting Assistant course.

Having moved to the UK a number of years ago from Romania, Adriana is a shining example of an adult learner who has displayed a real passion for learning.

Adriana studied for a degree in geography before moving to the UK, and wants to continue to improve her grasp of the English language whilst weighing up her future career aspirations of working in finance and accounting.

Commenting on the impact of her learning, Adriana says: "I have only been studying at NSCG for a short time, but I am already seeing positive changes in my life.

"I have a degree from Romania, but I've realised that my English language skills need to be stronger and the ESOL course is really helping me to learn and share life experiences with other adult learners.

"I am hoping that improving my English and conversational skills whilst studying the Introduction to Accounting Assistant course will give me more options to consider in my career.

"From a social point of view, I already feel more comfortable communicating with people in the community which is helping me to develop friendships."

By taking the adult education offer into the town centre, NSCG aimed to remove traditional barriers to education, making courses easy to access for learners who may be returning to education after a break or balancing learning with work, family and caring responsibilities.

The initiative has also contributed to the vibrancy of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, encouraging footfall and strengthening connections between education, local businesses and community partners.

NHS Podiatry Assistant Georgina Thomas recently signed up for three maths confidence courses at NSCG for both personal and professional reasons.

Aiming for a career as a podiatrist, maths was a real barrier for Georgina, but she also wanted to get useful hints and tips for helping her children with homework, making this a less stressful experience for the whole family.

Georgina says: "These part-time functional skills courses through my employer have given me the confidence to actually feel like I can be someone, and my time at NSCG has already helped me to begin my higher education journey to enable me to qualify as a Band 5 Podiatrist.

"The whole experience has been so positive and I'd recommend these courses to anyone who needs help with maths for their careers and to also support their children with their homework."

Navarda Garside, Director of Adult Learning and Skills at NSCG, said: "We are incredibly proud of the impact our adult community learning provision has had over the past twelve months.

"Thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Newcastle Borough Council, we have been able to offer fully funded entry-level courses to the local community which has been life-changing for so many people.

"Looking back, when three learners enrolled for our very first course at Keele in Town to where we are now with a staggering 452 enrolments through the doors, its been so inspiring to see how each learner has flourished whether that be on our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses through to our functional skills and employability courses.

Navarda added: "Seeing the benefits of returning to education, many of these learners have continued their studies with us and are working their way through the levels.

"Our adult learning programming is expanding and we're excited for the future of adult education across the region."

As NSCG looks ahead, the Group explained that they remain committed to expanding and evolving its adult learning offer to meet the changing needs of the local community, ensuring that education remains accessible, relevant and responsive.

This includes the purchase of the former NatWest Bank building located at 41 Greengate Street, Stafford.

Supported by the Department for Education (DfE), the acquisition marks a significant milestone in the Group's strategy and commitment to expanding its adult education offer in the heart of the community.

For more information about Adult Community Learning courses, visit the NSCG website here or contact NSCG's Adult Education Team on 01782 254211.

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