Southern Regional College works with over 100 Community and Voluntary Groups covering over 1500 square miles within the Southern Region advising on courses available for adults within their community. SRC's dedicated Community Learning Team ensures that adults have access to learning and training to improve their knowledge, skills and qualifications.In 2011 SRC delivered 399 sessions to 3674 learners, covering 40 different types of courses.

At a time of change and uncertainty, it's never been more important to make the most of our time. Whether you want to develop a hobby to enhance your quality of life, or gain important qualifications and skills to improve your career prospects, we have a course for you and with over 80 outcentres, in a location that suits you!

Qualifications are more vital than ever. Our wide range of accredited courses provide an opportunity for you to study at a class near your home or work. Very often this can be done in an informal environment close to home. Classes take place in relaxed and informal surroundings and are made up of adults of all ages. You will find that tutors are friendly and helpful, giving you individual attention. Courses are set up in response to requests from community groups and can be facilitated at any time of the year.

Our Community Development officers, tutors and career officers are friendly and supportive; They will welcome and encourage you to take that first step. We will talk about where you are now and offer guidance on courses that could help you get that job, enjoy your leisure time or continue with lifelong learning. We will help you choose the best course for you.

Community Learning has three main themes:

1. Adult Learning
   Adult Learning takes place in a community and seeks to widen participation allowing individuals or groups in communities, who would not normally attend college based education.
2. Community Education
   Community Education is about identifying and meeting your learning needs and providing educational support for community development.
3. Community Development
   The key purpose of community development is to bring about social change and justice by working with communities to identify their needs and provide opportunities and action which tackle oppression and inequality.

Southern Regional College's dedicated Community Learning Team ensure that adults have access to learning and training to improve their knowledge, skills and qualifications. Our Community Development Officers work with employers and community stakeholders to enable individuals, groups and communities to participate in learning, at a time and place which is accessible for everyone.

An important part of our work involves the provision of education and other employment opportunities to residents of local Neighbourhood Renewal areas through Department of Social Development sponsored projects. In addition we carry out research into local area needs with a view to providing relevant economic and social programmes to enable change to take place and assist people into employment and or improve community resources.

Neighbourhood Renewal Work

Under the Department for Social Development's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, Southern Regional College has carried out four research studies with the aim of exploring the learning needs and barriers to participation in learning among the residents in Neighbourhood Renewal areas. As a result of the research, Southern Regional College is running a number of programmes and initiatives to help combat the problems identified in the areas across the Southern Region.

Transforming Learning Communities

Southern Regional College have a five-year programme, funded by Big Lottery which is dedicated to meeting the training and education needs of Migrant Workers and Travellers across the Southern Region. We can provide tailored programmes that work to increase participation, confidence and capacity within the target communities, whilst addressing the prejudice and disadvantages they face.

Learner Access and Engagement

The Learner Access and Engagement programme provides opportunities to deliver increased adult enrolments in employment-related FE provision, increased numbers of adults achieving recognised qualifications and increased numbers of adults achieving Essential Skills. The programme is targeted at adults, aged 18 - 65, who are not in work, do not hold a qualification at Level 2 or above, and who may have barriers to learning. Learners who already enrolled in statutory FE provision are excluded from this programme.

Our Community Development Offices work with Community and Voluntary Groups in the Southern Region advising on courses available for adults within their community, so if you or someone you know would like more information on Lifelong Learning and how it might help your community access learning and training, please contact the Community Officers at your local SRC campus.