Higher learning project launched

Partners from across the public, voluntary and further and higher education sectors in the county have launched the Higher Learning for Communities Project.

The aim of the project, launched at a meeting held at York St John College in York, is to make relevant courses available to those areas under-represented in higher level learning.

Led by Aimhigher North Yorkshire, the project has secured funding of more than £716,000 over the next two years and it is estimated that more than 650 people across North Yorkshire will benefit.

The partners secured the funding following the success of a number of pilot schemes in the county, setting up vocational courses at degree level and providing information relevant to people's needs.

They will be running short accredited higher education courses of varying lengths for people with training needs.

Those in line to benefit include the voluntary sector, carers, the unemployed and those in paid work who wish to gain further qualifications.

One pilot course run by York St John, the Certificate in Sports Development, has been a popular project.

The certificate develops participants' knowledge of sport development - learning how to make successful funding applications, how talented youngsters are developed and how sports clubs can work with schools to get more children active.

The first intake attracted more than 60 participants, mainly volunteers from community sports groups, committees and clubs, and is to be rolled out into the Ryedale ands Craven areas.

The chairman of the Aimhigher steering group, Dr Stuart Billingham, said: "There are many people in this region who have never even considered higher education for themselves.

"With this funding we, the partners, will be able to extend our existing work, breaking down geographical, social and financial barriers to study and offer a large variety of short courses to the wider community, showing that higher learning is an option for everybody."